Sorghum Variety Trials
Grain Sorghum Trial Reports
Each year, performance trials for hybrid grain sorghum are conducted by the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service to provide producers, extension educators, industry representatives, and researchers with information for hybrid grain sorghums marketed in Oklahoma.
Performance trials are conducted at eight locations in Oklahoma: Altus, Blackwell, Cherokee, Enid, Goodwell, Homestead, Keyes, and Tipton. Dryland trials are conducted at all locations, with an additional limited irrigation trial at Goodwell. The Cherokee and Homestead locations are uniquely designed trials to evaluate certain hybrids (generally early and medium maturity) for planting in late April. In 2004 a trial was established at Enid to evaluate hybrids for use as a double crop. Due to rainfall, the Enid trial was not planted in 2007. All trial locations also have DK-44 and KS 585 planted with and without (WO) seed applied insecticide to determine the effect of these treatments on grain yield. For more information on sorghum production, visit the OSU sorghum topics page. View the grain sorghum reports below.
Archive Reports
Current Report
Sorghum Silage Trial Reports
In the coming years with natural gas prices rising and the possibility of water supplies diminishing, sorghum silage may replace corn silage in the panhandle region. Sorghum being more drought tolerant than corn requires less water, therefore less irrigation is required. Many seed companies have increased efforts to bring higher quality sorghum silage hybrids to market. Among these are brown mid-rib, photoperiod sensitive, conventional forage sorghums, and sorghum/sudan hybrids. In 2006, the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service re-established a sorghum silage performance trial in the Oklahoma panhandle to evaluate sorghum silages with limited irrigation. Limited irrigation has many definitions, the most common being one-half of normal irrigation or less. For the purpose of these trials, eight inches of irrigation was defined as being the maximum to be applied. View the sorghum silage reports below.