Summer Select EverGrow BMR PPS sorghum x sudangrass is for those looking for the widest window of harvest and superior quality. Not only is EverGrow BMR PPS a very high quality BMR6 sorghum x sudangrass, it is also a photo period sensitive variety. What that means is that EverGrow PPS BMR will remain in the vegetative stage and continue to build tonnage until the day length falls below 12 hrs. and 20 mins.
CHARACTERISTICS:
1 = Poor; 5 = Excellent
BMR (Brown Mid-Rib): BMR 6
Traits: Photo Period Sensitive
Maturity: Medium Late
Seedling Vigor: 3
Recovery After Cutting: 3
Leaf Disease Resistance: 5
Sugarcane Aphid Tolerance: 2
Double Crop: 5
Single Silage Cut: 3
Rapid Dry Down: 2
Uses:
- Hay Baleage – the wide window of harvest and tremendous quality of the EverGrow BMR PPS make this hybrid a favorite for hay and baleage opportunities
- Grazing – recommended begin height is 24 in. with a stop height of 6-8 in.
- Silage – The large amounts of digestible energy coming from the high quality fiber in EverGrow BMR PPS, along with the tremendous leafiness, means that you can expect a superior, highly nutritious silage product time after time
SEEDING:
Planting Time:
May-July
Emergence (days): 10
Seeding Information:
- Soil temperature of 60 F and climbing
- Average seeds/pound: 14,000-15,000
- Planting depth should be 1-1½ in., depending on soil moisture
- Follow recommended seeding rates for your area:
Higher moisture areas: 35-50 lbs./acre
High plains (lower moisture): 20-25 lbs./acre
- Can be no-tilled into stubble of winter and spring crops
- Works great following cereal grain production
- Do not plant in soil with pH greater than 7.5 as iron chlorosis may become an issue
MANAGEMENT:
Fertility:
- Please test your soil!
- Under favorable conditions, 1-1¼ lbs. of nitrogen/day of planned growth should be available for ultimate growth, with little risk for nitrate poisoning. For example, for a planned 90 day harvest, 90-112 lbs. of nitrogen should be available.
- 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
Avoiding Nitrate and 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
Harvest:
- First cutting: for best quality, plan to harvest within 40 days of growth and less than 40 in. of growth
- Cutting height: for optimum regrowth, crop should be harvested
leaving two nodes or approximately 6-8 in. of plant material
- Use sharp blades: a clean cutting will enhance regrowth
- Sorghum species dry down slowly due to bloom found on the plant (waxy white substance found on stalks): it is advised to swath the harvested crop, allowing it to wilt to desired moisture level, before picking it up for storage
- Quality levels, including NDFd and protein, will decline if crop is harvested after flowering. Harvesting during vegetative growth is imperative to ensure ultimate forage quality.