![]() Unlike corn, sorghum is self-fertile, so a large plot is not needed for pollination purposes. Prepare soil much as you would for corn, and be sure to mix a balanced organic fertilizer into the bed or row before planting. Even in warm climates, sorghum is customarily planted in late May or early June. There is no rush to plant sorghum, which needs warm soil to germinate and grow. The seeds are eagerly eaten by chickens and other animals, and are most palatable when cracked. Broom corn varieties vary in the color of the seeds, which may be black, red, orange or white. The ornamental tops also can be used in dried arrangements. The “Dale” variety is productive in a range of climates, or you can try heirloom sweet sorghum varieties like “Sugar Drip” or “Rox Orange.” For more information on this type of sorghum, go to Sweet Sorghum Revival: How to Grow Your Own Natural Sweetener.īroom corn is a type of sorghum that holds its seeds on sturdy straws, perfect for trimming into brooms. ![]() Sweet sorghum, also called cane sorghum, is grown for the sweet juice that is extracted from the tall stalks. Cracked grain sorghum makes excellent animal feed. The grain can be milled into fresh flour, and some varieties such as “Tarahumara” can be popped like popcorn. Grain sorghum, also called milo, produces tall panicles covered with small, round seeds in late summer. Understand the three types of sorghum is key to choosing the best varieties to grow. Sandy soils in warm climates are especially good for growing sorghum because it withstands drought and flooding better than corn does. Sorghum grows best where summers are quite warm, with daytime temperatures regularly topping 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Appropriate sorghum varieties must be chosen for each use, but all types are as easy to grow as corn. This coating often gives the leaf sheaths a sticky, frosty appearance.One of the most versatile members of the grass family, sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) can be grown for grain, crafting or for processing into sorghum syrup. At equal moisture stress, corn leaves lose a greater percentage of their water content than do sorghum leaves probably because of the waxy coating on sorghum leaves and stems. Corn growers can choose between high populations for maximum yields or lower populations with less chance of serious loss from drought. Consequently, sorghum growers can plant high populations for potentially high yields. But if drought occurs, heads are small and fewer tillers develop. When soil moisture is plentiful, sorghum heads grow large and tillers produce heads. An optimum relationship between plant population and moisture supply is often critical with corn but unimportant with sorghum.In a longer drought, sorghum produces smaller heads but none of them are without kernels. Short periods of drought do not damage pollination and fertilization. Sorghum is self-pollinated and produces heads over a longer time of period.A severe drought at silking time may cause the absence of kernels. Some of the advantages of producing grain sorghum over corn in dry conditions are: ![]() Therefore, grazing during a drought or after a frost stress should be avoided. Sorghum can accumulate toxic nitrate levels under drought conditions.The problem can be avoided by not grazing until plants have reached from 18 to 24 inches tall. Prussic acid is a problem in young and active growing tissues.Harvesting earlier during the late vegetative or early head stage of maturity will result in silage with very low DM content (.The recommended stage of maturity for harvesting forage sorghum to optimize DM content and nutrient quality is when the grain reaches early to late dough stage.Should be harvested when the whole plant moisture content is between 63 to 68%.Seeds may be drilled, broadcasted, or planted in rows spaced 15 to 40 inches apart. Forage sorghum should be planted in spring when soil temperatures exceed 60° F at 0.5 to 2.0 inches deep.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |