AGRONOMIC AND TEST INFORMATION: GRANGER
TEST: 2007 Dryland Grain Sorghum Test
LOCATION: Clifton Kotrla Farm, Granger, Texas
COOPERATORS: Clifton Kotrla, Dennis Pietsch, Ted Dusek, Michael Felcman, and Kerry Mayfield
SOIL TYPE: Houston clay
ROW WIDTH: 38"
PREVIOUS CROP: Grain sorghum
LAND PREPARATION: Shredded, disked, field cultivated
DATE PLANTED: 3-9-07: planted flat with cones mounted on an ALMACO planter using JD Max-Emerge II units
PLOT LENGTH: 26'
FERTILIZER: 375 lb/A of 26-6-0-2 (S) + 1 qt/A Zn. The liquid solution was applied or “dribbled” on top of soil pre-emerge
HERBICIDE: Broadcast 1.0 qt/A of Dual II Magnum pre-emerge
INSECTICIDE: Sprayed Karate at label rate for midge and stink bug control
RAINFALL: Rainfall was not recorded at the test site, but was recorded at Granger Lake, approximately 3 miles from test site. January = 7.08"; February = 0.12"; March = 6.77"; April = 1.00", May = 10.57"; June = 6.69”; July = 10.26"; August = 2.48”; Total = 44.97"
DATE HARVESTED: 8-9-07 with JD3300 plot combine equipped with Grain Gauge.
SIZE HARVESTED PLOT: 2 rows, 26' long
TEST DESIGN: Randomized complete block
NUMBER ENTRIES: 29
NUMBER REPLICATIONS: 3
NUMBER ROWS/PLOT: 2
TEST MEAN: 4,737 lb/A; yields corrected to 14% moisture
TEST C.V.: 11.33%
COMMENTS: Adverse weather conditions during the early part of the growing season resulted in below normal yields at the location.
As we have done over the past 11 years, the same block of land has been used to conduct the corn and grain sorghum performance tests at this site. The tests have been planted adjacent to each other, but rotated from year to year. Since these tests are planted adjacent to each other, weather conditions have been the same for each test. Like the corn block, the grain sorghum test was planted on March 9. Soil moisture conditions were not ideal at planting, thus seeds were planted deeper than normal to achieve favorable moisture conditions. After planting, the test block received several heavy rain events coupled with extended periods of cold temperatures. Seedling emergence was slow, but adequate stands were attained. Due to the adverse weather conditions, early plant growth was retarded until favorable conditions occurred.
Warm weather soon followed. Abundant rainfall and a good fertilization program provided the nutrients necessary for continuous plant growth and development. The number of days to achieve 50% flowering was longer than usual due to the early season weather conditions. Due to the later flowering dates, some midge damage occurred, but populations were controlled with an application of an insecticide. Stink bugs were also observed and controlled with the insecticide.
Above normal rainfall occurred in July. Over 10” of rainfall was recorded, but very little grain mold or grain sprouting was observed. The incidence did not affect bushel weights or final yields.
The test mean yield was 4,737 lb/A compared to the past 3-year average of 5,368 lb/A. The yield reduction can probably be attributed to the adverse weather conditions.