Abstract
The objectives of this study were to (i) determine what the most reliable method of determining stalk strength in Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench, (ii) determine what part of sorghum plant to be tested for the best estimate of stalk strength, (iii) determine stalk strength for lines of sorghum by mechanical methods, (iv) relate stalk strength data to field lodging and field observations, and (v) relate stalk strength data to each of several plant measurements. An answer to these questions should provide a more reliable objective method for predicting field lodging in populations of sorghum plants. Strengths of nine lines of Sorghum bicolor at each of four positions (the second internode above the first unrooted node above the ground, the middle of the upper internode, the base of peduncle, and at 15 cm below the panicle) were determined by six mechanical methods. All plants tested were at physiological maturity. The six methods of testing were, crushing of 2.5 cm-long internodal portions from dried plants, crushing of 2.5 cm-long internodal potions of freshly cut plants, penetrating of dried plants by a hand held penetrometer, (iv) penetrating freshly cut plants by penetrometer, (v) shearing of dried plants by a shear press, and (vi) cantilever bending of dried plants. ...
Al-Tayar, Fadhel Abdulredha (1974). Stalk strength measurements to predict field lodging in Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench. Texas A&M University. Texas A&M University. Libraries. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /DISSERTATIONS -213356.