j1( ,
Progress Report* Series No. 34 
June 1947
AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
of The Alabama Polytechnic Institute, Auburn, Ala.
S * * * * * M. J. Funchess, Director
GRAIN SORGHUM PRODUCTION in ALABAMA**
D. G. STURKIE, Agronomist
T. H. ROGERS, Associate Agronomist
Grain sorghum has been grown extensively
in the semi-arid West for anumber of years.
Results from recent experiments show that
it may have an important place as a grain
and forage crop-in Alabama. Alabama farmers
are greatly in need of a drought-resistant
crop that will produce large yields of
grain and forage. Grain sorghum 
appears to
be such a crop.
USES of the CROP
The chief use of grain sorghum is as a
grain crop for feed. The grain may be fed
to any class of livestock. It may be con-
sidered about equal to corn as a grain feed,
either whole or ground. Likewise, it is
about equal to corn as fodder (entire
stalks and heads), since the stalks have
approximately the same feed values. Mature
grain sorghum may be hogged-off or grazed
with cattle and hogs. The seed are readily
eaten by such game birds as dove and quail,
and are especially attractive to the dove.
Grain sorghum may be used while green as
a temporary grazing crop or as a crop for
cutting and feeding green. It also may be
used for silage, but it makes a smaller
yield than the late-maturing varieties of
sweet sorghum, such as Texas seeded ribbon
cane.
The heads may be cut or the grain comk
bined when the seed are mature, and the
stalks and leaves may then 
be grazed off
with cattle.
PLACE of GRAIN SORGHUM in ALABAMA
Grain sorghum is much more likely to
produce a successful crop than is corn when
planted after June 1. It isdrought-resistant
and quick maturing. Where adapted, grain
sorghum should be grown in addition to corn
and not as a substitute for corn. When
planting can be done before June 1, corn
should be grown. After that date grain sor-
ghum should be planted. Both crops have a
place on Alabama farms. It is pointed out,
however, that yields of grain sorghum have
not been as high in southern Alabama as in
the northern part of the State.
Better use can be made ofavailable labor
when grain sorghum is included inacropping
system. Planting and cultivation of this
grain crop comes after the peak labor load
for cotton, corn, and peanuts. It fits in
well after small grains or legumes harvested
for seed, or on land that is not planted to
earlier crops.
Grain sorghum grown in a rotation with
manganese bur clover has averaged about 
50
bushels of grain per acre during the last 6
years (1941-46) at theMain Station, Auburn.
In this case the grain sorghum is planted
each year after the manganese bur clover
makes seed, or about June 15. The manganese
bur volunteers in September and grows dur-
the winter and early spring. Caley peas,
some of the vetches, and a hard seeded
strain of crimson clover have also been
used successfully in similar rotations.
VARIETIES
The Alabama Agricultural Experiment
Station has tested a large number of
varieties of grain sorghum at 14 locations
in the State. Results from these experiments
* Formerly Mimeograph Series.
**Experiments at the Substations and Experiment
Fields were conducted in cooperation with Otto
Brown, W. W. Cotney, S. E. Gissendanner,, E. 
L.
Mayton, Fred Stewart, J. P. Wilson, J. T.
Williamson, P. B. Gibson, H. R. Benford (re-
signed), F. E. Bertram, and J. W. Richardson
of the Agricultural Experiment Station staff.
I I I I~ A I I : I~ I_ IJ I A
* * * * * *
are presented in Tables 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and
6. On the basis of these tests the following
varieties are recommended for use in Ala-
bama: (1) for harvesting with a combine,
Martin's Combine, Caprock, Plainsman, Mid-
land, and Early Hegari; (2) for cutting and
feeding green ormature, Hegari and Sagrain;
(3) for harvesting heads by hand, Hegari,
Sagrain. Early Hegari, and Caprock.
