Sorghum Planting Time and Method

Sorghum growth habit

Sorghum is a thermophilic crop that prefers a warm, sunny environment. The suitable growth temperature is between 20-30 degrees. It requires sufficient light throughout the entire growth period. It has a wide adaptability to the environment and is resistant to drought, flood, saline-alkali, and barrenness.

Sorghum planting time

Sorghum is suitable for sowing from mid-March to late June, with a growth cycle of about 100-120 days. It matures around July-October. Early-maturing varieties can be planted for two seasons, while ordinary single-season planting is generally sown in late April and matures in late August.

Sorghum Planting Methods

1. Land preparation

The land needs to be prepared in advance before sowing sorghum, which is the key to determining the yield. The land needs to be carefully prepared and raked flat to ensure the soil moisture, which is conducive to better growth of sorghum.

2. Planting

Before sowing and raising sorghum seedlings, the sorghum seeds must be screened manually. The more convenient wind selection can be used to remove the relatively small shriveled sorghum grains, leaving behind the excellent, plump, large sorghum grains. Before sowing, the seeds should be placed in the sun for 2 to 3 days before sowing and raising seedlings. The germination rate and survival rate will often be higher.

3. Seedling cultivation

The method of thinning and transplanting is generally adopted for planting sorghum. Thinning is usually carried out when there are 3 to 4 leaves, and transplanting is carried out when there are 5 to 6 leaves. It should be noted that in the process of transplanting, try to keep strong seedlings, large seedlings, and seedlings at equal distances.

4. Field management

(1) Intertillage and soil preparation: Intertillage and soil preparation are required after sorghum is planted and survives. This can improve soil permeability, enhance soil fertility, and promote nutrient absorption by sorghum roots. In addition, because sorghum plants are relatively tall, soil preparation is required when sorghum reaches the trumpet stage to prevent it from growing too high and causing it to fall over, which would affect yield.

(2) Reasonable weeding: There will definitely be weeds in sorghum fields. Weeding must be done in a timely manner to avoid stunted growth and nutritional deficiencies in sorghum. This is especially true when sorghum is in the seedling stage, when its ability to absorb nutrients is very weak and all nutrients are taken away by weeds. It is necessary to spray herbicides in a timely manner and ensure that the spray is comprehensive and even.

(3) Top dressing: Top dressing is also required when planting sorghum. It should be carried out according to the growth conditions and variety of the sorghum. If sufficient fertilizer is applied when the seedlings are transplanted, then there is no need for top dressing when the sorghum turns green. If no fertilizer is applied, then appropriate top dressing is required based on the nutritional conditions.

5. Pest and disease control

After selecting and drying the seeds, it is necessary to mix the seeds with an appropriate dose of seed dressing agent. 25% fenacet wettable powder can be used, and the dosage can be controlled within the range of 0.3% to 0.5% of the seed amount. In addition, for common aphids and awn flies that harm sorghum growth, they must be sprayed with pesticides in time for prevention and control in the early stages of the occurrence. The pesticides that can be used include highly effective chlorfenapyr, imidacloprid, etc.

6. Harvest after maturity

When harvesting sorghum, it should be harvested when the grains on the middle of the ear turn red. When harvesting, shallow plowing should be done first to kill the stubble. The stalks should be cut in time after the first season's harvest. A sickle can be used to cut the stalks quickly to minimize the breakage of the stalks.