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Effects of Deheading on Stalk Yield and Juice Quality of Rio Sweet Sorghum¹

The carbohydrates in the grain normally produced by sweet sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.] would more valuable to a sugar producer as sugar in the juice of the plant. April 1, May 1, and June 1 plantings of ‘Rio’ were deheaded in the boot and flower stages of head development. Deheaded and normal plants were compared when the normal plants were in the milk, dough, and rip stages of grain development to determine the effect of deheading on stalk yield and juice quality.

Deheaded plants were higher in Brix, sucrose, and starch, but they contained less juice than normal plants. The effects of deheading on juice extraction, Brix, sucrose, and starch were similar for the milk, dough, and ripe stages of grain development. Deheading in the boot stage resulted in a slightly greater increase in sucrose than deheading in the flower stage. Plants deheaded in the boot and flower stages were similar in yield of stalks, juice extraction, Brix, starch, and juice purity. Deheading did not affect stalk and sugar yield or juice purity. Deheaded plants lodged less and had more side branches than normal plants.

Key Words: Brix • Juice extraction • Sucrose • Starch • Juice purity

² Research Agronomist, U. S. Sugar Crops Field Station, Southern Region, ARS, USDA, Meridian, Miss. 39301.

Received for publication September 28, 1972.