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The Field Performance of Induced Uniculm Grain Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) in South-east Queensland, Australia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 October 2008

S. Fukai ,
C. J. Liwa ,
C. W. L. Henderson ,
B. B. Maharjan ,
R. C. Hermus ,
C. Searle ,
S. W. Herbert  and
M. A. Foale
S. Fukai
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
C. J. Liwa
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
C. W. L. Henderson
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
B. B. Maharjan
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
R. C. Hermus
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
C. Searle
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
S. W. Herbert
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
M. A. Foale
Affiliation:
CSIRO Division of Tropical Crops and Pastures, Lawes, Queensland, Australia
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Summary

Reduction of leaf area in sorghum without tillers (uniculm sorghum) might result in conservation of water at early stages of growth and hence in stability of grain yield under dry conditions. In two experiments in south-east Queensland, Australia, tillers were removed by hand to examine the growth of uniculm sorghum. Tiller removal promoted root development at the flag leaf stage but significantly reduced shoot dry matter and lowered grain yield by about 20% in a wet season. The saving in soil water as a result of tiller removal was relatively small but statistically significant.

Type
Research Article
Information
Experimental Agriculture , Volume 22 , Issue 4 , October 1986 , pp. 393 - 403
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1986

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References

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