Sorghum

Warm-season annual grass bred either for towering forage tonnage or shorter grain heads. More drought-resilient than corn yet equally responsive to heat and nitrogen.

Why plant sorghum

• Heavy residue – forage hybrids often top 8 T DM / ac, laying down a thick, weed-suppressing mulch. eupdate.agronomy.ksu.edu
• Soil builder – deep roots add carbon and ease shallow compaction. SARE
• Thrives in heat & dryness – ideal for water-limited acres.
• Versatile harvest – chop for silage, graze standing, or combine grain at maturity. eupdate.agronomy.ksu.edu

Planting & management

• Window – plant at corn time or a week later; soil ≥ 60 °F for forage, ≥ 65 °F for grain. Penn State Extension Natural Resources Conservation Service
• Seeding rate
  • Forage sorghum – 7-9 lb/ac (≈ 50-70 k seeds). Penn State Extension
  • Grain sorghum – target 20-30 k plants/ac (≈ 4-7 lb depending on seed size). eupdate.agronomy.ksu.edu eupdate.agronomy.ksu.edu
• Row spacing – 15-30 in; narrower rows often add a few bu/ac in grain types. eupdate.agronomy.ksu.edu
• Depth – 1 – 1½ in. Penn State Extension
• Nitrogen – 60-120 lb N/ac based on yield goal; keep pH 6.0-7.5. Penn State Extension
• Harvest – silage at soft-dough (leave 4 in stubble) or combine grain at ≤ 14 % moisture. eupdate.agronomy.ksu.edu
• Risk watch – monitor stressed forage for nitrates; prussic acid risk is lower than sorghum-sudan but still possible after drought. UNL Beef