Variable Seeding Rate in Sweet Sorghum By Jake Linneman

Facts Corn like in appearance Requires less water and nutrients then corn Can be harvested for both grain and sugar content from the stalk

The Grain The grain is primarily used for livestock feed Either cut for silage or the seed is feed like corn

The Sugar The sugar content has been to show great popularity as a biofuel feedstock. Fits as a rotational crop for Oklahoma growers

The juice is what we want from the stalk. From this juice, the sugar is fermented to produce ethanol. The ethanol produced from sorghum requires much less inputs than corn. Can be grown in much more arid climates. One acre can produce 500-800 gallons of ethanol.

Seeding Rate ~24,000 seeds per pound An average of 3-4 pounds per acre Dryland 40,000 to 70,000 plants per acre Irrigated 60,000 to 90,000 plants per acre

Planting density and row spacing Rates 30k, 40k, 50k, 60k, 70k 7.5 inch and 30 inch Spacing 7.5 inch, 15 inch, 30 inch 50,000 seeds per acre is the constant

Harvest Harvest takes place in the field using an on site juice extractor. Bladders are in the field to store the juice to which the yeast is added.

Juice extractor and field bladder

http://www.okhorizon.com/2008/Show0848/SweetSorghum.htm

Questions?