Varieties Recommended
Martin's Combine, Caprock, and Plainsman
are similar in many characteristics. They
mature in about 17 to 18 weeks. The stalks
grow from 3% to 4 feet high and the grain
can be harvested easily with a combine. All
three varieties have open heads. However,
Caprock produces heads slightly larger and
more compact than the other two. The seed
are brown in color. In variety tests the
stalks of Martin's Combine remained erect
in the field and the seed were sound longer
than those of any other varieties tested
except Midland. At most of the locations,
all of these varieties produced good yields
of grain, but rather low yields of stover.
The heads of Martin's Combine extend above
the top leaf sheath more than 
those of Cap-
rock or Plainsman. Therefore, less leaves
pass through the combine when this variety
is harvested than in the case of other
varieties.
Early Hegari, quite similar to Hegari,
matures in about the same time as Martin's
Combine, Caprock, and Plainsman. It can be
grown successfully inany part of the State.
Early Hegari is about 1 foot shorter than
Hegari and may be harvested with a combine.
This variety produces as much or more grain
than Hegari, but does not produce as much
stover. Early Hegari is probably the out-
standing variety from the standpoint of
yield of grain and forage. Its chief weak-
ness is its tendency to lodge, or fall
over. Especially is this the case when
planted thick and on fertile soil. Lodging
makes combining difficult and results in
lower harvested yield. Early Hegari lodges
less than Sagrain or Hegari.
Midland is a new variety introduced in
1945, which grows 3% to 4 feet high. It is
very resistant to lodging and has semi-loose
heads with reddish brown seed. It matures
in about the same lengthof time as Martin's
Combine, but it yields somewhat less. It
remains standing longer and better than any
of the other varieties tested to date. The
stalk is juicy and gives some trouble in
combining. It is more palatable than other
recommended varieties.
Hegari (commonly called Hi-gear) grows 5
to 6 feet in height, and has large, leafy,
juicy stalks and large semi-loose heads
with white grains. It matures 10 days to 2
weeks later than Early Hegari. In the
northern part of the State, this variety if
not planted before July may be killed by
frost before it fully matures, While Hegari
may be cut with a combine, it is very diffi-
cult because of its height and tendency to
lodge. This is an excellent variety for use
where the heads or the stalks and heads are
cut for feed, or where it is grazed by
livestock.
Sagrain (also known asSchrock 
or Schrock
Kafir) is a good variety to grow when entire
plant is to be harvested. It varies in
height from 5 to 6 feet and the stalks are
weak, tending 
to break 
over soon 
after the
grain is mature. Due to its height and
weakness of the stalk, Sagrain cannot be
easily harvested with a combine. Yellowish-
brown seed are produced on large open heads.
This variety matures too late 
to be grown
with safety in the northern part of the
State. Sagrain usually equals or exceeds
Hegari in the production of stover.
Varieties of Limited Recommendations
Early Kalo is recommended only where
very early maturity isdesired. This variety
matures about 10 days earlier than Early
Hegari. Early Kalo grows 4 to 43/2 feet high
and produces semi-loose heads with reddish
yellow seed. The stalks have very few
leaves and the yield of stover is low. How-
ever, the yield of grain is usually 
very
good, but is not equal to that of some
other varieties. Early Kalo is very suscep-
tible to lodging; therefore, it should be
harvested as soon as the seed are mature.
This variety has been replaced by Midland
and seed are not readily available.
Imperial Kafir is a new variety that has
been tested only 2 years. The stalks are
about 5 feet in height and are more leafy
than any variety tested. It might be valu-
able where the entire stalk is used. The
heads are large and compact, and have large
(2)
white grains. This variety is difficult to
combine because of tight head and extreme
leafiness of stalks. The grain decays
readily in the field after maturity; there-
fore, it cannot be left standing long after
it is ready to harvest.
Varieties Not Recommended
For one of several reasons, certain
varieties tested have been found unsuited
for planting in Alabama. They are not re-
commended because they are poor yielders,
lodge badly, or are subject to disease and
insect injury. Farmers are warned against
planting the following 
varieties:
Feterita is too tall to be combined
satisfactorily. The heads are so compact
that the seed are frequently damaged by
insects and diseases.
