Guide for norghum sorghum culture. Addresses seedbed preparation, seed treatment, time of planting, method of planting, rate of planting, sorghum plates for corn planters, depths of planting, harvesting, threshing, and storage

Cline, Ralph A.

Norgaard, U. J.

Sanderson, Elmer E.

Public Research Access Institutional Repository and Information Exchange

South Dakota State University Open PRAIRIE: Open Public Research Access Institutional Repository and Information Exchange SDSU Extension Leaflets SDSU Extension 4-1-1950 Norghum Sorghum Culture : An Early Combine Grain Sorghum U. J. Norgaard Elmer E. Sanderson Ralph A. Cline Follow this and additional works at: https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/extension_leaflets Recommended Citation Norgaard, U. J.; Sanderson, Elmer E.; and Cline, Ralph A., "Norghum Sorghum Culture : An Early Combine Grain Sorghum" (1950). SDSU Extension Leaflets. 130. https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/extension_leaflets/130 This Pamphlet is brought to you for free and open access by the SDSU Extension at Open PRAIRIE: Open Public Research Access Institutional Repository and Information Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in SDSU Extension Leaflets by an authorized administrator of Open PRAIRIE: Open Public Research Access Institutional Repository and Information Exchange. For more information, please contact michael.biondo@sdstate.edu. South D~?;~ c 111~/l~ij~~ir l~~~~lil(!HIII I V (J,Jtcptahi L. SORGHUM CULTURE AN EARLY COMBINE GRAIN SORGHUM THIS BOOK ooES.< NOT CIRCULA 1E ~--AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION SERVICE Sout:h Dakot:a St:at:e College U. S. Department oJ Agriculture Cooperating Extension Le t: 127 630-rf.3Z So87 No.1'27 · April 19so Norghum Culture U. J. N oRGAARD, ELMER E. SANDERSON, RALPH A. CuN·E Extension Agronomists If grown for certified seed·, field should be free from volunteer sorghum or sudan contamination and should be isolated 40 rods or more from other sor-ghum. Seedbed Preparation Plow in fall or early spring. Kill weeds by cultiva-tion before planting. If lister is used, blank list in late fall or early spring. Blank listed rows should be pulled in with a weeder previous to nosing out with lister at planting time. A thorough preparation ·of seed bed may increase yield 50 percent. Seed T reat:ment Be sure to treat all seed. Use one of following treat-ments: Spergon, 2 oz. per bu.; Arasan, 2 oz. per bu.; Copper Carbonate, 2 oz. per bu. Dust thoroughly ac-cording to package directions. Time of Planting While Norghum can be planted as early as May 15 in some years, experience indicates that if planted too early, late germinating weeds like pigeon grass may become troublesome. Best results have been secured when grower fall plowed or plowed in April, made a couple of light cultivations for moisture conservation and to kill weed seedlings, and then planted the crop late in May or forepart of June. The exact time of planting is, of course, modified by seasonal variations and areas of the state. Growers should aim to have crop planted by June 15. Method of Planting (1) Corn Planter or Lister: Norghum should be planted in rows. A corn planter or lister is the most common seeding equipment. A corn planter with fur-row-opener attachment is the ideal method. The fur-row-opener assures uniform depth of planting and places the seed in moist soil. Immediate emergence of the seedling is secured. In addition, it kills the weeds, thereby greatly reducing the work of the first cultiva-tion. If a lister is used, list shallower than for corn. (2) Grain ·drill: In case a corn planter is not available. a -- -"Norghum, an early grain sorghum, was developed to fit the climate and growing conditions of our state. It is early, stands up well and the yields of grain have been consistently high. Formerly, grain sorghum varieties grown in South Dakota were introduced from southern states and were not well adapted to our shorter grow-ing seasons. Tests made in different areas of the state, show that Nor-ghum is.adapted throughout South Dakota and should replace most of the older varieties now grown."