COMPARISON OF SORGHUM WITH WHEAT AND BARLEY GROWN ON DRYLAND

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Abstract
Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor Moench ’Pride P130’), wheat (Triticum aestivum L. ’Neepawa’), and barley (Hordeum vulgare L. ’Galt’) were harvested at 1-wk intervals on dryland at Lethbridge, Alberta, in 1976 and 1977 and separated into leaves, stems, heads, and seed. Whole-plant yields were higher in 1976 than in 1977 and sorghum whole-plant yields were higher than barley or wheat in both years. Sorghum grain yields were similar to those of barley, but were greater than those of wheat. Although sorghum is about 40 days later maturing than barley or wheat, its whole-plant and filling-period durations were not very different from the other two crops. Sorghum used water more efficiently than wheat or barley under drought conditions. The biggest disadvantage of present sorghum hybrids appears to be slow growth in spring.