Grohoma is a fair yielder, but the head
does not come completely out of the leaf
sheath. Consequently, during wet seasons
many of the seed rot.
Shallu, also known as Egyptian wheat and
chicken corn, grows to 7 to 9 feet high.
The slender, weak stalks often lodge before
the seed are mature.
Darso has not yielded satisfactorily
under Alabama conditions, probably due to
its susceptibility to disease.
A number of kafirs, such as White Kafir,
Pink Kafir, Red Kafir, Coes Improved Kafir,
Club Kafir, and Highland Kafir, have been
included in the variety tests. None of
these has given satisfactory results.
Yields were low; their semi-tight heads
make them subject to injury by insects and
diseases.
Dwa.rf Yellow Milo, Sooner Milo, and
Double Dwarf Milo likewise have not given
satisfactory results in all tests. The
heads of Double Dwarf Milo are so goose-
necked or pendent that they frequently
touch the ground. The neck of the seed head
breaks very easily and the heads fall to
the ground, thus causing a large loss.
Bonita is also known as Dwarf Hegari,
However, it is not a true dwarf-type grain
sorghum, being almost as ta11 as Early
Hegari. Seed of Bonita are very similar to
those of Hegari, but the head is much more
compact. Due to this tightness, insects and
diseases have caused much greater losses of
grain than in varieties with a more open
head. Although the quality of the grain was
usually, poor, Bonita produced a large yield
of grain in the tests in Alabama. Westland
in the tests lodged badiy, and yields have
not been as large as thoseofmore desirable
varieties.
PRODUCTION METHODS RECOMMENDED
Seedbed Preparation
Two different methods are used in prepar-
ing the seedbed for grain sorghum:
(1) Land not in a winter legume is broken
and harrowed into a good seedbed before
planting.
(2) If the grain sorghum is to follow a
winter legume that has been allowed to pro-
duce seed for a volunteer crop, the land is
thoroughly disked, sothat the winter legume
seed are not covered too deeply.
In either case the seedbed should be
free from weeds and grass. The rows are
opened, and the grain sorghum seed are
planted in a shallow furrow and covered 1
to 2 inches deep.
Time of Planting
It is recommended that grain sorghum be
planted from June 1 to July 1 in northern
and central Alabama, and from June 1 to
July 15 in southern Alabama. Grain sorghum
can be planted just as soon as the soil
gets warm in the spring. However, 
early
plantings do not produce any larger yields
than early-planted corn. On the other hand,
late-seeded grain sorghum does outyield
late-planted corn. (See Tables 7 and 8.)
Seeding Rate and Spacing
Grain sorghum is planted in 3- to3%-foot
rows with 1 to 3 plants per hill, spaced 4
to 16 inches apart in the row. Wide spacing
in the row is used when the heads are to be
cut by hand. If the grain is to be combined
close spacing is used. Low-growing varieties
like Martin's Combine are spaced closer in
the row than such taller varieties as
(3)
Hegari. When the tall varieties are spaced
closely, they lodge very badly, particularly
on fertile land during a wet season.
The seeding rate will vary from 3 to 8
pounds per acre, depending upon the spacing
and variety. For close spacing a low-growing
variety, 8 pounds of seed will 
be needed;
for wide spacing of a tall-growing variety,
3 pounds will be enough.
Seed Treatment
The seed should be treated with a dust
fungicide, such as Spergon or New Improved
Ceresan to control smut and seedling
diseases. The dust should be used at the
rate recommended on the container for
sorghum. Spergon is not poisonous and makes
the seed work easily in a planter. Treated
seed should not be used for feed.
Fertilizers
Grain sorghum has about the same ferti-
lizer needs as corn. An application of 200
to 300 pounds per acre of 4-10-7 is made at
or before planting time. A side-dressing of
200 pounds per acre of nitrate of soda or
its equivalent (150 pounds of sulfate of
ammonia or 100 pounds of ammonium nitrate)
is made as soon as the sorghumiscultivated.
