The Crusta grain sorghum variety is a mid-season or early-mid season variety intended for cultivation in the North Caucasus and Lower Volga regions. Plants reach heights of 130-140 cm, with green leaves measuring 60-65 cm in length and 6-7 cm in width, featuring a central white vein. Ears are erect, symmetrical, and dense, measuring 20-24 cm in length, protruding from the leaf sheath by 8-10 cm. Glume is reddish-brown; awns are absent or poorly developed. Grains are elliptical, rounded on the back, yellowish-white or grayish, with a 1000-grain weight ranging from 19.1 to 29.9 g, and a semi-flinty endosperm.
The Crusta variety is characterized by good resistance to lodging and drought, making it a reliable choice for cultivation in the Volgograd region and other areas with a similar climate. The vegetative period is 115-118 days. Plants possess good adaptability to combine harvesting, as well as low susceptibility to aphids and bacterial blight, contributing to stable yields. Average grain yield varies from 18.7 to 28.9 c/ha depending on the region and growing conditions.
Crusta variety grains contain 13-14% crude protein, 3.0-3.5% fat, and 72-73% starch, making them suitable for food use and the production of flour, flakes, starch, as well as for animal feed purposes. In 1 kg of grain, there is 104 g of digestible protein, 1.19 feed units, and 11.21 MJ of exchangeable energy, ensuring high nutritional value for feeding animals.
