Abstract
The article presents the results of ecological variety testing of the grain sorghum variety Premio under the conditions of the forest-steppe zone of Northern Kazakhstan. The study addresses current issues of agricultural diversification under the conditions of increasing climate aridity. The field experiment was conducted in 2025 with different seeding rates (80,000-300,000 seeds/ha). During the study, plant height, tillering, plant density, and yield were evaluated. The results showed that increasing the seeding rate had a significant effect on the morphological and productive structural characteristics of the plants. Plant height and density reached the most favorable levels at seeding rates of 170,000-200,000 seeds/ha. The maximum tillering rate was observed at a seeding rate of 120,000 seeds/ha. Grain yield reached its maximum value at a seeding rate of 200,000 seeds/ha, amounting to 6.29 t/ha. A further increase in the seeding rate led to a deterioration in yield structure and a decrease in overall productivity. The obtained results indicate that the optimal seeding rate for the Premio sorghum variety under the conditions of Northern Kazakhstan is 170,000-200,000 seeds/ha. The findings have practical significance for the inclusion of sorghum in the regional cropping system and for ensuring sustainable grain production.