Combine-type sorghums under irrigation in the Middle Rio Grande area

              NEXf [jM.$CC COII]IGE OF AGRICULTURE AND TMCHANIC ANTS
AND AGRiCUTTUP'AL EXFERII,ENT STATION
Press Bulletin 985
COMBINE-TYPE SORGHIJI{S UI.IDER IRRIGATIOI\ IN THE
MIDDI,E R]O GRAI\IDE AREA
There hap been a rapid increase in the acreage of combine-type sorghums in New
Uexlco during the last decade and it has'been demonstrated that high Srie1ds are ob- ;
tainable ln the irrigated valleys of southern New Mexico. The recogni.zed high feed
value and reduced costs of growing and harvesting, due largely to the developinent of
modern farm machinery, have resulted in the grovring of large acreages of these sor-ghums
instead of corn, The adaptation of the sorghums to canbine harvestlng is a
noteworthy accomplishrnent in plant breeding, ard nany new ccrnbine types are being
developed each year" Iields of grain have been approximafely as high as corn yields
under simlIar conditions, In 1941 at State College, N. lI., in a test of 5 combine-type
sorghums, yields ranged fnon 67 to 85 bnrshels to the acre.
In l9l+2t a combine-type sorghurn variety test was conducted at the Conservancy
District Substation near Albuquerque. Five varj.eties were used, as shown ln the
table below, The sorghuns were planted flat in 22-inch rows ard irrigated immediate'
Iy. A fair stard was obtained, althouglr some crusting over of the surface occurred
before sone of the plants w€ro rlpr In the 1943 test, the field was irrigated before
planting and a rnulch was worked up urith a spike-tooth harrow before planting, The
leed wai then flat planted 'arith a regular two-ron knife coru planter. An excellent
stand resulted fron this procedure, The ]943 test was planted in 36-inch rows
rather than in Z}-Lneh rows as used the previous year. Cultivation of the 36-inch
rovrs was easi"er with the implenents available.
The fo[mring table shows the yields of grain for 1942 and L9L+3 at the Conserv-ancy
District Substationr
;==E=========== =================E========================E============= Variety I9l+2 Lgn
Wh:atland rn:llo
Resis tant Tv'ilheatland rnilo
Early hegari
Resistant Beaver milo
Double Drarf rnilo
Iilartin milo
Dawn L"6";tzi
63,3
59, t+
55,L
LtL,2
37 ,6
82.4
69.3
lln,l
g1 ,4
79,2
Least si gnl:f,icant dif f erence
(rg r 1) 8'/+ 10.1
re-. . )'Using 56 pounds to a bushel.
-)(-riNot a ecrnbine-type sorghr,ua; stalks too tall.-
Fron the yields obtained in the first two years of testing, it appears that
coniblne-type sorghurns compare,favorably in grain yields with corn and the taller
types of grain sorghums5 'iftreatland nilo seemed.to be urell adaptedr' Martin milor,
planted for the first tjroe in 19/+3, appeared. especially pronrising. It is rapidly
gainlng poErlarity in the dry-land combine area and appears to be equally adapted tc
irrigation. If the stalks as well as the grain are to be utilized, it raight be
advisable to pi,ant Early hegarS- instead of the miIos, on accounb of its having better
forage qualities. However, on ena}l plots where the birds have equal access to all
varietiese they darnage Early hegari more than the other sorts. It probably would nnt
be advisable to pJ.ant small plots of any graJ.n sorghum, since birds often destroy
them.