How to fertilize sorghum scientifically? Detailed explanation of key fertilization techniques
How to fertilize sorghum scientifically? Please give guidance. Sorghum has wide adaptability to soil and strong nutrient uptake capacity. When planted on sandy loam soil rich in organic matter and with relatively high fertility, it is easier to obtain high yields. On poor dry land with phosphorus deficiency and low potassium, fertilizer must be added to obtain a good harvest. Sorghum seedlings are small, and the fertilizer requirement is not...
How to fertilize sorghum scientifically? Please give guidance
Sorghum has wide adaptability to soil and strong nutrient uptake capacity. When planted on sandy loam soil rich in organic matter and with relatively high fertility, it is easier to obtain high yields. On poor dry land with phosphorus deficiency and low potassium, fertilizer must be added to obtain a good harvest. During the seedling stage of sorghum, the plants are small and the fertilizer requirement is not high, but it is relatively strict. From jointing to flowering, the plants grow vigorously, and the distribution center of nutrients shifts accordingly from stems and leaves to young panicles starting at jointing, and finally is stored in the panicle to form grains. Therefore, ensuring sufficient nutrient supply at this time is the foundation for high yield. From flowering to maturity, the supply of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium directly affects grain filling and maturity in sorghum. An appropriate nitrogen supply can accelerate grain filling and increase the protein content in the grains, but too much or too late application can also cause delayed maturity and green retention, reducing yield and quality. Generally, it is required to apply 2000 to 3000 kg of organic fertilizer, 15 to 25 kg of calcium superphosphate, 10 to 20 kg of potassium fertilizer, etc. per mu as base fertilizer. There are two methods of base fertilizer application: broadcasting and banding. Broadcasting is mostly done before sowing in combination with plowing and harrowing the field, broadcasting the base fertilizer. Banding is applied by forming ridges and opening furrows before or after sowing. In addition, at sowing, applying 1000 kg of decomposed dilute manure water per mu or a small amount of nitrogen chemical fertilizer as seed fertilizer is beneficial for full stands and strong seedlings. Topdressing is mainly based on quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer, mainly applying jointing fertilizer and booting fertilizer. The best topdressing period for sorghum is at the jointing stage and the large trumpet stage, to promote panicle differentiation and reduce floret degeneration, achieving large panicles and many grains. When topdressing urea exceeds 15 kg per mu, it should be applied in stages. For sorghum topdressing, it is better to apply more early and less later, heavily applying jointing fertilizer (at the jointing stage) and lightly applying booting fertilizer (at the booting stage). Generally, when two-thirds of the leaves are fully expanded, apply 5 to 8 kg of potassium fertilizer and 40 kg of ammonium bicarbonate per mu. Apply in furrows, holes, or by broadcasting; when broadcasting, it must be combined with deep intertillage or watering to facilitate fertilizer efficiency. In the later growth stage, appropriate foliar topdressing can be done, spraying potassium dihydrogen phosphate (at a concentration of 0.1 percent) or urea (at a concentration of 2 percent) at the early stages of heading and grain filling to promote early maturity and increase yield. In sorghum production, attention must be paid to balanced fertilization, especially the combined application of nitrogen and phosphorus, which can avoid nutrient supply imbalance and significantly improve fertilizer efficiency. On low-yield plots, the soil is inherently deficient in nitrogen and phosphorus. Applying a single fertilizer often cannot function well due to an imbalanced nitrogen-to-phosphorus ratio, causing fertilizer waste and little yield increase.
Therefore, combined application of nitrogen and phosphorus as seed fertilizer can promote growth and development, with fast seedling growth, more leaves, and strong growth vigor, enhancing the plant's metabolic function, improving the plant's absorption capacity, significantly improving fertilizer efficiency, increasing panicle weight, and greatly increasing yield, which can multiply production. Therefore, on low-yield soil, reasonable matching and balanced fertilization is an effective measure for economical fertilization.
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