Sweet Sorghum Production systems and Agronomy

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Sweet Sorghum Production systems and Agronomy
Li Hongyu Beijing Green Energy Institute

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Sweet Sorghum (SS) in China have a long
history. The earliest cultivar China Amber SS
was introduced from Shanghai, China to France in
1853 and then from France to USA in 1854. It was
used as a sugar crop to produced syrup. The total
yield of syrup reached the peak of 114 million
liters in 1880 in the USA.
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1. Production of SS 1.1 Used as Sugar Crop
In 1974 the international sugar price rose
by 7 times which caused a supply crisis. At that
time, the Chinese people got a terrible time,
sugar supply at the rate of 100g per person per
month. Dr. Li Dajue introduced some cultivars
from the USA. As SS adapts the climate of China,
they grown very well. It not only to produce
sugar, but also produce grain. They were most
welcome by the farmers.


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It was popularized to Tianjin, Hebei,
Henan and Shandong Provinces and got good
harvests. In Hebei Province, a SS Plant was setup
and produced syrup, crystal sugar.
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In 1987, 1900 sugar beet samples were
measured, the Brix was 15.5 on average while
2000 BJK-37 SS samples, the Brix in juice of SS
ranged 16-28. The sugar yield of SS cultivar
BJK-37 and Keller increased 157 and 177
more than that of sugar beet.
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1.2 Used as Silage Crop In 1978, the
import sugar increased greatly. The use of SS was
changed into fodder crop. A high yield
cultivar M-81E was introduced in 1984 from USA,
and use as silage crop. The yield of silage much
higher than original cultivar Rio and It was
popularized widely in Beijing. Tianjin, Shanghai
and Shandong Provinces.
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This SS is growing in a large scale production
in Beijing West Suburb Farm.

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The combine is harvesting SS
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SS silage cellar (storeroom)


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The silage of SS


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The cows are eating silage of SS
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The ostriches are eating SS silage
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SS was list as the National Important Project in
the Ninth Five Years Plan in China
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1.3 Used as Energy Crop or making wine
In 70s to 80s of 20 century, the stalk of SS,
were made drink wine. A bigger wine factory is
Pingtai Wine in Shangqiu, Henan Province.
In Shandong Province, there is a product
named as Keller wine
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This is the Keller wine made from the
stalk of Keller SS
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The cement pool for fermentation


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The solid fermentation can be used in
developing countries. It is not need large invest
and used in countryside and not pollution
problem. Dr. Keith (from FAO) is visiting the
equipment in Beijing.
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The 60 ethanol wine flew out from the
condensator
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The 60wine can be collected into a factory for
purifying into 90 or 99.5alcohol.
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The Continuing Fermentation Equipment were used
in Brazil. About 75 of total ethanol made by
this equipment.
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• Agronomy of SS
• 2.1 Require to environment
• There are two factors to effect
  the growth and development of SS. one is
  temperature, another is the length of
  photoperiod.
• 2.1.1 Temperature

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SS is a tropical crop. The basic
temperature need 20-32?. The whole growing season
needed accumulation temperature above 10? ranged
28005400? depends on the cultivars. The lowest
temperature for germination is 8-12?, the best
temperature for seed germination is 32-33?. The
seedling stop they growth when the temperature
dropped to 10?. The lowest temperature for growth
is 12.8-15.6?. The best temperature from
emergence to begin elongation is 20-25?. The best
temperature is 25-30 from elongation to
florescence. The 25-28? is the best temperature
for pollination.
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The area with dark point can be growing early
cultivars in China

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These areas can be growing late cultivars in
China

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SS grown quickly under the synchronous effect

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2.1.2 Photoperiod SS is a short day
plant. long day is favorable to the growth, while
short day is favorable to the development. The
most possible hours of light are varied with the
latitude. At equator it is not changed during a
year (12.1h). While at the latitude 50, The
light hours from 8.1 hours in winter to 16.3
hours in summer.

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The plant height of SS will increase with
latitude decreasing. For example, the plant
height in Beijing is 450 cm, in Hankou would be
400 cm and in Haikou would be 350 cm.
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A cultivar was introduce from south to
north, the growing period elongated. There is
possibility the cultivar could not mature. A
cultivar was introduced from north to south, the
growing period was shorten and the yield
decrease. However, different genotype have
different response. So, it is important to choice
the suitable cultivar.
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• Cultural practices
• Several key techniques are as following
• 3.1 Sowing time
• The temperature of 5 cm soil should arrived
  12-13?, otherwise, the seed will rot in soil as
  the temperature too low.
• 3.2 The photoperiod more than 12 hours
• Otherwise the plant height and yield will
  decrease greatly.

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3.3 Cut tillers Almost all cultivars have
tillers. It consumes nutrition. We should cut it
when they emergence in order to prevent logging,
keep the plants accord. 3.4 Earth up
When the plant is about 70 cm, the earth between
two row should earth up to the base of plant.
This practice can prevent lodgging and increase
the ability of absorbing nutrition.
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4. SS Eco-agriculture System The
biomass of SS is very high, so, SS is called
High Energy Crop. In this system, SS is used as
the cock. Black fungus or another fungus is
interplanted in the furrow between rows of SS in
the field. The seed of SS can be used as food or
fodder the leaves can be used to feed cow or
fish. The stem of SS can be used as material for
making wine or ethanol fuel.

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The sketch map of SS Agro-ecology System
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The residue after brewing wine can be used as
fodder for cow the cow dropping and residuals
of crops can be used as the materials for making
biogas. The biogas can be used for cooking dinner
or is burnt in greenhouse or plastic shed to
increase illumination and heat, at the same time
the CO2 released can encourage the growth and
development of vegetables or ornamental plants in
greenhouse or plastic shed. The residual can be
used as fertilizer in the field.
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In this case, a sustainable agro-ecology
system is formed for encouraging the development
of energy, agriculture, stockbreeding and fishery
in the countryside. This system has higher
economic benefits. The output value can reach
about 180,000 RMB Yuan/ha and it is 10-20 times
higher than growing traditional crops such as
wheat or corn. This system is a unique innovation
with practicability and looking forward. It can
be used in the areas where it is suitable to grow
SS.
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The SS grown very well. It supply a environment
for growing of mushroom and Fungi.


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The Mushroom grown under SS

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The fungi grown under SS

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Fungi grown quickly and well under SS

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Mushroom cultivated under SS
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Another mushroom cultivated under SS
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The piggery set up in plastic shed or greenhouse
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SS will encourage the development of
agriculture, livestock, sugar refinery, ethanol
plants, paper making, machine making,
transportation and relation industry, increase a
lot of jobs and decreased CO2 emission and it
will accelerate urbanization of village, and help
the peasants to go to well-off life, initiating
the new aspect of agriculture. It will
help to realize the target IFAD Enabling poor
rural people to overcome poverty

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Thank you !