Uji Adaptasi Beberapa Varietas Tanaman Sorgum (Shorgum bicolor L.) Di Kabupaten Padang Lawas

Abstract

Sorghum is a plant that belongs to the cereal group. Sorghum has great potential to be developed as a food ingredient to replace rice. Sorghum has advantages related to low water requirements and tolerance to drought-prone land. This research aims to determine the adaptability of several sorghum varieties (Sorghum bicolor L.) in Padang Lawas. The research was conducted from February to May 2025. The research method used was a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with four varieties, namely P1 (Numbu), P2 (Kawali), P3 (Suri 3), and P4 (Suri 4). The parameters observed were plant height, flowering time, panicle length, stem diameter, grain weight per sample, grain weight per plot, and root length. Observations were carried out periodically during the vegetative and generative phases.The results showed that the Suri 4 variety consistently showed the best plant performance in almost all observed parameters. At 8 weeks after planting, Suri 4 reached the highest plant height (231.76 cm), significantly different from the other varieties. Suri 4 also had the earliest flowering time (60 days after planting), the longest panicle (29.66 cm), the largest stem diameter (2.32 cm), the highest grain weight per sample and per plot (275.61 g and 3611.03 g), as well as the longest root length (67.01 cm). Conversely, the Numbu variety showed the lowest plant growth in most parameters, including plant height, panicle length, stem diameter, grain weight, and root length.The superiority of the Suri 4 variety is most likely influenced by genetic factors that support plant growth, photosynthesis efficiency, and good environmental adaptation. Therefore, the Suri 4 variety can be recommended as the best variety for sorghum cultivation development, especially in Padang Lawas Regency.