Sorghum Fertilization Techniques: Key Points and Methods Explained
Sorghum is an important economic and food crop in China, grown in all regions. It has extremely strong adaptability to soil, but in soil with higher fertility it is relatively easy to obtain high yields, while when grown in poorer areas the yield will decline. Therefore, when growing sorghum, fertilization is the key point for achieving high yields. So how should sorghum be fertilized? Let's take a look together.
1. Fertilize according to variety characteristics
When planting, carefully observe the fertilizer requirements of the variety. For varieties that like fertilizer, use fully decomposed organic fertilizer as the base fertilizer, and apply more organic or inorganic fertilizer when fertilizing. Generally, apply 2000 to 3000 kg of organic fertilizer per mu, and topdress 2-3 times throughout the growth process to ensure it has enough fertility to grow. When topdressing, apply high-efficiency chemical fertilizers such as urea and phosphorus-potassium fertilizer. For varieties with low fertilizer requirements and a shorter growth period, organic fertilizer can be applied as the base fertilizer, and the topdressing amount and number of topdressings should be small. Generally, one topdressing is enough. If sufficient base fertilizer is applied, there is no need to topdress.
2. Fertilize according to soil conditions
Choosing loose, fertile soil when planting is the preferred option for growing sorghum, but not every region's soil is like this, so when fertilizing, also pay attention to the soil's fertility and texture conditions. If it is soil with low fertility, mainly use organic fertilizer when applying, paired with phosphate fertilizer; for soil with poor water retention and fertilizer retention, adopt topdressing as the main approach and base fertilizer as a supplement. Each time you topdress, apply smaller amounts more frequently; otherwise, applying too much at once, combined with the soil's poor fertilizer retention, will lead to wasted fertility. And if the soil pH is high, forming acidic or alkaline soil, these two types of soil will have a certain impact on the quality and yield of sorghum. When planting, acidic soil can be treated with lime nitrogen and calcium magnesium phosphate, while alkaline soil can be treated with ammonium sulfate or superphosphate to adjust their acidity and alkalinity, making them neutral and suitable soil for sorghum growth.
3. Fertilize according to climate
Climate changes also affect sorghum growth, and fertilization is no exception. Fertilize according to climate changes. For example, in early spring, when the temperature is relatively low, it is suitable to use phosphorus and potassium fertilizers as seed fertilizer to promote seed germination and seedling emergence. In the early and middle stages of seedling growth, as the climate gradually warms up, it is suitable to apply nitrogen fertilizer to promote rapid seedling growth. In the later stage of growth, the temperature begins to drop again, and at this time foliar spraying of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer is needed to promote maturity and improve yield and quality.
4. Fertilize according to fertilizer properties
When fertilizing, understand the role and properties of each fertilizer so that sorghum can grow rapidly. Nitrogen fertilizers such as human and livestock manure and urea take effect quickly and are suitable for topdressing, while organic fertilizers take effect slowly, and phosphorus and potassium fertilizers have low mobility and are suitable for use as base fertilizer or seed fertilizer.
The above is the complete content of sorghum fertilization techniques. We hope it can help you. If you want to learn more about sorghum cultivation knowledge, please stay tuned to us.