Storage of Non-structural Carbohydrates in Sweet Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.]: Comparison of Sterile and Fertile Lines

The accumulation of soluble carbohydrates in vegetative parts of sweet sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.) represents an intermediate reserve pool for grain filling as well as an irreversible storage up to maturity. In order to study the effect of Sterility on soluble sugar accumulation in vegetative parts, two cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) lines of sweet sorghum were compared with their corresponding fertile mamtainers for non-structural carbohydrate concentrations in shoots. Plants were harvested at four different physiological stages. The lines showed significant differences in the yield of non-structural carbohydrates. At maturity, the yields of soluble carbohydrates from vegetative parts of the two sterile lines were 93 % and 43 % higher than the yield of the two corresponding fertile lines. At that stage, sucrose represented about 80 % of total soluble carbohydrates and the higher yield of soluble carbohydrates of sterile lines was mainly due to the higher yield of sucrose. This indicates that the yield of extractable carbohydrates, especially sucrose, in vegetative parts of sweet sorghum could be considerably improved by using sterile lines which are utilized in hybrid production.     

Nutritive value of sorghum silage for sheep

This study compared ensiled sorghum (ES) from two varieties (first and second cuts) with corn silage (CS) for chemical analysis, total-tract nutrient digestibility, ruminal variables and blood biochemistry metabolites in sheep. Five experimental silages representing first cut ES var. Pegah (PS1), second cut ES var. Pegah (PS2), first cut ES var. Speedfeed (SS1), second cut ES var. Speedfeed (SS2) and CS were assessed for chemical analysis, silage fermentation and anti-quality compounds. Diets consisted of lucerne hay, silage and a premix (at the ratio of 53.5:46:0.5 on a dry matter [DM] basis). Feed consumption, total-tract nutrient digestibility, microbial nitrogen supply (MNS), ruminal variables and blood biochemistry metabolites were determined in a Latin square design of five periods with five male sheep. Compared to sorghum, CS had lower (p < 0.01) concentrations of ash, water-soluble carbohydrates and crude protein, but higher starch, lignin (sa), non-structural carbohydrates and apparent nutrient digestibility. The measurements of pH, lactic acid, NH₃-N and volatile fatty acids (VFA) confirmed that all silages were well-preserved. The anti-quality compound levels in the silages were below the safe limits for ruminants. No differences were observed in feed consumption (p > 0.05) and total-tract digestibility of DM and nutrients (p > 0.05). Rumen pH, NH₃-N, VFA concentrations and acetate to propionate ratio showed no difference among treatments (p > 0.05). Sheep fed on sorghum silage showed a decrease (p < 0.01) in total protozoa, and particularly in the Entodiniae population. There were no differences in cellulolytic bacteria counts (p > 0.05) among treatments. Urinary N, MNS and blood biochemistry metabolites showed no difference among treatments (p > 0.05). Silages from both cuts of sorghum had comparable total-tract nutrient digestibility to CS, therefore, these varieties could be used as a more drought resilient silage source in the feeding of sheep.     

Characterization and application of lactic acid bacteria for tropical silage preparation

Strains TH 14, TH 21 and TH 64 were isolated from tropical silages, namely corn stover, sugar cane top and rice straw, respectively, prepared in Thailand. These strains were selected by low pH growth range and high lactic acid‐producing ability, similar to some commercial inoculants. Based on the analysis of 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence and DNA‐DNA relatedness, strain TH 14 was identified as Lactobacillus casei, and strains TH 21 and TH 64 were identified as L. plantarum. Strains TH 14, TH 21, TH 64 and two commercial inoculants, CH (L. plantarum) and SN (L. rhamnosus), were used as additives to fresh and wilted purple Guinea and sorghum silages prepared using a small‐scale fermentation method. The number of epiphytic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in the forages before ensilage was relatively low but the numbers of coliform and aerobic bacteria were higher. Sorghum silages at 30 days of fermentation were all well preserved with low pH (3.56) and high lactic acid production (72.86 g/kg dry matter). Purple Guinea silage inoculated with LAB exhibited reduced count levels of aerobic and coliform bacteria, lower pH, butyric acid and ammonia nitrogen and increased lactic acid concentration, compared with the control. Strain TH 14 more effectively improved lactic acid production compared with inoculants and other strains. © 2016 Japanese Society of Animal Science     

SUSTAINABLE NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PACKAGE FOR COST-EFFECTIVE BIOENERGY BIOMASS PRODUCTION

