Grain Sorghum

Part 1, Section 5: Grain Sorghum

Narrow rows yield more than wide rows. Research indicates a 35 percent yield advantage in 10-inch rows compared to 30-inch rows. Narrow rows also help prevent harvesting losses from lodged or broken stalks.
Plant when soil temperature at 3-inch depth at 8:00 A.M. is warmer than 60°F, generally about 1 or 2 weeks after normal corn planting time.
Plant shallow, 1 to 1.5 inches deep, and strive to maintain good seed-to-soil contact.
Establish a population between 100,000 and 125,000 plants per acre. Assuming 75 percent emergence, this will require two to four seeds per foot of row in 7- and 10-inch rows, four to five seeds per foot in 14- and 15-inch rows, five to six seeds per foot in 20-inch rows, and eight to ten seeds per foot in 30-inch rows. These seeding rates will require between 8 and 12 pounds of seed, depending on seed size.
If a grain drill is used, selected feed cups may need to be closed to achieve the low seeding rates necessary. With a corn planter, use special sorghum seed cups or plates.
Sorghum can be established successfully using no-tillage with either a no-till grain drill or corn planter.