When grain sorghum follows a winter
legume that is harvested for seed and the
plants are left on the ground, an applica-
tion of 200 to 300 pounds per acre of
0-14-10 or 4-10-7 is made at or before
planting the sorghum. No fertilizer appli-
cation is necessary if the grain sorghum
follows a good growth of winter legume that
is turned.
Harvesting and Storing
1Silage. Grain sorghum for silage is har-
vested when the seed are in the late dough
stage; it will not be necessary to add
water to the silage. At this stage the seed
will be more completely digested by cattle.
Fodder. Grain sorghum for fodder is cut
when the seed are hard, but before they
have dried enough to be harvested for
grain. The stalks may be cut and shocked.
The bundles if tied are bound loosely to
permit air circulation. They may be stacked
in round shocks of 10 to 12 bundles, or
stacked against a fence 2 bundles deep on
each side. The bundles should remain in the
field until dry enough (30 to 40 per cent
moisture) to store in the barn or to stack
near where fodder is to be fed. It usually
requires 4 to 6 weeks to become dry enough
to store. If stored outside the bundles are
placed in a round stack with the heads
turned in. The stack is capped with hay or
straw. Feeding may be done from the field
until December. Usually it rains enough in
December to cause serious damage to the
sorghum if it is left exposed.
The fodder may be fed in bundles or it
may be run through an ensilage cutter
before feeding. Since grain sorghum will
heat, it should not be chopped too long
before feeding, particularly if it is piled
over 3 to 4 feet deep. Heating is likely to
occur if it is run through a hammer mill.
For grain. The grain may be harvested
after it is fully matured by (1) cutting
the heads by hand, or (2) combining. In the
latter case, the combine is set to cut the
heads, leaving as much of the stalk stand-
ing in the field as possible. If the combine
is not set high enough, too much stalk
remains on the heads which will choke the
machine. The reel of the combine should be
equipped with metal shields to prevent
throw-out of the sorghum heads.
If harvested by hand, the heads are cut
and stored when the grain contains not over
15 to 20 per cent moisture. Usually it is
best to leave the crop standing in the field
as long as possible without damage from
weather and birds.
For harvesting with a combine, the grain
should be dry enough to rub out easily by
hand (contain not more than 15 per cent
moisture). The threshed grain must bestored
temporarily in an open shed or barn until
it dries out to a 12 per cent moisture con-
tent. At this point it can be stored in a
bin.
It is important to inspect the grain at
regular intervals. If heating begins it
should be stirred and aired to permit cool-
ing. A good way to tell if the grain is
heating is to insert an iron rod, such as a
wagon rod, into the stored grain. The rod
(4)
is removed twice a day. If it is warm, the
grain should be stirred.
For grazing. For best results from graz-
ing grain sorghum, the hogs or cows are
turned on the crop when the grain is in 
the
late dough stage. It is better to use both
cows and hogs for grazing because the 
hogs
eat the shattered grain which otherwise
would be lost.
GRAIN SORGHUM HAZARDS
Diseases. The principal diseases are
smut and those that attack the germinating
seed. These may be controlled by seed
treatments, as previously explained.
Insects. Most of the insects that attack
corn also attack grain sorghum. Corn ear-
worm, stalk borers, white grubs, budworms,
grass worms, and army worms attack the
stalks and heads. However, grain sorghum
appears to withstand such attacks much
better than corn. The damage to the grains
is much less in the open and semi-open
heads than in the very compact heads. In
Alabama varieties with very compact heads
are not recommended.
Weevils and grain moths that attack
stored grains, such as corn and wheat, also
attack grain s.orghum. They are controlled
by treating with fumigants. (See Alabama
Agricultural Experiment Station Leaflet 
No.
8 for details of control.)
