36 



CIRCULAR 4 21, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



Both sorgo and Sudan grass were more productive than the 

 millets, but the difference in yield between Sudan grass and the 

 more productive varieties of millet was small. Dakota Kursk was 

 the highest yielding millet. This variety has fine leaves and a rela- 

 tively fine stem. Xs it excels the other varieties not only in yield 

 but in quality, it can be recommended as a catch crop. 



Sudan grass produced slightly higher yields than millets, and its 

 feeding value is at least as high. 



Neither millet nor Sudan grass approached sorgo in yield, but 

 sorgo produced in drilled plots is difficult to handle. It dries 

 very slowly and is subject to damage by rain while curing. Sorgo 

 is a recommended forage crop, but for convenience in handling it 

 should be grown in cultivated rows. 



SORGO VARIETIES AND SUDAN GRASS 



Sudan grass and three varieties of sorgo were grown continuously 

 in 42-inch rows from 1923 to 1932 and one additional variety from 

 1925 to 1932. The yields are given in table 16. Some variety 

 testing was done prior to 1923, but the records were not continuous 

 and are not given. During the period 1923-32 Red Amber sorgo 

 produced the highest yield and Black Amber only slightly less. 

 AIL the sorgos exceeded Sudan grass in yield. Of the sorgos Dakota 

 Amber produced the lowest yield but the highest quality of feed. 

 It matured fully every year, and there always was a considerable 

 amount of ripe seed in the forage, which increased its feeding value. 

 Sorgos appear to increase both in feeding value and in palatability 

 as they approach maturity, and Dakota Amber is recommended be- 

 cause it matures. Red Amber and Black Amber matured in some 

 years, but in other years they were far from mature when harvested. 

 Black Amber appears to be a little earlier than Red Amber and 

 produced a greater percentage of matured grain. It is a more 

 valuable crop to grow than Red Amber. Leoti Red produced good 

 yields during the period it was grown, but it is the latest of the 

 varieties under trial and never approached maturity when harvested. 



Table 16. — Annual and average acre yields of sorgo varieties and Sudan grass 

 at the Ardmore station for the 10 years, 1923-32 



Variety- 



1923 



1924 



1925 



1926 



1927 



1928 



1929 



1930 



1931 



1932 



Aver- 

 age 



In 

 per- 

 cent- 

 age 

 of 



Red 

 Am- 

 ber 

 dur- 

 ing 

 com- 

 para- 

 ble 

 years 





Lb. 



Lb. 



Lb. 



3,050 



3,040 



4,210 



2,433 



2,000 



Lb. 



6,280 



3,730 



4,010 



4,910 



2,450 



Lb. 

 11,035 

 11,310 

 8,440 

 6,988 

 3,917 



Lb. 



4,510 



5,168 



5,177 



4,193 



2,070 



Lb. 



3,250 



3,042 



3,208 



2,917 



1,675 



Lb. 



5,460 

 5,060 

 5,360 

 3,065 

 3,415 



Lb. 

 1,150 



840 

 1,177 

 1,268 



872 



Lb. 

 2,556 

 2,926 

 2,399 

 1,397 

 935 



Lb. 



4,661 



4,224 



4,156 



3,243 



2,305 



106 





6, 600 ! 521 



100 



Black Amber 



6,520 

 4,320 

 5,090 



1,061 

 936 

 628 



98 





77 





55 







