93 Forage Sorghum

93 Forage Sorghum is best suited for one-cut silage systems: 80 – 90 days to soft dough.  93 Forage Sorghum can be cut for hay, as long as proper management is followed, but is not suited for grazing environments.

CHARACTERISTICS:

1 = Poor; 5 = Excellent

Recovery After Cutting: 1
Double Crop: 3
Sugarcane Aphid Tolerance: 3
Standability: 4
Leaf Disease Resistance: 4

Uses:

• Best suited for one-cut silage systems: 80 – 90 days to soft dough
• Can be cut for hay, as long as proper management is followed; not suited for grazing environments

SEEDING:

Planting Time:
May-July
Emergence (days): 10

Seeding Information:
Seeds/lb.: 14-16,000
Soil Temperature: 60 F
Depth (in.): 3/4-1
Days to Harvest (Soft Dough Stage): 80-90
Harvest Height (ft.): 6-7
Dryland Seeding (lbs./acre): 4-8
Irrigation/Hi-Rain Seeding (lbs./acre): 6-10

• Planting date should be after the day length exceeds 12 hours and 20 minutes
• Can be no-tilled into stubble of winter and spring crops
• Do not plant in soil with pH greater than 7.5 as iron chlorosis can be a problem

MANAGEMENT:

Fertility:

• Under favorable conditions, 1 to 1.25 lbs of nitrogen per day of planned growth should be available for ultimate growth, with little risk for nitrate poisoning. For example, for a planned 93 day harvest, 93 to 115 lbs of nitrogen should be available.
• Exceeding the recommended fertility above may have negative lodging results
• Potassium levels should be maintained similar to that of corn
• If soil pH is greater than 7.2, an application of iron may be necessary to prevent iron chlorosis

Harvest & Management Tips:

• Usually harvested about 90 days after planting
• Dry hay and/or baleage are applicable where and when paper harvest management is followed. Dry hay is suited for areas with less moisture and humidity; baleage offers more felxibility in all other areas
• Harvest at proper moisture (yield and quality are maximized between 60% and 72%)
• Wide windows are required for baleage products to ensure rapid dry down.
• For silage, keep chop length uniform (around ½”)

Avoiding Nitrate & Prussic Acid Poisoning:

• Do not harvest drought stricken plants within four days following a heavy rain
• Do not apply nitrogen prior to expected drought periods
• If in doubt, cut at higher stubble height as nitrates tend to accumulate in the lower stalk
• If high prussic acid is found, wait one month prior to feeding. Unlike excessive nitrates, prussic acid will escape from the plant over time
• When questions about livestock safety remain, get forage tested promptly