BIOMASS OF GRAIN-SORGHUM (SORGHUM-BICOLOR L. MOENCH) UNDER VARIABLE WATER REGIME

Field experiments were carried our for three years at Montpellier, Fra nce in a deep collovial alluvial soil during summer to study biomass p roduction of grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) under water s tress. All treatments were well watered at sowing to ensure good crop emergence. Grain sorghum biomass showed substantial variation between treatments. Grain yields varied from 3.8 tha(-1) in highly stressed tr eatment to 10.7 tha(-1) in well watered treatment. The number of panic les per unit area was greatly influenced by the level of water regime at booting stage. Water deficit at maturity affects seed weight. Howev er. a compensatory effect was observed on the yield components of sorg hum under the different treatments owing to differences in plant popul ation. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.