Evaluation of forage yield of forage sorghum lines under Karaj conditions in Iran

Fouman, A. and A. Khazaei. 2014. Evaluation of forage yield of forage sorghum lines under Karaj conditions in Iran. Iranian Journal of Crop Sciences. 16(3): 181-190. (In Persian). Fifteen forage sorghum lines developed in sorghum breeding program in Iran were evaluated for forage yield under Karaj condition in Iran in 2007-2009 growing seasons. The experimental design was randomized complete block design with four replications. Four traits including fresh fodder, dry matter, plant height and number of tillers were measured in each cutting. All treatments were harvested at two cuttings. Combined analysis of variance showed significant differences between growing seasons, sorghum lines, cuttings, growing season × lines, line × cutting, growing season × cutting and growing season × line × cutting interactions for all of traits. Since the growing season × lines and growing season × cutting interactions were significant, therefore, combined analysis of variance was performed for each growing season. KFS3, KFS1, KFS1 and KFS2 forage sorghum lines produced the highest fresh fodder with 182.8, 172.4, 144.7 and 143.1 t.ha-1 and dry matter with 33.8, 30.3, 29.1 and 26.4 t.ha-1, respectively. Dry matter production of KFS17 and KFS2 was similar. However, KFS6 produced the lowest fresh fodder and dry matter with 106.6 and 21.8 t.ha-1, respectively. The highest and lowest plant height was recorded forKFS3 and KFS10 with 195.8 and 138.9 centimeter, respectively. KFS10 and KFS1 forage sorghum lines produced the highest and lowest tiller number with 3.0 and 2.2 tillers.plant-1, respectively.