Sorghum Growing Guide

Sorghum enters dormancy under drought stress rather than dying — it resumes growth when rain returns, making it ideal for semi-arid regions where corn would fail.

Plant when soil temperature at 5 cm reaches 15°C — sorghum germinates poorly in cold soil and is more sensitive to cold than corn at emergence.

Apply nitrogen at 60-90 kg/ha in a split dose (half at planting, half at knee-height) — sorghum is more nitrogen-efficient than corn per unit of grain produced.

Control weeds in the first 30 days — sorghum establishes slowly and is a poor competitor early, but its dense canopy suppresses weeds once established.

Harvest grain sorghum at 13-14% moisture. Bird damage can be severe as grain matures — plant bird-resistant (high-tannin) varieties if bird pressure is high.

Avoid grazing or cutting sorghum regrowth within 7 days of a frost — frost-damaged sorghum produces toxic levels of hydrocyanic acid (prussic acid) that can kill livestock.