One of the most destructive pests on
grain sorghum is sorghum midge. This insect
attacks all sorghums including Johnson
grass and Sudan grass and such wild grasses
as tall redtop. The most serious infesta-
tions occur in areas where large amounts of
Johnson grass are left standing. Early-
planted sorghum is damaged more than late
plantings. No serious infestation of midge
has occurred during the last 12 years
(1935-.1946) at the Main Station on 
grain
sorghum planted after June 1.
l'he best control is to plant after 
June
1, and to eliminate all sources from which
the midge may spread. In Alabama this means
keeping Johnson grass cut before blooming,
in order to prevent it from growing seed
near a field of grain sorghum.
Birds. Grain sorghums are attacked by
many kinds of small birds, such as black
birds, sparrows, canary birds, and rice
birds. Some birds destroy the grains in the
milk stage by mashing the seed and eating
the milky juice. Others eat the mature seed.
It has been claimed that some varieties are
resistant to birds, However, in experiments
at Auburn nosuch varieties have been found.
Birds do not seem to have any consistent
favorites. Some birds in a season 
may feed
principally on the white-seeded 
varieties,
while the next year they may feed on yellow
or brown-seeded varieties. The only satis-
factory method is to plant an 
acreage large
enough, so that 
the birds will destroy 
only
a small portion of the entire crop.
FEED for GAME BIRDS
Grain sorghum seed are readily eaten by
such game birds as dove and quail. The seed
are especially attractive to doves. If the
crop is hogged-off or the gra:in is combined,
doves eat the scattered seeds.
(5)
TABLE I. YIELDS OF 17 VARIETIES OF GRAIN SORGHUM IN TFSTS AT FOUR LOCATIONS IN NORTHERIN ALABAM
YIELD OF GRAIN PER ACRE IN BUSHELS
BELLE MINA ALEXANDRIA CROSS- WI V
VARIETY VILLE FIE
AVERAGE AVERAGE
1943 1944 1945 1946 1944 1945 19446 1946 19 46
1945-46.1945-46
Early Hegari 2 73.0 5.5 15.0 '9.8 3.6 '6.9 32.5 39.7 56.0 225
Hegari- 2 - 50.2 55.3 52.8 33.3 31.4 32.2 31.8 '7.5 29
Sagrain 2 -- 56.3 38.2 '17.3 26.8 37.8 35.9 36.9 79.3 36
Martin's Combine -- 67.0 '18.41 59.6 51.029.1 32.1 30.9 59.1 33.
Plainsman -- 70.0 118.1 17.7 118.1 36.8 32.8 3.8 59.9 31
Bonita i-- 'I.03 63.1 11.0 52.21 30.6 13.0 35.0 39. 52.6 21
Caprock - 5.9 53.2 511.1 53.7 37.7 26.8 32.3 62.8 38.
Imperial Kafir -- -- 55.3 10.2 47.8 11.7 28.6 35.2 51.7 33
Westland 4 '16.0 50.2 53.9 52.121.1 29.0 26.7 50.3 32.
Midland - - 39.11 37.1 '38.3 - 39.11 28.1 33.8 511.11 21. 351
Colby - - - 53.7 - - - 17.6 - 35.11 2110 3.
Early Kalo 13 .6r 3 27.O03 50.2 - - 23.7 :33.0 - ~ - --
Double Dwarf Milo 4-12 .03 53.3 - -- 39.2 - -- ~ -
White Kafir 2 - - -- - - - - - -
Dwarf Milo 11.93 
- - - -
- - - -
- -
Sooner Milo 11,8 - - - - --- - - - - -
Feterita 2 - - - - 21.1 - - - - - -
DATE PLANTED JULY1 JUNE 20 JUNE 20 JUNE 13 JUNE 20 JUNE 25 JUNE 11 JUNE 22 JULY'1
1
Fifty-six 
pounds per
2
Failed to mature due
3
Poor stand.
bushel
to early frost.
