Grain Sorghum Production

South Dakota State University Open PRAIRIE: Open Public Research Access Institutional Repository and Information Exchange SDSU Extension Fact Sheets SDSU Extension 1973 Grain Sorghum Production Elmer E. Sanderson Leon S. Wood Follow this and additional works at: https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/extension_fact Recommended Citation Sanderson, Elmer E. and Wood, Leon S., "Grain Sorghum Production" (1973). SDSU Extension Fact Sheets. 1314. https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/extension_fact/1314 This Fact Sheet is brought to you for free and open access by the SDSU Extension at Open PRAIRIE: Open Public Research Access Institutional Repository and Information Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in SDSU Extension Fact Sheets by an authorized administrator of Open PRAIRIE: Open Public Research Access Institutional Repository and Information Exchange. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Historic, archived doculllent Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. SDSU ® Extension For current policies and practices, contact SDSU Extension Website: extension.sdstate.edu Phone: 605-688-4 792 Email: [email protected] SDSU Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer in accordance with the nondiscrimination policies of South Dakota State University, the South Dakota Board of Regents and the United States Department of Agriculture. FS 308 Grain Sorghum Production Grain sorghum head ( open panicle) Cooperative Extension Service South Dakota State University United States Department of Agriculture 0~ .732. So 272 F 11 ot ll lll lll llli~l l'li~llrlll llmmlrm111~111111 11 3 1574 50091 6728 FS 308 Grain Sorghum Pro·duct:ion by Elmer E. Sanderson, Extension Agronomist-Crops Leon S. Wood, Extension Plant Pathologist In the last several years about 300,000 acres of grain has a tendency to stay green until after a hard frost. sorghum have been planted annually in South Dako Many varieties and hybrids start to lodge severely ta. High-yielding and improved standing ability of about one to two weeks after a frost. As a result sor recently developed experiment station and commer ghum grain often does not get dry enough before har cial hybrid varieties, have stimulated interest in grain vest and needs to be dried artificially. sorghum production. The hybrids have largely re placed open-pollinated varieties. Planting Seedbed Preparation Grain sorghum has a good potential in South Proper ~eedbed preparation kills weeds, conserves Dakota. Presently, the largest acreages are being moisture, and forms a firm, mellow, warm seedbed. grown in the southeast and south central counties. Germination is faster in warm soil and more uni As earlier and better-adapted varieties are developed, form in a firm seedbed. Since sorghum seedlings the grain sorghum producing area will expand grow slowly and do not compete favorably with northward. weeds, shallow cultivation immediately before plant Sorghum withstands drought, heat, and grass ing is essential. hoppers and is not attacked by corn rootworms. It is Plow in early spring, or if necessary, early fall. a low risk crop, provided you select an early, adapt Just before planting, disk shallow and harrow the ed variety and follow the necessary cultural prac land. If you use a lister, blank list in late fall or tices; however, if you select a late variety, sorghum early spring. Fill in blank listed rows before nosing becomes one of the more risky crops. out with a lister at planting time. A thorough pre Sorghum is a relatively new crop to many farm paration of the seedbed may increase your yield ers. Studying production practices and varieties can 50%. help you avoid many difficulties. In the present feed Time of Planting grain program sorghum is handled the same as corn. Since sorghum is a hot weather crop, delay plant Grain sorghum is a highly palatable feed for ing until the soil is warm enough to insure good livestock. For lambs, dairy cows, broilers, and lay seed germination and rapid emergence of the plants. ing hens, it has about the same feed efficiency as While sorghum can be planted as early as May 15 corn. For beef cattle and hogs, however, corn is in some years, experience indicates that if it is slightly more efficient. Grain sorghum is a carbohy planted too early, late germinating weed_s_like green drate feed and 'is more efficiently utilized by live and yellow foxtail may become troublesome. The stock when supplemented by protein. usual planting date is between May 20 to early June. Grain sorghum is usually grown as a grain crop, The exact time of planting is modified by seasonal but occasionally it is used for silage. The concentra variations and areas of the