Figure 1 illustrates how earlier planting dates (cooler average daily temperatures) will produce more tillers per plant. The cooler the average daily temperature is during the 4 to 6-leaf stage, the more plants will tiller (Figure 1). Plants in the 4 to 6-leaf stage will tiller when the average daily temperature (as opposed to the daily high) is below 65 F. Cool fall conditions can result in extremely high tillering rates and delayed sorghum maturity. Hot dry conditions suppress tiller survival while cool temperatures promote tiller survival.
While sorghum usually initiates tillers, environmental conditions determine how many of the tillers actually produce a head. Environmental conditions and management factors have a limited effect on the plant's ability to initiate tiller, but they do influence tiller development. Most grain sorghum hybrids possess the ability to tiller. Tillering is the most important factor in grain sorghum's tremendous ability to compensate for environmental changes and management inputs. An additional 10 percent should be added to the seeding rate to account for field mortality unrelated to germination percentages. Example: 30,000/95 percent =31,579 seeds per acre planting rate to get 30,000 germinating seeds per acre. The seeding rate can be calculated by using the following formula.ĭesired planting rate divided by percent actual germination equals number of seeds to plant to for the desired population. To determine the actual germination percentage, provide your local Pioneer sales representative with a bag tag or the lot number on the tag. Pioneer® brand grain sorghum typically germinates well above 85 percent. Germination percentage is listed at 85 percent on seed bags as mandated by seed labeling laws. It is important to read the information on the bag tag to accurately calculate the number of acres each 50-pound bag will plant, based on projected seeds per acre. Crops with high nitrogen can be used to make ensilage with a relatively good margin of safety.Grain sorghum seed size is typically 14,000 to 16,000 seeds per pound, but can range from 9,000 to 22,000 seeds per pound. Do not apply nitrogen fertilizer if your levels are up or too high. Cut crops in the afternoon instead of the morning, allow for several sunny days of clear weather before cutting and raise your cutting bar. If the Nitrate level is high, delay cutting or grazing the crop. Nitrate poisoning DOES NOT LEAVE THE PLANT and should be dealt with differently than Prussic Acid poisoning. IT IS RECOMMENDED TO REMOVE ANIMALS FROM PASTURE FOR AT LEAST 7 DAYS TO ALLOW PRUSSIC ACID LEVELS TO DROP TO A SAFE LEVEL. **PRUSSIC ACID LEVELS WILL RISE AFTER A FROST OR FREEZING. If grazing or feeding, delay releasing animals to feed until plants are 20″ tall. If there is a high level of prussic acid, cut and cure the crop before baling, as the prussic acid will turn to a gas and leave the plant.
Prussic acid often occurs when plants are green, succulent forages as opposed to dried and baled. Be sure to test your sorghum sudan products prior to grazing or cutting for prussic acid and nitrate poisoning. All Sorghums & Sudans can cause Prussic Acid and Nitrate poisoning in livestock.
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