TABLE 2. YIELDS OF I5 VARIETIES OF GRAIN SORGHUM IN TESTS AT FIVE LOCATIONS IN CENTRAL ALABAMA
YIELD OF GRAIN PER ACRE N BUSHELS
LA~AYETTE 
TUSKEGEE 
CM
VARIETYLPRATTVILLE HILL
AVE RA GE AVERAGE AVERAGE 194
1945 1 946AVRG 1944 -1945 1946 1944 1945 1946 1946 1946
1945-46 1945-46 1945-4t
Early Hegari 35.7 25.7 30.7 .23.0. 10.9 24.4 17.7 25.2 30.9 32.1 31.5 51.6
Hegari 30.41 13.1 21.8 21.6 111.4 17.3 15.9 27.8 15.2 30.2 22.7 38.7
Sagrain 36.4 36.3 36.4 20.0 18.0 36.3 27.2 22.7 '0.4 31.9 36.2 33.1
Martin's Combine 33.0 23.5 28.3 - 10.3 - 24.0 17.213 - 25.7
Plainsman 32.6 22.1 '27.3 -- 11.6 15.1 13.5 16.2 12.8 3 30.9
Bonita 26.8 26.3 26.6 241.5 20.2 31.1 25.8 17.1 13.6 10.9 12.3 31.11
Caprock 111.7 18.2 30.0 5.7 11.0 38.1. 321.3
Imperial Kafir 27.2 11.8 19.5 -- 11.2 -16.11 15.3 - 21.6 32.2.28.11 13.8
Westland 32.5 21.3 26.9 -- 17.1 -23.0 20.1 8.2 3 21.8 1
Colby -- 18.11 -- -- -- 17.2 3 21.1
Early Kalo 23.8 - - 16.8 7.1 -- - 15.5 9.6 - - - - -
Double Dwarf Milo 32.7 - - - 5.1 - - - 23.7 - - -
White Kafir - - - - - 11.3 - - - - - -
Feterita - - - 16.3 -- - - - - - - - - -
Midland 21.0 26.8 23.9 - 6.6 19.2 - - 6.2 3 -- 22.1 231 -
DATE PLANTED JUNE 21 JUNE,26 JUNE 14 JUNE 21 JUNE 13 JUNE 20 JUNE 23 JUNE' 25 JULY 8 JN
1
Fifty-six pounds per bushel
2
Prattville excluded.
3
Destroyed by birds.
TABLE 3." YIELDS OF 28 VARIET-IES OF GRAIN SORGHUM IN TESTS AT
MAIN STATION, 1941-46
YIELD OF GRAIN PER 
ACRE IN BUSHELS
1
I
VREY1941 - 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946
Hegar i 24,.1 38.7 52.9 
50.41 28.2 '49.6
Sagrain 18.3 32.5 36.2 35.9 
39.1. 52v9
Feterita 19.8 29.1 37.41 
28.1 --
White Kafir 15.5 29.1 19.1 38.9 --
Early Kalo 11.8 111.3 8.2 311.3 29.41-
Midland - -- 
-36.1 11.6
Grohoma 20.5 211.9, 35.9 -- -
Shallu 10.8 26.1 23.1 M OW -
Sooner Milo 17.5 23.3 111.9 - --
Dwarf Milo -311.2 19.5 311.7 
--
Early Hegari -- 56.5 51.11 
37.5 52.0
Martin's Combine'---11.6 
36.6 .33.3 111.3
Caprock -- 23.11 311.8 33.5 
41115
Plainsman - -211.0 34&.4 29.9 35.1
Bonita -- 32.8 35.9 111.9 
16.
