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Sweet Sorghum Production systems and Agronomy Li Hongyu Beijing Green Energy Institute.
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Sweet Sorghum Production systems and Agronomy Li Hongyu Beijing Green Energy Institute
Sweet Sorghum (SS) in China have a long history. The earliest cultivar ‘China Amber’ SS was introduced from Shanghai, China to France in 1853 and then from France to USA in 1854. It was used as a sugar crop to produced syrup. The total yield of syrup reached the peak of 114 million liters in 1880 in the USA.
1. Production of SS 1.1 Used as Sugar Crop In 1974 the international sugar price rose by 7 times which caused a supply crisis. At that time, the Chinese people got a terrible time, sugar supply at the rate of 100g per person per month. Dr. Li Dajue introduced some cultivars from the USA. As SS adapts the climate of China, they grown very well. It not only to produce sugar, but also produce grain. They were most welcome by the farmers.
It was popularized to Tianjin, Hebei, Henan and Shandong Provinces and got good harvests. In Hebei Province, a SS Plant was setup and produced syrup, crystal sugar.
In 1987, 1900 sugar beet samples were measured, the Brix was 15.5% on average; while 2000 ‘BJK-37’ SS samples, the Brix in juice of SS ranged 16-28%. The sugar yield of SS cultivar ‘BJK-37’ and ‘Keller’ increased 157% and 177% more than that of sugar beet.
1.2 Used as Silage Crop In 1978, the import sugar increased greatly. The use of SS was changed into fodder crop. A high yield cultivar ‘M-81E’ was introduced in 1984 from USA, and use as silage crop. The yield of silage much higher than original cultivar ‘Rio” and It was popularized widely in Beijing. Tianjin, Shanghai and Shandong Provinces.
This SS is growing in a large scale production in Beijing West Suburb Farm.
SS was list as the National Important Project in the Ninth “Five Years Plan” in China
1.3 Used as Energy Crop or making wine In 70’s to 80’s of 20 century, the stalk of SS, were made drink wine. A bigger wine factory is “Pingtai Wine” in Shangqiu, Henan Province. In Shandong Province, there is a product named as “Keller wine”
This is the “Keller wine” made from the stalk of ‘Keller SS’
The solid fermentation can be used in developing countries. It is not need large invest and used in countryside and not pollution problem. Dr. Keith (from FAO) is visiting the equipment in Beijing.
The 60°wine can be collected into a factory for purifying into 90° or 99.5°alcohol.
The Continuing Fermentation Equipment were used in Brazil. About 75% of total ethanol made by this equipment.
Agronomy of SS • 2.1 Require to environment • There are two factors to effect the growth and development of SS. one is temperature, another is the length of photoperiod. • 2.1.1 Temperature
SS is a tropical crop. The basic temperature need 20-32℃. The whole growing season needed accumulation temperature above 10℃ ranged 2800–5400℃ depends on the cultivars. The lowest temperature for germination is 8-12℃, the best temperature for seed germination is 32-33℃. The seedling stop they growth when the temperature dropped to 10℃. The lowest temperature for growth is 12.8-15.6℃. The best temperature from emergence to begin elongation is 20-25℃. The best temperature is 25-30 from elongation to florescence. The 25-28℃ is the best temperature for pollination.
The area with dark point can be growing early cultivars in China
2.1.2 Photoperiod SS is a short day plant. long day is favorable to the growth, while short day is favorable to the development. The most possible hours of light are varied with the latitude. At equator it is not changed during a year (12.1h). While at the latitude 50°, The light hours from 8.1 hours in winter to 16.3 hours in summer.
The plant height of SS will increase with latitude decreasing. For example, the plant height in Beijing is 450 cm, in Hankou would be 400 cm and in Haikou would be 350 cm.
Acultivar was introduce from south to north, the growing period elongated. There is possibility the cultivar could not mature. A cultivar was introduced from north to south, the growing period was shorten and the yield decrease. However, different genotype have different response. So, it is important to choice the suitable cultivar.
Cultural practices • Several key techniques are as following • 3.1 Sowing time • The temperature of 5 cm soil should arrived 12-13℃, otherwise, the seed will rot in soil as the temperature too low. • 3.2 The photoperiod more than 12 hours • Otherwise the plant height and yield will decrease greatly.
3.3 Cut tillers Almost all cultivars have tillers. It consumes nutrition. We should cut it when they emergence in order to prevent logging, keep the plants accord. 3.4Earth up When the plant is about 70 cm, the earth between two row should earth up to the base of plant. This practice can prevent lodgging and increase the ability of absorbing nutrition.
4. SS Eco-agriculture System The biomass of SS is very high, so, SS is called “High Energy Crop”. In this system, SS is used as the cock. Black fungus or another fungus is interplanted in the furrow between rows of SS in the field. The seed of SS can be used as food or fodder; the leaves can be used to feed cow or fish. The stem of SS can be used as material for making wine or ethanol fuel.
The sketch map of SS Agro-ecology System
The residue after brewing wine can be used as fodder for cow; the cow dropping and residuals of crops can be used as the materials for making biogas. The biogas can be used for cooking dinner or is burnt in greenhouse or plastic shed to increase illumination and heat, at the same time the CO2 released can encourage the growth and development of vegetables or ornamental plants in greenhouse or plastic shed. The residual can be used as fertilizer in the field.
In this case, a sustainable agro-ecology system is formed for encouraging the development of energy, agriculture, stockbreeding and fishery in the countryside. This system has higher economic benefits. The output value can reach about 180,000 RMB Yuan/ha and it is 10-20 times higher than growing traditional crops such as wheat or corn. This system is a unique innovation with practicability and looking forward. It can be used in the areas where it is suitable to grow SS.
The SS grown very well. It supply a environment for growing of mushroom and Fungi.
SS will encourage the development of agriculture, livestock, sugar refinery, ethanol plants, paper making, machine making, transportation and relation industry, increase a lot of jobs and decreased CO2 emission and it will accelerate urbanization of village, and help the peasants to go to well-off life, initiating the new aspect of agriculture. It will help to realize the target “IFAD Enabling poor rural people to overcome poverty”
