Economic benefit analysis of different summer-sowing patterns and cutting frequencies of three photoperiod-sensitive sorghum-sudangrass hybrids

In order to understand the economic benefits of photoperiod-sensitive sorghum-sudangrass hybrids planted following three different sowing patterns (no-tillage without mulching, tillage without mulching, and tillage with plastic mulching, respectively), three hybrids, Monster, BJM, and Big kahuna, were multiple cropped after winter wheat harvest in the Longdong dryland area, in Gansu Province. The yield from two different processing techniques, mowing once (one cut) and mowing twice (two cuts) per year, were measured, and the variance of the total investment, total revenue, net return, and the ratio of output to input were analyzed. Results showed the main effect of dibbling pattem was significant differences (P<0.05) in the total revenue, net return, and the ratio of output to input, and these values were the highest in the sowing pattern involving tillage without mulching. The interaction effect of different hybrid varieties and different sowing patterns was non-significant; the main effect of varieties under the two-cut processing technique was non-significant, and Monster had the highest value; the main effect of varieties under the one-cut processing technique had a significant difference (P<0.05), and BJM had the highest value. Comparison of manual work and machinery operation showed that the total investments in machinery operations associated with the three different dibbling ways were all lower than that involved with manual work; the net return, and the ratio of output to input were higher with machine operations than those involved with manual work. Comparison between the one-cut and two-cuts processing techniques showed that the total revenue, net return, and the ratio of output to input in the one-cut technique were higher than those in the two-cuts technique. Considering the economic benefits, the optimum multiple cropping production model of sorghum-sudangrass hybrid is BJM mowed once (one week before the early frost) with machinery operation using tillage with plastic mulching after winter wheat harvest in Longdong, Gansu.