Effect of Cutting Stage on Herbage Yield and Related Traits of Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] Plant Grown in Different Locations

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of cutting stages and different locations on fresh herbage yield and related traits of sorghum in Antalya. Field trials were established according to randomized complete block design with three replications in two locations (Aksu and Kampüs) with different soil properties for two growing seasons. Sorghum plants were harvested at five different cutting stages namely, panicle initiation, panicle emergence, milk, dough, and full-maturity stage. Plant height, leaf-stalk-stem ratio, fresh herbage yield, dry matter ratio and yield were determined in conducted study. Results of the study indicated that cutting stage significantly affected all investigated traits, and the effect of location significantly affected all traits except stem ratio. The highest fresh herbage yields were determined at dough maturity stage in both locations. Fresh herbage yield in Aksu location was higher than Kampüs location for all cutting stages. The results in total suggested that, under the conditions this study was carried out, sorghum could be cut at dough maturity stage and Aksu location was more suitable for sorghum production than Kampüs location. The results presented here also demonstrated that land selection was also very important in order to obtain a high yield from sorghum in certain ecology