110 likes | 265 Views
Variable Seeding Rate in Sweet Sorghum. By Jake Linneman. Facts. Corn like in appearance Requires less water and nutrients then corn Can be harvested for both grain and sugar content from the stalk. The Grain. The grain is primarily used for livestock feed
E N D
Variable Seeding Rate in Sweet Sorghum By Jake Linneman
Facts • Corn like in appearance • Requires less water and nutrients then corn • Can be harvested for both grain and sugar content from the stalk
The Grain • The grain is primarily used for livestock feed • Either cut for silage or the seed is feed like corn
The Sugar • The sugar content has been to show great popularity as a biofuel feedstock. • Fits as a rotational crop for Oklahoma growers
The juice is what we want from the stalk. • From this juice, the sugar is fermented to produce ethanol. • The ethanol produced from sorghum requires much less inputs than corn. • Can be grown in much more arid climates. • One acre can produce 500-800 gallons of ethanol.
Seeding Rate • ~24,000 seeds per pound • An average of 3-4 pounds per acre • Dryland • 40,000 to 70,000 plants per acre • Irrigated • 60,000 to 90,000 plants per acre
Planting density and row spacing • Rates • 30k, 40k, 50k, 60k, 70k • 7.5 inch and 30 inch • Spacing • 7.5 inch, 15 inch, 30 inch • 50,000 seeds per acre is the constant
Harvest • Harvest takes place in the field using an on site juice extractor. • Bladders are in the field to store the juice to which the yeast is added.