CELSUSU

FODDER PLANTS / A HYBRID OF BICOLOR SORGHUM AND SORGHUM

Sorghum bicolor / Sorghum sudanense L.

A hybrid of bicolor sorghum and sorghum with high green mass, mainly grown for fodder production in summer in dry areas

These hybrids are vigorous, tall, with large stems and broad leaves

High yields of green and dry biomass in a short period of time

Plants about 2 m tall

Plants are drought resistant

Green mass grows faster than corn, requires less water

Less stress due to lack of water and hot weather

Deep root system

Resistant to diseases

Dairy crops are cut for silage

For silage, chop into 3-5 cm lengths

Green mass for fodder (or green fertilizer) can be cut 2 times (in the flowering stage)

Good feed digestibility

Can be used as windbreak protection plants

Can be grown as intermediate plants

Sowing can be done from mid to late May

Fertilize with 120-170 kg of N (including manure, slurry, etc.), 50 kg of P 2 O 5 and 250 kg of K 2 O, depending on the richness of the soil

Can be used for biogas production (Susu yields up to 55% methane)

As a cover crop, it is sown at the end of July at the latest. A suitable soil temperature is not lower than 12-14 °C, even better - higher than 16 °C

Crop rotation is neutral

Suitable for mixing with Egyptian clover, sunflowers

Under different growing conditions than those found in these studies, cultivar parameters may differ from those given here.

SOWING RATE

Recommended seeding rate for biomass production: 45-55 plants/m², would be 15 kg/ha, row spacing 25-30 cm

Recommended seeding rate when grown as a catch crop for N fixation: 90-110 plants/m², would be 30 kg/ha