-C. J. Franzke, assotiate agrono-mist, South Dakota .Agricultural Experiment Station, from Station Bulletin 397. AT LEFT: Norghum (shown at the left) has a much more open head than other grain sor-ghum varieties. This feature permits better, more even drying at harvest time. The head at the right is Midland. AT RIGHT: Norghum is a good yielder. Note .how well it stands with upright heads clear of basal leaves. This, with its even drying, makes it easy to combine. Agrolfflnist Franzke_, who developecl. Norghum, is shown in the picture. " grain drill can be used. The seed is still planted in rows allowing for cultivation. With a 11 to 14 foot drill, four rows can be planted. Bore a hole in a stub 2 x 4, and fasten the stub in drill box above the hole from which the grain is to be seeded. A funnel is inserted in the hole in the 2 x 4. An 8-inch funnel will hold about 2½ pounds of Norghum seed. A small gas funnel, which holds more seed, can be used. The rate of seeding is calibrated by the same method as with a corn planter, which method is explained in this leaflet. Rate of Planting For low rainfall areas: Use 3 pounds seed per acre. Use planter plates that will drop 3 to 5 seeds per hill spaced 12 to 14 inches apart in the rows. For Heavier Rainfall Areas: Use 4 to 5 pounds seed per acre. Use planter plates that will drop 3 to 5 seeds per hill spaced 6 to 9 inches apart in the rows. Rows can be 36 to 42 inches apart. Sorghum Plates for Corn Plant:er For intermediate size seed varieties like Norghum, it has been calculated that the pounds of seed planted per acre amount to approximately one-half the num-ber of seeds dropped per foot. Example: If 8 seeds are Threshing Reduce speed of cylinder by one-half to prevent cracking of seed. Remove concave teeth as necessary. Use same riddles and sieves as for barley. St:orage Have moisture content down to 12 percent or less. Clean the grain and remove broken kernels before storage. The crop should be threshed only when the grain is dry and during good drying weather. Sorghum with 12 percent or less moisture and free from cracked kernels and broken stalks will keep as well as seed of small grains. About: St:ands For best results plants should be from 6 to 12 inches apart in the row, 6 inches in humid areas and 12 inches in the drier areas. (Do not confuse this stand with rate of seeding. The rates of seeding advised in this circular are calculated to achieve a normal stand as stated above. In sorghum, many seeds, even if they germinate in the laboratory tests, do not come through the soil and produce plants. The sorghum seedlings am deli-cate and consequently many of them do not survive.) Should the stand become too thick, in spite of pre-cautions taken, or because of under-estimation of ger-mination, the following practices are advised: (a) If stand is twice too thick-cultivate out every other row making rows approximately 80 inches apart. (b) If stand is one and one-half times too thick culti-vate out every third row, which will give each row the benefit of 60 inches of spacing. Agricultural Extension Service South Dakota State College and United States Department of Agriculture, cooperating In Furtherance Acts of Congres.s May 8, June 30, 1914 George I. Gilbertson, Director of Extension Reprint SM- 5-50--9490 J , dropped per foot the rate of seeding is 4 pounds per acre. Use plates with holes large enough to hold 3, 4 or 5 seeds per hole. When fitting the seeds into holes by hand for testing they should be packed in tightly. All should be counted that will go into it at least half-way because a seed that is half-way in a hole will be dropped by the planter. The holes should be counter sunk from the under side. Cut out at an angle of about 30 degrees. The upper edge of the holes should be counter sunk a very slight amount or just enough to take away the sharp edge. Use false ring, if necessary, to prevent leakage and cracking of small seed. Calibrat:ion of Plant:er Because of the large variation in sizes of sorghum seed1 even within the same variety, no "rule of thumb" in planting directions is absolutely reliable. Calibrate the planter each year as follows: ( 1) Block the drive wheel off the floor. (2) Turn drive wheel 10 complete revolutions, catching the seed in a pan. (3) Count the seed in the pan and divide the number of seeds by 10 times the·circumference of the drive wheel (in feet). This gives the number of seeds planted per foot . . Dept:h of Plant:ing Plant one inch deep in heavy soil; 1 ½ to 2 inches in sandy soils. An ideal way is to use furrow opener on the contour, planting the seed one inch deep in moist soil, regardless of soil type. Cultivate soon after sor-ghum has emerged. Harvest:ing ( 1) Harvest with corn binaer and cure in shocks; (2) combine crop after grain has matured and stalks dry. Moisture test should be 12 percent or less. (3) Harvest with swather, dropping two to four rows on adjoi.l).ing stubble row for drying. Then harvest with combine equipped with pick-up attachment. Of course, in order to harvest by this method, the field must be level cultivated. Ridges would interfere with pick-up operations. 

Norghum Sorghum Culture : An Early Combine Grain Sorghum

https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1129&context=extension_leaflets

Norghum Sorghum Culture : An Early Combine Grain Sorghum

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Public Research Access Institutional Repository and Information Exchange