Commercial fertilizer (particularly nitrogen) costs account for a substantial portion of the total production costs of cellulosic biomass and can be a major obstacle to biofuel production. In a series of greenhouse studies, we evaluated the feasibility of co-applying Gibberellins (GA) and reduced nitrogen (N) rates to produce a bioenergy crop less expensively. In a preliminary study, we determined the minimum combined application rates of GA and N required for efficient biomass (sweet sorghum, Sorghum bicolor) production. Co-application of 75 kg ha^?1 (one-half of the recommended N rate for sorghum) and a modest GA rate of 3 g ha^?1 optimized dry matter yield (DMY) and N and phosphorus (P) uptake efficiencies, resulting in a reduction of N and P leaching. Organic nutrient sources such as manures and biosolids can be substituted for commercial N fertilizers (and incidentally supply P) to further reduce the cost of nutrient supply for biomass production. Based on the results of the preliminary study, we conducted a second greenhouse study using sweet sorghum as a test bioenergy crop. We co-applied organic sources of N (manure and biosolids) at 75 and 150 kg PAN ha^?1 (representing 50 and 100% N rate respectively) with 3 g GA ha^?1. In each batch of experiment, the crop was grown for 8 wk on Immokalee fine sand of minimal native fertility. After harvest, sufficient water was applied to soil in each pot to yield ～1.5 L (～0.75 pore volume) of leachate, and analyzed for total N and soluble reactive P (SRP). The reduced (50%) N application rate, together with GA, optimized biomass production. Application of GA at 3 g ha^?1, and the organic sources of N at 50% of the recommended N rate, decreased nutrient cost of producing the bioenergy biomass by ～$375 ha^?1 (>90% of total nutrient cost), and could reduce offsite N and P losses from vulnerable soils.     

甜高粱茎秆汁液锤度与可发酵糖含量的关系

甜高粱茎秆富含糖分,是生产燃料乙醇的良好原料。在甜高粱育种或生产中,常用锤度估算汁液含糖量,但锤度与可发酵糖的关系还不是很清楚。本文采用81个甜高粱材料,种植于北京、天津(盐碱地)、河北3个地点,研究了茎秆汁液锤度与可发酵总糖和蔗糖含量的关系。结果表明,北京、河北、天津三个地点甜高粱茎秆汁液总糖/锤度(糖锤比)总平均值分别为0.76、0.74和0.72,其中天津的甜高粱茎秆汁液糖锤比显著低于北京。北京、河北、天津三个地点甜高粱茎秆汁液锤度与总糖、蔗糖含量的相关性均达极显著水平,相关系数分别为0.8911,0.8376和0.9186,其中天津点显著低于河北。适合北京和河北非盐碱地种植的甜高粱茎秆汁液的锤度、可发酵总糖含量的整合回归方程为Y=0.8969X-1.7576(R2=0.8237);天津盐碱地糖锤比低于北京,相关系数显著低于河北,故其回归方程Y=0.9343X-3.1726(R2=0.7015)只可供其它盐碱地区参考。锤度和糖锤比的相关系数显著低于总糖含量和糖锤比的相关系数,说明含糖量高,锤度也高,但锤度高,含糖量不一定高。该结果对于甜高粱育种和加工工艺设计具有重要参考价值。     

Changes in sorghum production,soil P forms and P use efficiency following long-term application of manure,compost and straw in a Ferric Lixisol

Low phosphorus availability in cultivated soils limits sustainable crop production in sub‐Saharan Africa. This study aimed at evaluating the effect of long‐term application of different types of organic amendments on soil P forms, P use efficiency and sorghum yields. A long term experiment established in 1980 at Saria in Burkina Faso, comparing the effects of manure, compost and sorghum straw was used. Manure and compost significantly increased organic P and resin‐P by about 35% and 64%, respectively after 10 and 32 years of sorghum cultivation, and HCl‐P after 32 years of cultivation compared to the control. Manure significantly increased NaHCO₃-Pi and NaOH-Pi by 63% and 26%, respectively compared to the control. Sorghum straw had little effect on measured soil P forms. Manure and compost were the best in increasing sorghum grain yield, which effect were strongly correlated to soil pH, carbon and nitrogen. The partial factors productivities of P resulting from the application of studied organic amendments were similar and low, but significantly higher than that of the control treatment. Organic amendments with high P content, maintaining soil carbon and pH could be used to improve soil P availability, sorghum yield and reduce the demand for mineral phosphorus fertilizers.     

