The effect of subsurface drip irrigation method on sweet sorghum biomass and bioethanol yields

This study was carried out in the experimental area of Çukurova University Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Structures and Irrigation in 2021. The effects of subsurface drip irrigation method on sorghum yield were investigated in the study, which was carried out in a randomized block design with 3 replications. In the study, different irrigation water levels were applied by using four different plant-pan coefficients (Kcp:1.00, Kcp:0.75, Kcp:0.50, Kcp:0.25) during the sorghum plant development period. In the study using sorghum (Sorghum bicolor var. saccharatum (L.) Mohlenbr.) M81E variety, irrigation water varying between 330 mm and 590 mm was applied to the trial subjects. Dry matter yields were varied between 1720 kg/da and 5420 kg/da according to the treatments,, and the highest dry matter yield was obtained from the fully irrigated treatment. It was determined that the irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) values were changed between 9.19 kg/m3 and 5.21 kg/m3, and the water use efficiency (WUE) values were changed between 10.5 kg/m3 and 5.8 kg/m3. It was determined that the biomass yield obtained from the experimental treatments were ranged between 4281 and 9343 kg/da, and the bioethanol yield values were changed between 52.1 and 207.3 L/da. While the highest juice yield was obtained from I1 treatment as 2463 L/da, the lowest juice yield was obtained from I4 treatments as 633 L/da. There were no statistically significant differences in brix (%) values under different irrigation levels.