Adaptation of Sorghum Crops in the North-West of the Non-Black Earth Zone

Abstract

Abstract The article addresses the issue of whether it is possible to grow thermophilic crops of the sorghum family for forage purposes in the North-west zone. For 4 years of research, a high degree of adaptation of the plants to growing conditions and their ecological plasticity, declared in the characteristics of the studied crops, have been confirmed. It has been found that the lack of heat in the zone of excessive moisture and long daylight hours is the main limiting factor that has a direct effect on both the duration of interstage periods and the height and yield of green mass of the plants. Even under extreme conditions of acute heat deficit, sorghum crops have been able to form a full-fledged harvest of green mass. The sum of active temperatures in the zone is not enough for the sorghum to complete the full development cycle.