Interaction of Seeding and Nitrogen Rate on Grain Sorghum Yield in Southwest Kansas
Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports Interaction of Seeding and Nitrogen Rate on Grain Sorghum Yield
A. J. Foster 0 1 2
A. Schlegel 0 1 2
J. D. Holman 0 1 2
0 Foster , A. J.; Schlegel, A.; Holman, J. D.; Ciampitti, I. A.; Thompson, C.; and Ruiz Diaz, D. (2017) "Interaction
1 Kansas State University , USA
2 Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service , USA
Recommended Citation of Seeding and Nitrogen Rate on Grain Sorghum Yield in Southwest Kansas," Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports: Vol. 3: Iss. 3. https://doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.1400
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Interaction of Seeding and Nitrogen Rate on Grain Sorghum Yield in Southwest
Kansas
Abstract
This study compared drilled planted sorghum at four seeding rates to planted sorghum at three different
nitrogen (N) fertility levels at two locations in southwest Kansas (Garden City and Tribune). At the Garden
City location, no difference was observed in yield among the drilled seeded sorghum populations greater
than 27,000 seeds/a compared to the standard planted sorghum (sorghum planted at 27,000 seeds/a
with a planter at 30 in.-row spacing). At Tribune, there was no difference in yield between the drilled
sorghum and the standard planted sorghum (sorghum planted at 40,000 seeds/a with a planter at 30
in.row spacing) regardless of seeding rate. Nitrogen fertilizer did not interact with seeding rate or affect
yield independently at either location. The use of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) to assess
canopy coverage suggested that planted sorghum and drilled sorghum at population greater than 40,000
seeds/a may achieve canopy coverage at a faster rate. In general, nitrogen rate and seeding rates did not
affect sorghum yield. However, we did observe that drilled planted sorghum was more at risk of irregular
stand emergence and required a higher seeding rate to achieve canopy closure at a rate similar to that of
planted sorghum.
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Authors
A. J. Foster, A. Schlegel, J. D. Holman, I. A. Ciampitti, C. Thompson, and D. Ruiz Diaz
This southwest research-extension center is available in Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports:
https://newprairiepress.org/kaesrr/vol3/iss3/9
Kansas Fertilizer
Research 2017
Interaction of Seeding and Nitrogen Rate on
Grain Sorghum Yield in Southwest Kansas
Summary
This study compared drilled planted sorghum at four seeding rates to planted sorghum
at three different nitrogen (N) fertility levels at two locations in southwest Kansas
(Garden City and Tribune). At the Garden City location, no difference was observed
in yield among the drilled seeded sorghum populations greater than 27,000 seeds/a
compared to the standard planted sorghum (sorghum planted at 27,000 seeds/a with a
planter at 30 in.-row spacing). At Tribune, there was no difference in yield between the
drilled sorghum and the standard planted sorghum (sorghum planted at 40,000 seeds/a
with a planter at 30 in.-row spacing) regardless of seeding rate. Nitrogen fertilizer did
not interact with seeding rate or affect yield independently at either location. The use
of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) to assess canopy coverage suggested
that planted sorghum and drilled sorghum at population greater than 40,000 seeds/a
may achieve canopy coverage at a faster rate. In general, nitrogen rate and seeding rates
did not affect sorghum yield. However, we did observe that drilled planted sorghum was
more at risk of irregular stand emergence and required a higher seeding rate to achieve
canopy closure at a rate similar to that of planted sorghum.
Introduction
Drilled sorghum is normally done at super-high population at row spacing between 7.5
and 10 inches, compared to rows planted at spacing between 15 and 30 inches.
Thompson (1983)
, growing super-thick sorghum at the Hays Research Station from
19741977, found that sorghum planted in narrow rows (12-18 in.) often produced higher
yields than when planted in wide rows (24-40 in.).
Norw (...truncated)