Effects of Growing Location and Irrigation on Attributes and Ethanol Yields of Selected Grain Sorghums

Nine sorghum cultivars (five inbred lines and four hybrids) were grown in 2006 in three locations (Mount Hope, KS, Halstead, KS, and Plainview, TX) under different irrigation conditions and were evaluated for composition and ethanol fermentation efficiency. The objective was to study, in one growing season, the effects of genotype, growing location, and irrigation on the physical and chemical properties and fermentation efficiencies of grain sorghum. Genotype had a significant effect on chemical composition, physical properties, and ethanol yield. The cultivars showed a large variation in starch (61.0-74.8%), protein (7.56-16.35%), crude fat (2.79-4.77%), crude fiber (0.58-2.57%), ash (1.25-2.26%), kernel weight (20.0-35.9 mg), kernel hardness (49.6-97.5), and kernel size (1.9-2.7 mm) and were the most important factors affecting ethanol fermentation efficiency (87.5-93.9%). Starch and protein contents were significantly affected by growing location but not by irrigation. Environment had a significant effect on ethanol yields. Unexpectedly, irrigation somewhat reduced fermentation efficiency.