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Scientific name:	Sorghum sudanense (Piper) Stapf
Cultivars:	Too many; some examples: Sudangrass: Piper (early maturing, with low prussic acid, and disease resistance), Balemore, Pro-Max, HayKing II Sorghum sudan hybrids: Quickdry BMR; Dense Tonnage, Evergrow BMR, Super Sugar, Tridan, Sweetking, Sweet-Dan
Origin:	Africa
Growth Habit:	Bunch type
Life Cycle:	Annual (warm season)
Use
Production:	Usually seeded with buckwheat, sesbania, sunhemp, forage soybeans, or cowpeas.
Nutritive Value:	Good protein and TDN
Herbaria Image:	Click this link
Identification
Seed Head:	Panicle, 5cm-0.6m long, 3-30cm wide
Seed:	55,000 seeds/lb (sorghum sudan hybrids); 13,000 seeds/lb (grain types) Rust colored, nearly spherical, small
Shoot:	9-13' tall, 1/4-2" in diameter, pubescent nodes
Leaf:	numerous/plant up to 100; very waxy leaf surface.
Auricles:	Not present
Ligule:	1-4mm
Adaptation
Soil:	Requires good fertility
pH:	6.0-6.5
Moisture:	17-25 inches Drought tolerant
Temperature:	75 to 80°F; tolerates excessive heat better than corn Freeze impact: 26°F or lower is needed to kill a sorghum plant but damage to the grain can happen at higher temperatures. 28°F or lower for 2 hours or longer can affect yield even though the plant may not die Close to freezing (30°F) will affec/kill above ground herbage but not kill plant totally, if warm-up to 70°F or above happens for 4-5 days tillers back on the plant may be observed.
Other:	Plants go dormant during dry periods then resume growth with favorable conditions
Establishment - Management
Seeding rate:	40-50lb/acre broadcast, or 25-35lb/acre drill.
Seed cost:	$1 to $1.7/lb; $50-80/acre (broadcast), $25-60/acre (drill)
Planting date:	June-July 1. Planting after July 10-15 is not recommended.
Planting depth:	1 inch (heavy soils, 1 1/2 to to 2" (sandy soils)
Frost seeding:	Not recommended (seeds will mold and rot)
Fertilization:	N supplementation.
Grazing:	Graze at 3 to 4 ft to prevent stalks being too woody. Prussic acid potential exist in a) young plants and new tillers below 24 inches b) Right after a frost c) if plants have been stunted by drought, cold or herbicide Nitrate potential in lower 10-12 inch stem
Hay:	May harvest 45 days after planting Harvest before head emergence, around 48" tall. Do not harvest any drought stressed plants within 4 days following rain. Do not cut or graze within 7 days of a killing frost Cut at higher stubble height since nitrates accumulate below 10 to 12 inches
Notes
Prussic acid concentration greater than 600 ppm is dangerous NOT recommended for horses; feeding sorghum to horses is associated with cystitis, urinary incontinence, abortion, photosensitization blisters. DO NOT fertilize with N during drought to avoid prussic acid and nitrate poisoning Delay feeding silage 6-8 weeks after ensiling if drought or frost damage to allow dissipation of any prussic acid. Close to freezing temperatures of 30°F will affect/kill above ground herbage but if temperatures warm up for 4-5 days to 70°F and up the plant will tiller back (care must be taken for prussic acid) issues)