Extension Report

Baldwin County Extension Office

302A Byrne Street

Bay Minette, AL  36507

Telephone (251) 937-7176 or

928-0860/943-5061 ext. 2222

FAX (251) 937-7285

Richard Petcher

Regional Extension Agent/Agronomic Crops

May 18, 2010

Planting Tips for Those Who are a Little Bit Rusty on Grain Sorghum Production

Grain sorghum because of its drought tolerance capabilities is one of the most versatile crops that can be grown in South Alabama.  In the U.S. grain sorghum is grown primarily for livestock feed.  However, it is a staple source of food for people in many other countries.  There are only 15,000 acres of grain sorghum in all of Alabama.  The reason for this is that there is a very limited market.  When feeding or selling treat grain sorghum as being 90 % the value of corn.

From time to time growers may find a market, or may decide to grow grain sorghum for some of its other benefits to their farm.  It is a well known fact that dove, turkey, quail and deer love grain sorghum.  Grain sorghum is also a rather inexpensive crop to produce.  It is an excellent soil builder adding from 5 to 10 tons of organic matter back to the soil.  It is also an excellent rotation crop for both nematode and weed control.    Grain sorghum yields are improving.  During the 80’s the expected yield was around 60-70 bushels per acre.  In 2008, several growers in south Alabama averaged 125 bushels per acre.  Some growers in Florida call themselves the 250 bushel club.  They grew the first crop of grain sorghum of 125 bushels, replanted and made another 125 bushels on the same piece of ground. 

Grain sorghum can be planted over a wide range of planting dates.  Planting date is from April 15 to July 15.  Delay planting until the morning soil temperature is 65 degrees at the 2 inch depth.  Planting early may help take advantage of early season rains and also help avoid late season insects. 

Variety selection is important.  Several varieties well adapted for our area are DeKalb 5400, DK 5403 and Pioneer 83G66.

Seeding depth is important.  Seed should be 0.75 to 1 inch deep and never more than 1.5 inches deep.  Seeding rate is 80,000 plants per acre irrigated and 50,000 plants per acre dry land.  That is typically 4-7 lb. per acre depending on the seed size.

Row spacing on dry land production does not make much of a difference.  Under maximized conditions row spacing of 10 inches favored the highest yields.  When planting late narrow row planting is a benefit. 

Grain sorghum is very sensitive to acid soil.  The soil pH should be at least 5.8 or above.  Grain sorghum is much like corn in that it responds to starter fertilizer and then should be sidedressed with additional Nitrogen by the plants sixth leaf stage which is typically 20 days after planting.  Be sure to sidedress before rapid plant growth takes off which is around day 30.  Total N for dryland should be 100-120 pounds of N and Phosphorus and Potash according to soil sample.  On poor land the totals of N-120, P-120 and K-120 pounds per acre are recommended. 

There are several insect pests of grain sorghum.  The major early season pests are chinch bugs, cutworms, white grubs and wireworms.  The sorghum midge attacks the bloom and the corn earworms, fall armyworms, sorghum webworms and stink bugs attack the grain itself.   For current insecticide recommendations look for in http://pest.ca.uky.edu/ext/recs/ent24-sorghum.pdf.  And on the worldwide web at www.cdms,net/manuf/default.asp.

Grain sorghum is more sensitive to herbicides than corn.  Grain sorghum is almost always included in crop rotation schedules.  So look up the replanting labels for grain sorghum before planting.  Atrazine is the basis of most weed control programs in Alabama.  The chloroacetamide herbicides such as Dual II Magnum, Outlook and Lasso give added control of weeds and some grasses.  The grain sorghum seed must be concept treated seed in order for these chloroactamide herbicides to be used. 

Grain sorghum challenges a combine operator’s skills more than any other grain grown in Alabama.  The harvest equipment must be well maintained and the operator alert to prevent harvest losses.   Fine-tuning a combine for harvest can easily provide $25-50 or more income per acre.  Twenty per cent grain moisture is a good recommendation for starting to cut if heads are uniformly ripe.  Field loss and kernel damage are normally lowest at this grain moisture level.  Try to complete harvest before 14 % moisture is reached.   All of the above can only be done if you are able to dry your grain.  Discounts for moisture begin above 14 %.  Applying a harvest desiccant such as sodium chlorate may be helpful in making combining easier, however, it will not speed grain maturing or drying.   This should be done 7-10 days before harvest.  Grain sorghum should be 12 % moisture for storage. 

An excellent source of information is the Grain Sorghum Handbook University of Arkansas 2004 http://www.uaex.edu/other_areas/publicaitons/html/mp-297.asp.                                      

Email address: rpetcher@aces.edu

Phone number: 937-7176 or 943-5061, 928-0860, ext. 2222

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M and Auburn Universities) in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture is an equal opportunity educator and employer.