Can Tall Guinea‐Race Sorghum Hybrids Deliver Yield Advantage to Smallholder Farmers in West and Central Africa?

Abstract

Many farmers in West and Central Africa (WCA) prefer tall (>3 m) grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] for various reasons. This study seeks to determine (i) what yield superiority newly bred, tall, photoperiod‐sensitive guinea‐race sorghum hybrids can provide relative to an adapted landrace variety across a wide range of productivity conditions, and (ii) the risk of these hybrids failing to provide yield superiority for individual farmers. Seven hybrids, one local check, and eight pure‐line progenies were evaluated in 37 farmer‐managed, on‐farm yield trials across three Malian zones and 3 yr. Environments were classified into four productivity groups (low [0.78–1.10 Mg ha−1], mid‐low [1.10–1.50 Mg ha−1], mid‐high [1.50–2.00 Mg ha−1] and high [2.00–2.65 Mg ha−1]) based on their trial mean grain yield. Mean yields of the seven tall hybrids were 3 to 17% (ranging from 0.06 to 0.28 Mg ha−1) higher than that of the local check across all environments and were highest (14–47%) averaged across the seven trials with the lowest mean yields. The individual overall highest‐yielding hybrid showed superiorities over the local check in the low, mid‐low, mid‐high, and high productivity levels of 0.43 (47%), 0.14 (10%), 0.47 (27%), and 0.34 (14%) Mg ha−1, respectively. The tall hybrids rarely had yields significantly inferior to the local check. Farmers’ preference for, and the possible benefits of, taller plant types may lead farmers to grow tall hybrids, particularly under the typical low‐productivity production conditions of WCA.

Optimisation du NPK et urée basée sur les informations climatiques pour accroitre la production du sorgho en zones soudano-sahéliennes du Sénégal

“…Ces résultats sont similaires à ceux de Blandino et al (2015) qui ont rapporté des rendements variables et contrastés de deux variétés de blé à la fertilisation azotée tardive. Aussi, Kante et al (2017) ont-ils rapporté des rendements variables de sorgho (hybrides et accessions locales de sorgho) au Mali. L'indice de récolte n'a varié qu'en fonction des variétés.…”

Combining ability and heterotic pattern in West African sorghum landraces

“…In addition, they did not fit with the local farming system because of their height input demand (Yapi et al, 2000;Ouédraogo, 2005). To overcome this limitation, hybrid might meet farmers' use requirements, such as grain quality, plant height and adaptation to local constraints (Kante et al, 2017). As farmers are interested to their accessions, the local landraces-based hybrids are expected to have good acceptability and good adaptation to local grow conditions in the region (Camara et al, 2006).…”

More than Yield: Ecosystem Services of Traditional versus Modern Crop Varieties Revisited

“…Lafitte et al [35] show for example that improved maize varieties had on average 56% higher yields (independent of N-levels). Kante et al [33] also showed that mean yields for F1-hybrids varieties were 3 to 17% (ranging from 60 to 28 kg/ha) higher across different environmental conditions compared to local landraces.…”