Variations in nitrogen uptake and nitrate-nitrogen concentration among sorghum groups

Nitrogen uptake and nitrate-N concentration in forage sorghums, which are related to ground water pollution or feed quality under conditions of crop fertilization by only animal wastes, were examined. Seventy-four genotypes of sorghum and Sudan grass were tested. They were classified into 4 groups; grain type and dual purpose type sorghums (6 and 13 genotypes, respectively, Sorghum bicolor Moench), sorgo type sorghum (21, S. bicolor), Sudan type sorghum (22, S. bicolor x S. sudanense (Piper) Stapf), and Sudan grass (12, S. sudanense). There was a strong correlation between dry matter (DM) yield and PIT uptake, with the sorgo type producing the highest DM matter yield and showing the highest N uptake. Nitrate-N, which causes nitrate poisoning of ruminants, was detected mostly in the stem of all the genotypes. The nitrate-N concentration based on DM could be calculated accurately by multiplying the nitrate-N concentration of stem on a fresh matter basis by the DM partitioning ratio of stem divided by the DM concentration of stem. The grain type and the dual purpose type of sorghums with dry stem showed the lowest nitrate-N concentration because these plants had a lower DM partitioning ratio of stem and higher DM concentration of stem. Sudan grass and Sudan type sorghum with the genetic background of Sudan grass showed higher nitrate-N concentrations owing to their ability to accumulate nitrate-N.