state. If you use an extra tion of grain in grain sorghum silage exceeds that of early grain variety, planting may be delayed until June forage sorghum and may exceed that of corn de 15 to produce a mature crop before a killing frost. A pending on the height of cut. The shorter-growing later-maturing variety necessitates an earlier planting grain sorghum produces fewer tons per acre than date. forage sorghum or corn. Cattle do not chew the seed in grain sorghum silage as thoroughly as they do Method of Planting corn. Sheep chew sorghum seed fairly well. Plant grain sorghum in rows at a depth of 1 inch in heavy soil and 1½ to 2 inches in sandy soil. Corn PRODUCTION PRACTICES SORGHUM planters or listers are the most common seeding equip If sorghum is planted in rows, the major differ ment. A corn planter with furrow-opener attachment ence between sorghum production and corn produc is the ideal method. The furrow-opener assures uni tion comes at harvest time. Sorghum, originally a form depth of planting and places the seed in moist perennial plant, has had most of the perennial char soil to obtain immediate emergence of the seedling. If acteristics removed through breeding. However, it you use a lister, list shallower than for corn. 1 A grain drill can also be used to plant the seed Narrow Rows in rows 18 to 42 inches apart. Several rows can be During the last several years, there has been con planted with an 11- to 14-foot drill. Bore a hole in a siderable interest in planting sorghum in narrow stub 2 x 4, and fasten the stub in drill box above the rows to boost grain yields. Limited tests on row hole from which the grain is to be seeded. Insert a spacing at the Southeast Experiment Farm near funnel in the hole in the 2 x 4. An 8-inch funnel Centerville, South Dakota has shown that yields will hold about 2½ pounds of seed. A small gas fun can be increased by planting rows less than 40 nel, which holds more seed, can be used. inches wide. Present data. indicate best yield for rows spaced 30 inches apart but some varieties and hybrids Corn Planter Sorghum Plates for are designed for rows as narrow as 12 inches. Increas Sorghum stands often are either too thin or too ing the population from 50,000 to 75,000 plants per thick. To obtain satisfactory yields, a uniform stand acre did not increase yield for corresponding row is important; therefore, take care to use the right spacings. In areas of lower annual rainfall, the 50,000 planter plates. For intermediate-size seed varieties, plant population would often be too high. With nar pounds of seed planted per acre amount to approxi row rows, greater distance between plants in the row mately two-thirds the number of seeds dropped per must be planned in order to get the optimum plant foot. Example: If six seeds are dropped per foot in population per acre. Too many plants per acre can 40-inc.h rows, the rate of seeding is 4 pounds per easily result in a crop failure. The main advantage of acre. narrow rows is to attain more efficient use of moisture, Use plates with holes large enough to hold three soil fertility, and sunlight. are too small, bore to five seeds per hole. If holes It must be emphasized that increased sorghum size. Some planter plates have them out to the desired seed yields will not be obtained using narrow rows the outer edge. If these rounded notches around if other good cultural practices are neglected. Ade enlarge them with a rattail notches are too small, quate weed control becomes an important concern seeds into the holes for testing, file. When fitting the with narrow rows. Unless you follow all the recom Count all seeds that will go in pack them in tightly. mended practices involved in grain sorghum pro that is in halfway will be at least halfway-a seed duction, including the selection of an adapted vari dropped by the planter. ety, you very well could be disappointed in your re from the under side. Cut out Countersink holes sults with narrow row planting. If your equipment 30 degrees. The upper edge of at an angle of about is geared to 40-inch rows, you will need to decide countersunk very slightly or the holes should be whether the possible increase in yield will jusitfy the sharp edge. Use a false just enough to take away converting to narrow-row spacing. leakage and cracking ring, if necessary, to prevent Although sorghum will withstand drought bet of small seed. ter than most crops, it responds to additional mois Calibrating the Planter ture. Poor yields have been obtained during rela Because of the large variation in sizes of sorghum tively dry seasons from sorghum planted following seed, even within the same variety, no "rule of alfalfa or any other moisture depleting crop.

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