GRAIN SORGHUM PRODUCTION IN WESTERN NEBRASKA

2018 SORGHUM SYMPOSIUM

Cody CreechDryland Cropping Systems SpecialistPanhandle Research and Extension Center

OUTLINE

• Historical information• How does it fit into a rotation• Weed control• Fertility• Trial results

COUNTY PRODUCTION

Keith County1980 – Harvested 600 acres

- Irrigated 73 bu/a; Dryland 28 bu/a1990 – Harvested 400 acres

- Irrigated 83 bu/a; Dryland 40 bu/a2000 – Harvested 200 acres

- 45 bu/aChase County2010 – Harvested 1,100 acres

- 72.5 bu/a

<15”

>34”

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4333 ft

DIFFICULTY OF SUSTAINABILITY

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Crop water use – yield functions

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Water use and yield function 2006-2016 The yield obtained in 2008 is clearly greater than would be expected for the 14 inches of water use measured, but is likely explained by the nearly ideal growing conditions that were observed that year. The available water at planting was 8 inches (22% greater than the 11-yr average for the study), the growing season precipitation of 10 inches was 122% of the long-term average,

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Line on x-axis at 8 inches

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4.4, 6.3, 8.3, 10.2 4000 kg = 64 bu/a 6000 kg = 96 bu/a

SORGHUM WEED CONTROL

• Sorghum does not compete well with most weeds in the early stages of crop growth, especially under cool or adverse conditions.

• Yield losses from weed interference typically range from 30-50%; crop failure if severe

Dr. Phillip Stahlman, K-State University

HERBICIDE RESISTANT WEEDS IN NEBRASKA

Updated January 2017 – UNL Weed Science

• Common waterhemp: 2, 4, 5, 9, 27 *• Palmer amaranth: 2, 5, 9, 27• Kochia: 2, 4, 5, 9• Horseweed/marestail: 2, 9• Giant ragweed: 9• Common ragweed: 9• Shattercane: 2• Johnsongrass: 2• Redroot pigweed: 5

*WSSA Site of Action Classification

MANAGING HERBICIDE RESISTANCEWhat research says about herbicide mixtures:

Beckie & Rebound (2009)• Mixtures were as effective as not using the herbicide at all

Evans et al. (2016)• Herbicide mixing was strongly linked with reduced

resistance• 2.5 MOA per application – 83 times less likely to select

resistant weeds

Werle, Sandell et al. (2014)

SORGHUM WEED CONTROL

MarestailKochia Marestail

WaterhempPalmer amaranth

Grasses

http://www.sorghumcheckoff.com

Herbicide Program for Grain Sorghum

MOST COMMON HERBICIDES IN SORGHUM

• Atrazine is the foundation herbicide for broadleaf weed control.

• Atrazine can be applied preplant, preemergence, or postemergence (don’t exceed 2.5 lb ai/A per year).

• Usually mixed with a chloracetamide herbicide (group 15: alachlor, dimethenamid, s-metolachlor, or metolachlor) for preemergence grass control.

• Herbicide-safened sorghum seed (Concep® III) is needed with use of chloracetamide herbicides.

Dr. Phillip Stahlman, K-State University

HERBICIDE OPTIONS – BURNDOWN/PREPLANT

Herbicides Application Cost/acre:

Aim + 2,4-D + Glyphosate w/wo Atrazine 10 – 30 days before planting $10 – $20

Atrazine* 0-45 days before planting $10

Bicep II Magnum/Cinch ATZ* 0-30 days before planting** $22 – $26

Degree Extra/Fultime NXT After planting, before emerg.** $32 – $44

Glyphosate*** Before crop emergence $5

Gramoxone Before crop emergence $11 – $16

Lexar EZ* 7 – 21 days before planting $43

Lumax EZ* 7 – 14 days before planting $44

*Do not use on sandy soil**Must use seed treated with safener***Recommended to add an additional tank mix partner and/or residual

UNL RECOMMENDATION WHEN USING 2,4-D OR DICAMBA BEFORE PLANTING:

2,4-D (both ester and amine)• 16 fl oz – apply no fewer than 10 days before planting• >16 fl oz – apply no fewer than 21 days before planting

Dicamba• 4 fl oz – apply no fewer than 7 days before planting• 8 fl oz – apply no fewer than 10 days before planting

HERBICIDE OPTIONS – PREEMERGENCE

Herbicides Application Cost/acre:

Atrazine* EPP, PPSA, PP, PRE $5 – $10

Bicep II Magnum/Cinch ATZ* EPP, PPSA, PRE** $22 – $26

Degree Extra/Fultime NXT PPI, PRE** $32 – $44

Dual II Magnum/Cinch* EPP, PPSA, PRE $17 – $20

Lexar EZ* 7 – 21 DBP** $43

Lumax EZ* 7 – 14 DBP, EPP, PPSA, PPI, PRE** $44

Outlook 0 – 30 DBP** $7 – $14

Sharpen Preplant or PRE $6 – $12

Verdict Preplant or PRE $20 – $36

Warrant Preplant, PRE, or POST $13 - $30

*Do not use on sandy soil**Must use seed treated with safener

HERBICIDE OPTIONS – POSTEMERGENCEHerbicides Application/Notes Cost/acre:

2,4-D 5” to early boot $1 – $2

Aim EC (may mix with atrazine* or Dicamba) Good coverage required $3 (Aim only)

Atrazine* (may mix with dicamba) Partial control of grass >1” tall $5 – $10 (Atrazine only)