Coe's Improved ,Kafir 9.3 11.8 --- 
-
Imperial Kafir -
-- 33.8 112.41
Col by - ---- 
-33.0
Club Kafir - 22e8- -- 
-
Highland Kafir - 10.2 --- 
-
Pink Kafir - 19.0 now----
Red Kafir -211.5 --- 
-
Darso - -27.0 ---
Double Dwarf Milo - -- 30.8 35.0 -
Westland - -- 26.8 30.6 30.2
Atlas Sargo (sweet sorghum) 9.6 - -- --
Norkan (sweet sorghum) - 18.6 --- -
Waconia (sweet sorghum) -4--1.3 -
--
Corn. 11.1 
10.0 9.9 13.6 15.2 
39.2
Date of planting June 15 June 15 June 15 June 15 June 20 June 17
1 Fifty-six pounds per bushel.
(8)
TABLE 4I. YIELDS OF 18 VARIETIES OF-GRAIN SORGHUM IN TESTS 
AT FOUR LOCATIONS IN SOUTHER LAAA
YIELD OF GRAIN PER ACRE IN BUSHELS
VARIETY IHEADLAND BREWTON MONROEVILL AR
AVERAGE, AVERAGEAVRG
1941 1942 1944 1945 '1946 1945-46 194 19 4546 1945146 1945-4 19
Early Hegari - - 9.3 '5.3 441.7 115.0 9.0 11.0 10.0 21.41 9.2 153 2
Hegari 13.2 18.8 8.9 35.1 '9.8 '12.5 7.7 - - 9.1 - - 1
Sag ra in - - 15.7 '45.4 4'0.7 4'1. 8.7 - - 17.41 - - 3
Martin's Combine - - - 39.8 36.2 38.0 2.1 11.0 3.1 10.7 5.5 8. -
Plainsman - - - 25.9 36.41 31.2 11.7 - -- 13.1 Gn.-
Bonita - - 10.5 31.1 43.8 37.5 7.1 - -- 16.2 - -
Caprock - - - 4'2.9 31.7 37.3 3.6 6.11 5.01 11.8 5.0 81
Imperial Kafir - - - 24.3 311.6 29.5 - 3.1 4--- 1.5 -
' Westland .- - - 28.8 N'.7 26.8 - - - - -
Colby - - - - 16.5 - - 5.3 - ~6.3 . -
Midland - - - 27.0 9.5 18.3 3.3- 2.2 2.-8 7.3 11.1 5. -
S Early Kalo 23m.6 23.2 10.9 37.2 - - - - - - - ~ 1
Double Dwarf*Milo - - 5.9 37.0 - - - - - - - - 2
Feterita 20.0 211.7 10.7 - - - - - - - - 1
Grohoma 16.7 30.3 - - - - - - - - - - 3
( j Shallu 28.7 29.3 - - - - - - - - -9
Atlas Sorgo 8.114 ~ - - - - - - - - -
White Kafir - 21.0 soft. - -- - - -
1
S DATE OF PLANTING JUNE 16 JUNE 13 JUNE 121 JUNE 291 JiUNE 181 JUNE1 JUNE 20 JUNE. 19
I Tests at Fairhope (Gulf Coast Substation) in 1944 and 
1946 were damaged by birds and no yields were obtaind
S
2
Fifty-six pounds per bushel.
21.6
17.0
114.4.
11. 1
9.11
7.0
TABLE 5. YIELD OF GRAIN AND OF FODDER (STALKS AND HEADS) OF
VARIETIES OF GRAIN SORGHUM, MAIN STATION, 194
VARYIELD
1 
PER ACRE
VARIETY
GRAIN STALKS TOTAL STALKS AND GRAIN
Bushels Pounds Pounds
Hegari 50. 
13,228 16,050
White Kafir 38.9 10,732 12,910
Sagrain 35.9 10,665 12,675
Early Hegari 51.4 9,302 
12,180
Dwarf Milo 34.7 7,859 9,802
Feteri ta 28.1 7,219 8,793
Caprock 34.8 5,604 
7,553
Martin's Combine 36.6 5,393 
7,9443
Early Kalo 34.3 5,452 
7,373
Bonita 41.9 4,654 
7,000
Double Dwarf Milo 30.8 
4,897 6,622
Westland 26.8 3,628 
5,129
Air dry.
