Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Bushland, Texas » Conservation and Production Research Laboratory » Soil and Water Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #296093

Title: Water and radiation use efficiencies in sorghum

Author
item NARAYANAN, SRUTHI - Kansas State University
item AIKEN, ROBERT - Kansas State University
item VARA PRASAD, P.V. - Kansas State University
item Xin, Zhanguo

Submitted to: Agronomy Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/1/2012
Publication Date: 2/1/2013
Citation: Narayanan, S., Aiken, R.M., Vara Prasad, P., Xin, Z. 2013. Water and radiation use efficiencies in sorghum. Agronomy Journal. 105(3):649-656.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Increasing water and radiation use efficiencies (WUE and RUE, respectively) are critical to enhance crop production. Exploring genetic variability in WUE and RUE is necessary to improve these traits. The objectives of this research were to evaluate eight sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] genotypes for biomass production, WUE, and RUE and to test whether the differences in WUE among sorghum genotypes were associated with increased biomass production or decreased water use under field conditions. The WUE was estimated as the slope of the regression of aboveground biomass on cumulative water use for specified sampling intervals. The RUE was estimated as the slope of the regression of aboveground biomass on cumulative intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (IPAR). Sorghum genotypes showed significant differences in biomass production, WUE, and RUE. The WUE varied from 3.39+/-0.80 to 5.42+/-0.80 2 per kg in 2009 and from 4.04+/-0.58 to 7.63+/-0.58 KS in 2010. Similarly, RUE varied from 2.13+/-0.33 to 3.53+/-0.31 5 per megajoule IPAR in 2009 and from 2.08+/-0.35 to 3.83+/-0.33 2 per KG IPAR in 2010. Among the eight sorghum genotypes tested in this study, IS 27111 and IS 27150 had the largest biomass production, WUE ,and RUE. The WUE was more strongly correlated to biomass production than to water use. This result implies that it is possible to improve WUE without compromising biomass production. The sorghum genotypes evaluated for biomass production, WUE, and RUE in this study offer useful plant materials for identifying the mechanisms causing differences in these traits.