Managing dryland sorghum for maximum yield potential – Breeza 2013–14

Abstract

Key findings • Time of sowing 1 (30/31 Oct) yielded more than time of sowing 2 (9/10 Dec) in this season, but only by 0.25 t/ha. • Varying hybrid selection had minimal impact on yield at this site in this season. • The 90 cm row spacing yielded more than the twin row configuration in both TOS 1 and TOS 2 across all three target plant populations. • Increasing plant population from 50 to 75,000 plants/ha improved yield from 3.01 t/ha to 4.10 t/ha in TOS 1 only. • Increasing nitrogen rate improved yields in both times of sowing. In TOS 1 the yield response to applying 200 kg N/ha at sowing compared to the nil treatment was 1.81 t/ha. In TOS 2 the yield response was still significant but lower at a 0.85 t/ha yield increase. • The application of 10 kg phosphorus (P) alone did not provide a yield response over nil P, however in combination with nitrogen significant yield responses were gained at both the 10 and 20 kg of P/ha rates.