(10)
TABLE 6. THRESHING PERCENTAGE OF GRAIN SORGHUM VARIETIES AT
SIX LOCATIONS IN ALABAMA
THRESHING PERCENTAGE'
VARIETY AUBURN ALEXANDRIA, TUSKEGEE PRATTVILLE LAFAYETTE HEADLANDAVERAGE
1944 1944 1946 1944 1944 1946 1944
Hegari 78.3 79.8 65.5 77.7 68.1 51.0 69.7 70.0
Early Hegari 75.1 75.9 67.6 73.1 65.0 51.1 60.0 67.3
Sagrain 72.7 65.1 69.1 70.3 67.2 68.6 62.2 67.9
Early Kalo 74.4 72.3 -- 68.0 63.1 70.7 69.8
Feterita 78.4 68.5 61.11 52.2 66.3 66.0
Bonita 76.7 78.2' 71.1 72.1 65.6 61.3 71.3
White Kafir 71.7- 55.3 63.5
Plainsman 68.6 69.057.2 16.9 60.11
Double Dwarf Milo 66.9 51.3 60.6
Martin'sCombine 70.s9 -- 76.73 - - 53.0 -- 66.9
Caprock 6. - 59.0 - 4 11.0 - 56.0
Dwarf Milo 69.114 - - - - 69.11
Westland 66.3 -- 67.8 - 416.7 - 60.3
Imperial Kafir -- 55.7 - - 211.9 4-10.3
Midland - - 65.7 - - 55.0, -- 60.11
Colby - - 73.2 44- 11.8 -- 59.0
1
Th1reshing percentage was obtained by dividing the weight of the grain by the weight of the heads.
This Percentage will vary depending on the* length of the stalk left attached to the head. In the
above cases, from 2 to 4 incnes of stalk was left on the heads.
(11)
TABLE 7. COMPARATIVE YIELDS OF GRAIN SORGHUM AND CORN WHEN PLANTED
AT DIFFERENT DATES, MAIN STATION-
YIELD'OF GRAIN PERACRE
1
WHEN PLANTED EARLY. BUSHELS
VARI ETY
Sag rain
Darso.
Corn
Sag ra i n
Hegar i
Corn
DATE PLANTED
MAY 4. 1926 APRIL 26. 1927 MAY 31. 1929 AVERAGE
19.3 19.8 23.1 
20.7
10.2 15.9 22.7 
16.3
36.2 19.11 21.3 25.6
YIELD OF GRAIN PER ACRE
1 
WHEN PLANTED LATE. BUSHELS
DATE PLANTED
JUNE 15 JUNE 15 JUNE 15- JUNE 
15 JUNE ?O JUNE 17 AVERAGE-
1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946
18.3
24.1
32.5
38.7
10.0
36.2
52.9
9.9
35.9
50.1
13.6
39. 1
28.2
1.5.2
52.9
119.6
39.2
35.8
110,7
21.5
t
Fifty-six pounds per bushel.
TABLE 8. YIELD OF GRAIN SORGHUM VARIETIES 
PLANTED ON
DIFFERENT DATES, MAIN STATION, 1946
PLANTED JUNE 18 PLANTED JULY 5 
PLANTED JULY 15
VARIETY BUSHELS DATE 
RUSHELS DATE BUSHELS 
DATE
PER ACRE HARVESTED PER ACRE HARVESTED 
PER ACRE HARVESTED
Hegari 56.4 Oct. 16 
40.3 Oct. 21 22.3 
Nov. 12
-Imperial Kafir 11.1 Oct. 
16 29.0 Oct. 31 13.5 
Nov. 12
Early Hegari 50.6 Oct. 
1 115.5 Oct. 16 
33.1 Oct. 31
Caprock 38.41 Oct. 
11 27.11 Oct. 31 
26.6 Nov. 12'
Martin's Combine 111.11 Oct. 1 
36.3 Oct. 241 27.3 
Nov. 12
Plainsman 32.3 Oct. 
1 22.105 Oct. 16 
18.5 Nov. 12
Westland 31.7 Oct. 
1 25.3 Oct..16 13.6 
Nov. 12
Midland 16.6 Oct. 1 
28.9 -Oct. 211 15.6 Nov. 
12
Colby 36.9 Oct. 1 
25.9 Oct. 1 15.5 Oct. 16
r Il