INTERACTION BETWEEN BIOMASS SORGHUM GENOTYPES AND GROWING ENVIRONMENTS IN MATO GROSSO STATE
SORGHUM BIOMASS; AGRONOMIC EVALUATION; G X E interaction
Acting in the generation of thermal energy, as a substitute for combustion in boilers, or production of low-cost roughage for animal feed, sorghum biomass has gained space in recent years, due to its formidable characteristics both for co-generation of energy and the possibility of be ensiled and fed to animals. In view of this, research aimed at increasing the productive potential is prioritized, however studies of the genotype x environment interaction (GxE) are important, since this is one of the greatest difficulties when recommending cultivars for planting in different locations. Thus, the objective was to evaluate the interaction between biomass sorghum genotypes and cultivation environments in the State of Mato Grosso for the characteristics height, green mass production (PMV), dry mass production (DMS) and biomass moisture at harvest. Thus, in a 24 x 2 factorial scheme (24 genotypes x 2 environments), 22 biomass sorghum genotypes and two silage sorghum cultivars, used as controls, were cultivated in the municipalities of Cáceres and Sinop, in a randomized block design, with three repetitions. The useful experimental plots consisted of 2 rows of five meters, spaced 0.70m apart. The data of the measured characteristics were submitted to analysis of variance and the means of the genotypes, for the characteristics that demonstrated significance in the F Test (P<0.05) were grouped by the Scoot-Knott test, at 5% probability. The presence of the GxE interaction was verified for all the characteristics mentioned above. When splitting the GXA interaction into its simple and complex parts, as proposed by Cruz and Castoldi, with the exception of height, the other characteristics showed that the complex part prevails. Such results indicate that the best genotype for cultivation in Cáceres does not coincide with the best for Sinop. New tests are recommended in a greater number of environments in Mato Grosso that allow a study of the adaptability and stability of genotypes, thus allowing the safe recommendation of biomass sorghum genotypes for cultivation in the state.