Success StorySorghum Leaf Harvesting



Sorghum Leaf Harvesting

Author: Timothy Stombaugh

Planning Unit: Biosystems & Agr Engineering

Major Program: Forages

Outcome: Initial Outcome

A unique strain of red sorghum was discovered at UK that has the ability to produce desirable complex botanical compounds called phytoalexins.   Recovery of these compounds requires harvest and processing of only the leaf material from the crop.  Biosystems and Agricultural Engineers worked with the crop development team to identify and develop mechanical harvest techniques and equipment to allow them to efficiently recover just the leaf material from the field.