When to Sow Sorghum? A Detailed Guide to the Best Sowing Time

When to Sow Sorghum

Sorghum cultivation can be divided into two types: spring cropping and autumn cropping. The sowing period for spring cropping is around late March to mid-April of the lunar calendar, and the timing should not be too early, because sowing early brings low temperatures and slow growth, and the plants are prone to dying when a cold wave hits. For autumn cropping, sowing is chosen between late May and late June of the lunar calendar, and the timing should not be too late, so as to avoid low temperatures during the middle and late growth stages, which affect growth and delay the maturity period.

Planting Density of Sorghum

Planting density varies from region to region, but the range is mostly between 90,000-120,000 plants/hectare (grain sorghum) or 70,000-90,000 plants/hectare (sweet sorghum). The general principle is that early-maturing varieties should be planted more densely, and late-maturing varieties should be planted more sparsely; varieties with strong lodging resistance should be planted somewhat densely, and varieties with poor lodging resistance should be planted somewhat sparsely; plots with high fertility should have greater density, and plots with low fertility should have lower density. But the overall principle is reasonable close planting, which is an important prerequisite for obtaining high yields.

Growing Environment of Sorghum

Because sorghum is drought-tolerant, waterlogging-tolerant, salt-alkali-tolerant and barren-tolerant, it can be planted in low-lying, easily waterlogged land, barren dry land and saline-alkali land. As long as corresponding cultivation techniques and measures are adopted in farming, a relatively good yield can still be obtained. Reasonable crop rotation has a great impact on yield. The most ideal previous crop for planting sorghum is soybean, followed by wheat and corn. Because sorghum roots penetrate deep into the soil and spread over a wide range, absorbing much water and many nutrients, which leads to a decline in soil fertility, the best suitable following crop is soybean.