Detailed Explanation of Key Field Management Techniques for Sorghum
Sorghum is one of the more common grain crops, generally grown in the north and relatively rare in the south. China has an extremely long history of cultivating sorghum, and its cultivation techniques are also fairly well established. During planting and management, field management is especially important if you want to achieve high yields. So how should sorghum field management be done? Follow along with the editor to see the detailed introduction below.
1. Intertillage and Earthing Up
Intertillage and earthing up is work we must do when growing crops. This is because after crops are planted, as nutrients and water are continuously absorbed, or due to the soil texture, the soil gradually becomes compacted into clods, which affects the normal growth of the crops and affects yield. So at this time intertillage is needed to loosen the soil so the crops can grow normally. Throughout the entire growth period of sorghum, intertillage should be carried out 2-3 times according to the actual growth conditions, generally starting the first intertillage after planting and maturity. Sorghum has a relatively deep root system, so deep tillage can be used during intertillage, but care must be taken not to damage the roots. When sorghum grows to a certain height, lodging can occur, and earthing up at this time can prevent lodging.
2. Weed Control
When growing sorghum, weeds will certainly appear in the field. Weeds have strong vitality and will seize the soil's nutrients and water as well as the sorghum's growing space. This leads to a decline in soil fertility and affects the growth and development of sorghum, and too many weeds can also easily breed pests and diseases, causing great harm. Sorghum seedlings are relatively weak, and weeds are about the same size as the seedlings. If they are not removed in time, the seedling survival rate will be low, so weed control should be carried out early. At the seedling stage, pull out weeds as soon as you see them. At the seedling stage, manual weeding is recommended; using pesticides may harm seedling growth.
3. Topdressing
Sorghum needs large amounts of nutrients during growth, and the soil's own fertility cannot supply its growth. In addition to applying sufficient base fertilizer before planting, reasonable topdressing is also needed according to sorghum's growth conditions, variety, and other circumstances. For example, if sufficient fertilizer was applied when transplanting seedlings, then no topdressing is needed at the regreening stage. However, during the jointing and heading stages, sorghum has a relatively large fertilizer requirement, so heavy application is needed at this time. Generally, topdressing should be done twice during this period: one heavy application of jointing fertilizer, accounting for two-thirds of the total topdressing amount; and one light application of booting fertilizer, accounting for one-third. When fertilizing at this time, pay attention to applying less nitrogen fertilizer and more phosphorus and potassium fertilizer.
4. Pest and Disease Control
Pests and diseases are one of the main factors affecting sorghum yield and quality. When pests and diseases are severe, they can lead to total crop failure, seriously affecting farmers' income. In pest and disease control, prevention should be the main approach and treatment should be timely, observing sorghum's growth conditions. Once diseased plants are found, they should be pulled out promptly and taken out of the field for destruction, and the diseased holes should be disinfected well. If a large area of infection is found, it should be handled promptly, the appropriate pests or diseases should be identified, and the corresponding pesticide should be sprayed in time for control.
The above is an introduction to the key field management points for sorghum. We hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please follow us.