Performance of Sorghum (Sorghum vulgare) and Maize (Zea mays) as Forages in Irrigated Saline Soils of the Sudan

Abstract

SUMMARYTrials were made of the performance of batches of forage sorghum and maize, sown at different times of year. The optimum sowing periods of sorghum variety Abu Sabeen and maize variety 113 were found to be February to October and November to January respectively. Of the various climatic factors considered in this study, mean daily temperature was of greatest importance in affecting yield. The overall performance of sorghum was superior to that of maize, probably because of its relatively higher salt tolerance.

Effects of Sowing Pattern and Seed Rate on Green-chop Yield of Forage Sorghum

“…It appears that the cooler the initial period of planting, the greater is the total green-chop yield. The results of the first harvest from the April planting of Abu Sabeen agree with those reported by El Karouri and Mansi (1980). The green-chop yield of Pioneer 988 was generally greater than that of Abu Sabeen at all harvests except the second and third harvests from the April sowing (Table 3).…”

“…However, such yields were exceptional and yields of 24 t ha" 1 followed by 12 t ha" 1 were about average. More recently, lower yields of 8 and 3.9 t ha" 1 dry matter have been reported in non-saline and saline soils, respectively (Kambal, 1972;El Karouri and Mansi, 1980).…”

“…In the semi-arid tropics the optimal planting time for forage sorghum is from February to October (El Karouri and Mansi, 1980). In temperate regions, higher dry matter yields were obtained from sudangrass grown at temperatures of 26.6 and 32.2°C than at 21.1°C (Sullivan, 1961).…”

“…However, such yields were exceptional and yields of 24 t ha" 1 followed by 12 t ha" 1 were about average. More recently, lower yields of 8 and 3.9 t ha" 1 dry matter have been reported in non-saline and saline soils, respectively (Kambal, 1972;El Karouri and Mansi, 1980).In the semi-arid tropics the optimal planting time for forage sorghum is from February to October (El Karouri and Mansi, 1980). In temperate regions, higher dry matter yields were obtained from sudangrass grown at temperatures of 26.6 and 32.2°C than at 21.1°C (Sullivan, 1961).…”

Effects of Sowing Date on Physiological Characteristics, Yield and Yield Components for Different Maize (Zea mays L.) Hybrids

“…The period from November to February is the best time for the highest dry matter production in the Khartoum area. It was also reported that the mean daily temperature is the major environmental factor that affects the crop development and yield (Elkarouri and Mansi, 1980;Begna et al, 2000). Grain yield maize was reduced when sowing time was delayed to the end of October (Mc Cormick, 1974).…”