Radiation Use Efficiency and Agronomic Performance of Biomass Sorghum under Different Sowing Dates

Abstract

Accurate estimation of radiation use efficiency (RUE) at variable timed sowing dates will enhance the prediction of plant dry matter accumulation. The objectives of this study were to (1) determine the impact of three sowing dates on the productivity, performance, and economic feasibility of three biomass sorghum hybrids and (2) evaluate the variability of RUE in the production of biomass sorghum under the effects of variable timed sowing dates. Over a two-year experiment, biomass sorghum hybrids were grown and monitored at different sowing seasons under optimal growth conditions. Average dry biomass (DB) productivity at harvest ranged from 22.71 to 32.77 Mg ha−1. Higher leaf area index (LAI) values (>4.0) represented an intercept of over 95% of incident photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). RUE obtained from the slope of the linear relationship between DB produced and accumulated intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (IPAR) ranged from 2.92 to 4.157 g MJ−1 across growing seasons. Higher RUE values were observed for the energy hybrids in the early and mid-season. They converted IPAR efficiently into DB. Lastly, the economic feasibility of each sorghum hybrid and sowing date was evaluated in terms of their expected net returns. Economic results suggest that the sorghum hybrids considered could be a viable source of biomass season long, with net returns ranging from USD 560.55 ha−1 to USD 1255.06 ha−1.

The Consequences of Plant Architecture and Spatial Distribution of Light Interception on Cotton Growth and Yield

“…Seasonal production, especially of biomass crops, is anticipated to face challenges as a result of this factor and the unpredictable nature of weather. The Radiation use efficiency determined across numerous sowing seasons could give a greater comprehension of biomass, the physiological capacity of sorghum to generate dry matter under a range of environmental factors, including air temperature and solar radiation (Chavez et al, 2022). The rate of biomass formation is primarily influenced by the amount of PAR received from the sun provides and the efficiency of the crop canopy for PAR absorption.…”

A Novel Remote Sensing-Based Modeling Approach for Maize Light Extinction Coefficient Determination

“…The vegetation growth and biomass development of forest plants and crops are directly related to the capacity of plants to intercept, transmit, and absorb solar energy in the form of incoming photosynthetically active radiation, often known as PAR [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. When characterizing the canopy architecture arrangement of plants, vegetation indices such as the leaf area density (LAD), leaf area index (LAI), and fractional vegetation cover (f c ) provide information on the canopy status regarding the assemblage of above-ground plant elements (leaves, stems, branches, etc.)…”