Skip to main content
ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Maricopa, Arizona » U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center » Pest Management and Biocontrol Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #426613
Research Project: Improvement of the Aflatoxin Biocontrol Technology Based on Aspergillus flavus Population Biology, Genetics, and Crop Management Practices

Location: Pest Management and Biocontrol Research

Title: Optimum seeding rate for biomass sorghum in response to harvesting and planting dates in the Mid-Atlantic regions

Author
item KODURU, SOWMYA - Southern Illinois University
item SADEGHPOUR, AMIR - Southern Illinois University
item CAZENAVE, ALEXANDRE-BRICE - Virginia Tech
item AGUILAR, CHRISTIAN - Virginia Tech
item OAKES, JOSEPH - Virginia Tech
item DAVIES, BENJAMIN - Virginia Tech
item Mehl, Hillary
item BALOTA, MARIA - Virginia Tech

Submitted to: Scientific Reports
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/19/2026
Publication Date: 4/18/2026
Citation: Koduru, S., Sadeghpour, A., Cazenave, A., Aguilar, C., Oakes, J., Davies, B., Mehl, H.L., Balota, M. 2026. Optimum seeding rate for biomass sorghum in response to harvesting and planting dates in the Mid-Atlantic regions. Scientific Reports. 16. Article 17963. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-41418-1.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-41418-1

Interpretive Summary: Biomass sorghum is an alternative crop suited to production on marginal lands in the mid-Atlantic U.S. However, agronomic practices for growing biomass sorghum have not been optimized for this region. In the current study, the impacts of seeding rate, planting date, and harvest date on biomass sorghum growth, disease susceptibility, and yield were evaluated. Based on an economic analysis, optimum seeding rates were determined for both early and late plantings. October harvest consistently produced the greatest yield and economic returns while minimizing disease and lodging. This research provides growers with region-specific management recommendations that will optimize profitability of biomass sorghum production in the mid-Atlantic.

Technical Abstract: Seeding rate is an important factor in optimizing dry matter yield of biomass sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]. It is vital to understand how seeding rate (S rate) varies across environments, planting dates, and whether optimum S rate changes by date of harvest in the Mid-Atlantic region. From 2017 to 2019, a study was conducted at Virginia Tech’s Tidewater Agricultural Research & Extension Center in Suffolk, VA, across two locations (Holland and Hare) with six seeding rates (120, 160, 200, 240, 260, and 310 thousand seeds ha-1), two planting dates [early planting (EP) date as in a full season cropping system versus late planting (LP) mimicking a double-crop system] and three harvesting dates (August – October) to determine the economic optimum seeding rate of biomass sorghum. Dry matter yield, plant height, stem diameter, disease, and lodging severity were evaluated. Results showed that compared to LP, EP increased dry matter yield by 69%, plant height by 21%, and stem diameter by 15%. Dry matter yield, plant height and stem diameter decreased with increase in S rate. In general, a S rate of 120,000 ha-1 was optimum under EP, and 310,000 ha-1 under LP, when considering the disease and lodging resistance as well as economics. An October harvest always had greater yield than August or September. Planting biomass sorghum at these recommended S rates and harvesting in October could improve farm profitability while decreasing disease and lodging susceptibility.