Buctril (may mix with atrazine* or dicamba) 3 leaf – 12” tall sorghum $6 (Buctril only)

Dicamba 3 – 5 leaf $5

Huskie (may mix with atrazine*) 3 leaf – 18” tall sorghum $13 – $15 (Huskie only)

Paramount (may mix with atrazine*) Emergence to 12” sorghum $20 – $31 (Paramount only)

Peak (may mix with dicamba) 5 – 30” sorghum $4 – $17 (Peak only)

Permit (many tank mix partners) 2 leaf to layby (prior to heading) $15 – $23

Starane Ultra 3 leaf to boot (use drops at 8 leaf) $15

Yukon 2 leaf to 15” $13 – $19

*Do not use on sandy soil

NITROGEN RECOMMENDATIONS

South Dakota• N = Yield Goal x 1.1 – soil test N (0-2ft) – legume credits* + 30 lbs N/a for no-till

Kansas• N = (YG x 1.6)- (SOM x 20)- PCA- Manure - Tillage - Profile N

NEBRASKA RECOMMENDATION

NITROGEN PLACEMENT IN NO-TILL

GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS

1) Start clean and use a good PRE herbicide2) Use a short season hybrid3) Plant as early as possible4) Provide adequate fertility5) Scout often

RECENT RESULTS FROM SIDNEY

DRYLAND FORAGE SORGHUM

Variety Height IN. Tons/A Dry Matter Crude Protein% ADF % Dry Basis NDF% Dry Basis RFV TDN % Dry Basis 1st Choice BMR 64.3 1.5 7 33.5 54.7 107.7 64.4 Honey Graze V 69.3 1.2 7.5 33.9 57.9 100.7 63.9 Silo Mor II BMR 50 1.4 7.9 33.1 57.1 102.7 64.8 NK300 48 1.7 6.7 36.4 59.3 95 61.1 SP2774 65.7 1.3 6.3 34.1 55.7 104.3 63.7 SP4555 58 1.2 6 32.2 53.7 111 65.8 SP4105 46.3 1.5 8.3 34.1 57.9 100.3 63.7 NUTRI-CANE II 60.7 1.6 8.1 33.4 58.3 100.3 64.4 SWEETLEAF II 77.3 1.4 4.9 42.7 65.7 79 53.8 GW 400 BMR 60 1.5 6.8 32.7 54.1 109 65.2 GW 2120 45 1.2 8.3 33.1 57.1 103 64.8 Sweet Forever BMR 55.7 1.2 6.3 33.9 56.3 103.3 63.9 Nutri King BMR 63 1.3 7 35.4 55.3 103.3 62.2 Super Sugar DM 63.7 1.2 8.2 33.6 58.6 99.3 63.9 AF7101 72.3 1.4 6.7 33.7 57.9 99.7 62.7 AF7102 51.7 1.4 9.5 35 57.4 101.7 64.3 AS6402 42 0.9 8 33.7 58.2 100.3 64.1 AS9302 61 1.1 9.5 35 59.6 96.3 62.6 ADV6504 58.3 1.3 5.5 34.4 57.9 99.7 63.2 Corn Silage Control 67.7 0.5 7.3 36.1 57.7 98 61.4

IRRIGATED FORAGE SORGHUM

Variety Height IN. Tons/A Dry Matter Crude Protein % ADF % Dry Basis NDF % Dry Basis RFV TDN % Dry Basis BlackHawk 12 96.7 6 6.8 40.3 57.6 92.7 56.51 Nighthawk 6 78.3 6 10.1 39.3 58.5 93 57.56 Pelican BD 6 94.7 6.5 6.7 41.8 58.2 90.3 54.9 SeaHawk 6 123.7 6.5 4.5 46.1 60.8 81 50 NK300 73.7 8.5 5.8 39 54.4 101.3 57.9 SP2774 111.7 5.6 5.8 40.5 55 98 56.4 SP4555 98.3 6.1 5.7 37.4 52.1 106.7 59.9 SP4105 82.7 6.1 7.5 42.1 59.2 88 54.4 NUTRI-CANEII 111.7 6.8 5.9 35.9 52 110 61.6 SWEETLEAF II 110.3 6.2 5 46.3 64.6 76.5 49.6 X5063 122.2 3 4.5 38.7 51.2 107.3 58.3 X50712 92.7 3.9 6.4 36 52.5 108 61.8 X50644 75.7 5.2 8.5 42 58.7 89.3 54.6 X50610 68.7 7.7 7.9 42.9 60.2 86 53.6 X51423 80.3 5.2 10.9 37 53.6 104.3 60.3 X54243 133.3 4.6 4.2 40.1 58.6 91.3 56.6 GW 600 BMR 91.3 7.1 8.5 39.7 57.2 94.7 57.2 Silo Pro BD BMR 66 6.7 9.3 35.9 55.4 102.3 61.5 GW 400 BMR 101.7 8.3 6.9 37.8 52.8 104.7 59.4 GW 475 BMR 109 4.9 6.9 40 56.6 95.2 56.8 GW 2120 94 5.4 7.1 35.5 52.7 108.3 62.1 Sweet Forever BMR 111.3 7.9 6.3 38.2 57.5 95.7 58.9 Nutri King BMR 86.3 5.1 4.5 41.8 56.1 93.7 54.8 Super Sugar DM 107.7 6.2 5.3 39.5 54.5 99.3 57.3 Corn Silage Control 97.7 5.7 9.5 40.7 59.1 90.3 56.1

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