Assessing Crude Protein Levels and Microelement Concentrations of Flour Grain Yield of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench Cultivars

Abstract

Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench is scientifically known as a highly adaptable cereal crop with a high nutritional value, including significant amounts of crude protein and trace components. Crude protein encompasses various amino acids essential for growth, development, and maintaining quality. Trace elements play a crucial role in metabolism and activating enzymes. By examining the levels of crude protein and trace elements in various Hungarian sorghum cultivars, the research aims to show how nitrogen's impact varies across different cultivars. The assessment research focused on six chosen cultivars: Zádor, Alföldi 1, ES Albanus, Albita, and Farmsugro180. These types displayed different hues, including red, red/brown, and white. The cultivar ES Föehn, developed by Lidea Seeds, served as the benchmark for European standards. The elements N, Fe, Zn, Cu, and Sr were selected for the intended investigation. The treatment consisted of a control group that did not get any nitrogen fertilizer and a treated group that received nitrogen fertilizer in the form of ammonium nitrate (Péti-só, 27% N). The treated group was managed with a 60 kg.ha^-1 dosage in the experimental field. The findings revealed variations in the concentrations of elements depending on the different kinds within each category. Most of the analyzed groups exhibited a statistically significant p-value of less than 0.05, as determined by the variance of non-parametric data for Fe, Cu, Zn, and Sr. For example, Zádor exhibited abundant microelement contents, such as N (15.3 mg.kg^-1), Fe (46.2 mg.kg^-1), Cu (3.5 mg.kg^-1), and Zn (23 mg.kg^-1). Strontium (Sr) mineral showed a strong correlation, with a correlation copper of r = 0.66. The variety of mineral and protein levels seen in the examined cultivars is highly recommended as a valuable source of nutritious plant-based dietary resources, especially for developing concentrated protein sources. According to the findings, brown and red grain pericarp varieties have been identified as lucrative raw materials for investments in the industrial sector, mostly because of their high crude protein qualities.