Yield, nutrient removal, and quality of sorghum grain and biomass as influenced by nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization

Thesis/Dissertation · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:5663230

Moresco, R F

Field experiments were conducted during 1983 and 1984 at two locations using one conventional (ATx399xRTx430) and two high energy sorghum hybrids (Sorghum bicolor L., Moench) to evaluate the effects of N and P applications on grain, biomass, and fermentable carbohydrate production. Genotype and N most influenced grain and biomass yields at both locations. Cultivars ATx399xRTx430 and ATx623xRTx430 produced more grain, but less biomass than ATx623xRio. Applied N increased grain yields at College Station more in 1984 than in 1983, indicating a decrease in soil N after one year of total dry matter removal. Less yield response to N was observed at Weslaco. Applied P had little effect on grain or biomass production at either location. Applied N increased grain and biomass concentrations and uptake of most nutrients. Increased nutrient removals generally resulted more from increases in dry matter production than from changes in nutrient concentrations. Apparent N uptake efficiency was higher at College Station (41 to 53%) than at Weslaco (24 to 37%). Complete aboveground dry matter removal of high energy sorghums resulted in an additional removal of 100 to 180 kg K and 40 to 50 kg N/ha when compared with conventional sorghum produced for grain only. Genotype influenced stalk fermentable carbohydrate yields, with ATx623xRio producing substantially greater amounts than the other hybrids. Applied N decreased structural carbohydrates, while nonstructural carbohydrates remained unchanged. Stalk fermentable carbohydrate fuels, however, increased linearly with N application because of higher biomass yields with applied N.

• Research Organization: Texas A and M Univ., College Station (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5663230
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
140504* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Biomass Production & Conversion-- (-1989)
BIOMASS
CARBOHYDRATES
CEREALS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FERTILIZERS
GRASS
GROWTH
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
NUTRIENTS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHOSPHORUS
PLANT GROWTH
PLANTS
REMOVAL
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SORGHUM
YIELDS