Plant development and grain yield of “gigantic guinea” sorghum as a function of the planting time.

Abstract

The lack of alternative crops for the fall-winter season represents a serious drawback for the agricultural production systems in Brazil. Thus, sorghum cv. “gigantic guinea” had its capacity for plant development and grain production evaluated in function of planting time. The experiment was carried out in Botucatu, state of São Paulo, Brazil. The experimental design was the randomized complete blocks, with four replications. The treatments consisted of six planting times: September 25, 2000, October 25, 2000, November 24, 2000, December 22, 2000, February 22, 200, and April 3, 200. Sorghum bicolor subsp. bicolor, guinea race was planted. At the moment of physiological maturity, phenological and phenometric data were evaluated. With exception of stem fertility, all the other parameters were significantly affected by the planting time. “Gigantic guinea” sorghum is sensitive to photoperiod; thus late plantings reduce the plant development and consequently grain yield.Additional keywords: Sorghum bicolor; plant growth.