不同类型粒用高粱生产力及光合能力的比较研究

本文以高粱籽粒高产为目的,采用适合于生产上的种植密度,对不同株高的粒用高粱品种、杂交种群体进行生产能力和逃命能力比较研究。研究结果表明,中秆杂交种具有最高收获指数,获得最高籽粒产量。但是,我国当前生产上种植的中秆杂交种都属于叶片宽长且平展的株型,在LAI较高的生育后期,群体过于郁蔽,透光通风不良,导致NAR     

Evapotranspiration predictions of CERES-Sorghum model in Southern Italy

The purpose of this study was to modify and calibrate the CERES-Sorghum water balance model for the dry, high radiation and windy conditions in an area in Southern Italy.

The equation for estimating potential evapotranspiration (E₀) was substituted by another one, calibrated in the study site and expressed as a function of equilibrium evaporation and maximum vapour pressure deficit (defined as the difference between the saturation vapour pressure at maximum and at minimum temperatures).

To calibrate the E₀ equation included in CERES-Sorghum, two drainage lysimeters, located at the Istituto Sperimentale Agronomico experimental farm, Foggia (Italy), were used to measure weekly evapotranspiration of well-watered, irrigated fescue grass, from 1976 to 1986.

A further drainage lysimeter, located in the same farm and cropped with well-watered grain sorghum (cv. NK 121) was used to calibrate the genetic coefficients input to the modified CERES-Sorghum model during the cropping seasons 1979 and 1980.

Simulated phenological dates (anthesis and maturity), grain yield, LAI, biomass and crop evapotranspiration were then compared with the measured ones in a fourth drainage lysimeter cropped with sorghum.

The modified model simulated grain yield accurately, but simulated daily evapotranspiration did not always match well the observed value, especially early in the crop cycle. Improvements are needed to the model in its simulation of soil evaporation and in the crop response function to temperature.     

盐渍化土壤覆土材料理化性状及其对双孢蘑菇生长的影响

研究山西省当地盐渍化土壤添加草炭土、醋糟、谷糠或高粱壳配制的不同覆土材料(Ⅰ:66.7%草炭土,33.3%盐渍化土壤;Ⅱ:50%草炭土,50%盐渍化土壤;Ⅲ~Ⅴ:每立方米盐渍化土壤分别添加45kg醋糟、谷糠或高粱)的理化性状,并比较不同覆土材料对双孢蘑菇(Agaricus bisporus)生长的影响,以草炭土为对照。从覆土至第一潮菇采收结束,Ⅰ和Ⅱ覆土电导率呈逐渐上升趋势,而Ⅲ~Ⅴ覆土的电导率则一直保持较高水平,为1427~1980μS/cm,第三潮菇采收时,Ⅰ~Ⅴ覆土电导率均显著下降;覆土第6天开始,Ⅰ~Ⅴ覆土的pH明显高于对照,为7.47~8.47;Ⅰ和Ⅱ覆土处理的发菌天数与对照相同,Ⅲ~Ⅴ覆土处理则比对照延长3d;各处理的第一潮菇和第三潮菇的采收时间均为5d,第二潮菇采收时间各处理间略有差异,但总产量均高于对照,其中以Ⅲ覆土处理产量最高,达21.3kg/m~2。试验结果表明,盐渍化土壤添加草炭土、醋糟、谷糠或高粱壳均可作为生产双孢蘑菇的覆土材料。     

Sorghum extrusion process combined with biofortified sweet potato contributed for high iron bioavailability in Wistar rats

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of sorghum and sweet potato on the bioavailability of iron, gene expression of proteins involved in iron metabolism and the plasma antioxidant capacity in animals fed with whole sorghum grains processed by dry heat or extrusion, combined or not with sweet potato flour with high content of carotenoids. Five experimental groups were tested (n = 7): dry heat sorghum flour (DS); extruded sorghum flour (ES); whole sorghum flour + sweet potato flour (DS + SP); extruded sorghum flour + sweet potato flour (ES + SP) and positive control (FS). The evaluations included: hemoglobin gain, hemoglobin regeneration efficiency, gene expression of divalente metal transporter 1 (DMT-1), duodenal citochroma B (DcytB), ferroportin, hephaestin, transferrin and ferritin and total plasma antioxidant capacity (TAC). The ES + SP group showed higher (p < 0.05) expression of DcytB, ferroportin and hephaestin when compared to the control group. The DS group showed high (p < 0.05) expression of DMT-1 and the ES showed high mRNA expression of transferrin and ferritin. The changes in the sorghum physicochemical properties from extrusion process reduced the iron and phytate content, and increased the gene expression of proteins involved in iron metabolism, improving iron bioavailability. The combination of sweet potato and sorghum flour (dry or extruded) improved the iron capture and total antioxidant capacity, probably due to the presence of β-carotene and antioxidant compounds.