Sorghum Feedstock Performance Tests: Coordinator: W.L . Rooney Texas A&M University Collaborators: Scott Staggen

1. Sorghum Feedstock Performance Tests: Coordinator: W.L. Rooney Texas A&M University Collaborators: Scott Staggenborg, Kansas State University Ken Moore, Iowa State University Todd Pfieffer/Michael Barrett, University of Kentucky Bissondat Macoon, Mississippi State University Ron Heiniger, North Carolina State University Gary Odvody, Texas Agrilife Research Jim Heilman, Texas A&M University Jeff Pedersen, USDA-ARS

2. Objectives • Establish yield parameters for different types of sorghums • Establish quality parameters for different sorghums across environments • Sustainability Analysis

4. Sorghum Experimental Design • Medium experimental units (0.05 to 0.10 ha) • 3 to 4 replications • Nitrogen as recommended for forage sorghum production • Rainfed, no supplemental irrigation • Harvest • Single, end of season Harvest (2008) • Multiple, optimized to Type (2009) • 6 Genotypes (varies in year) • Harvest • Biomass Yield (Fresh, Dry), • Height • Maturity • Composition

5. 2008

6. Sorghum Hybrid Selection - 2008 Sweet Sorghum Variety M81-E Grain Sorghum (check) No energy sorghum hybrids available in 2008 • Forage Sorghum Hybrids • Graze-All, Graze-n-Bale • PS and PI • Silage Sorghum Hybrids • 22053 and Sugar-T • PS and PI, BMR and bmr

7. 2008 Results • Harvestable Yield in 6/7 locations • Iowa – not planted due to wet spring • Planting Dates - mid March to early June • Harvest Date - late September to late November • Yields • Dry Weights • 9 Mg/ha (grain check) to 26.2 Mg/ha (PS Forage Hybrid) • Composition • Biomass composition samples collected in most locations

8. 2009

9. Sorghum Hybrid Selection - 2009 Sweet Sorghum Variety M81-E Energy Sorghum TAM08001 • Forage Sorghum Hybrids • Graze-All (PI) • Graze-n-Bale (PS) • Silage Sorghum Hybrids • 22053, PS bmr • Sugar-T, PI

10. 2009 Results • Harvestable Yield in 6/7 locations • CC, Texas – not planted due to extreme drought • Yields – generally very good • Composition • Biomass composition samples collected in most locations (2008 and 2009) • NIR Scans completed in CS • Sorghum composition model co-developed by NREL and TAMU to estimate fiber composition.

11. Trials Overview

12. Trials Overview (continued)

13. Texas – Burleson County

14. Iowa - O'Brien County

15. North Carolina – Washington County

16. Combined – mean (range)

17. Yield Data and Interpretation • Multiple Cut Hybrids provide greater window of harvest, more cost/harvest • Single Cut Hybrids provide total yield in single harvest reduce cost/harvest • Yield of top MC, SC in year is similar • Adaptation: • Photoperiod Sensitive • Higher Yielding • Less susceptible to drought

18. Composition • Sample Collected • Composition will be estimated • NIR Calibration Curve • Collaborative with NREL, NSP • Standardization is critical • Estimate on all over years for GxE study

20. Carbohydrate Composition

21. NIR Curve Development

22. Sustainability • Sustainability analysis initiated in College Station in 2009 • Soil Carbon • Nitrogen Requirements • Initial collections in 2009, no information available as of now.

23. 2010 Plans • Continue testing, further refining of hybrid variety selections. • Compile three year averages • Location • Hybrids • Additional Emphasis • Composition Analysis • Nutrient Analysis • Economic Analysis • Additional Locations