Agronomic and Energetic Potential of Sorghum Evaluated in Two Consecultive Crops

Aims: Was to evaluate the productive potential of three sorghum agronomic groups (biomass sorghum, saccharine sorghum and forage sorghum) in two cutting seasons (crop and regrowth) and to perform the energy (GJ/ha/cycle) characterization of biomass. Sample: Six sorghum cultivars in three agronomic groups: biomass sorghum (hybrids BD 7607 and BRS 716), saccharine sorghum (hybrids BD 5404 and BRS 511) and forage sorghum (hybrids BD1615 and BRS 655).

Study Design: This cultivars were evaluated in the block design at random, with six replicates and analyzed in time subdivided plots. Place and Duration of the Study: The experiment was conducted in the field being evaluated in two consecutive harvests, during the months of December/2014 to September/2015 and at the end of the cycle of each cultivar the plant evaluations were carried out. Methodology: Samples composed of ten plants randomly selected from the useful area of each plot were used: Harvest cycle, regrowth cycle, plant height, total fresh mass production, total dry mass production, percentage participation of the physical components in the total dry mass and total biomass production of the two cutting seasons. The upper calorific power of the physical components of the plants and the potential energy produced were determined.

Results: It was verified that the production of total fresh mass was higher in the crop with respect to the regrowth for all the crops and that the cultivars of sorghum biomass BD 7607 and BRS 716 obtained the highest results with total biomass production of 115 and 119 t/ha, respectively. The yield of the cultivars in regrowth was insignificant. The biomass sorghum cultivars BD 7607 and BRS 716 presented the highest yields of energy / ha with 815 and 654 GJ, respectively.

Conclusion: The amount of energy produced by each type of sorghum is influenced mainly by its agronomic performance.