Evaluating effects of deficit irrigation strategies on grain sorghum attributes and biofuel production

Authors: PANG, BARIEN - Kansas State University; ZHANG, KE - Kansas State University; Bean, Scott; KISEKKA, ISAYA - Kansas State University; ZHANG, MENG - Kansas State University; WANG, DONGHAI - Kansas State University

Submitted to: Journal of Cereal Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/7/2017
Publication Date: 1/2/2018
Citation: Pang, B., Zhang, K., Bean, S.R., Kisekka, I., Zhang, M., Wang, D. 2018. Evaluating effects of deficit irrigation strategies on grain sorghum attributes and biofuel production. Journal of Cereal Science. 79:13-20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcs.2017.09.002.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcs.2017.09.002

Interpretive Summary: With reduced water resources available for agriculture, scientists and engineers have developed innovative technologies and management strategies aimed at increasing the efficient use of irrigation water. The objective of this research was to study the impact of deficit irrigation strategies on sorghum grain attributes and bioethanol production. Grain sorghums were planted at Southwest Research-Extension Center near Garden City, Kansas with five different irrigation capacities (1 inch every 4, 6, 8,10, or 12 days) and dryland in 2015 and 2016 growing seasons. Results showed average kernel weight, kernel dimeter and test weight of sorghum grain increased as irrigation capacity increased, whereas kernel hardness index decreased as irrigation capacity increased. Starch and protein contents of sorghum ranged from 69.45 to 72.82% and 8.22 to 12.50%, respectively. Irrigation capacity had a significant effect on all physiochemical properties, pasting properties and bioethanol yield. Starch content and bioethanol yield of sorghum samples increased as irrigation capacity increased across two growing seasons.

Technical Abstract: With reduced water resources available for agriculture, scientists and engineers have developed innovative technologies and management strategies aimed at increasing the efficient use of irrigation water. The objective of this research was to study the impact of deficit irrigation strategies on sorghum grain attributes and bioethanol production. Grain sorghums were planted at Southwest Research-Extension Center near Garden City, Kansas with five different irrigation capacities (1 inch every 4, 6, 8,10, or 12 days) and dryland in 2015 and 2016 growing seasons. Results showed average kernel weight, kernel dimeter and test weight of sorghum grain increased as irrigation capacity increased, whereas kernel hardness index decreased as irrigation capacity increased. Starch and protein contents of sorghum ranged from 69.45 to 72.82% and 8.22 to 12.50%, respectively. Starch pasting temperature and peak time decreased as irrigation capacity increased. Irrigation capacity had a positive impact on bioethanol yield, whereas both year and interaction between irrigation capacity and year did not show significant effect on bioethanol yield resulting from above normal rainfall received during the growing seasons.