Forage King Sorghum-Sudangrass (Sorghum bicolor x Sorghum bicolor)
Photoperiod sensitive
High yield potential
Wide harvest window
Forage King is a new hybrid with the photoperiod sensitive trait. This
trait allows Forage King to stay vegetative until the daylight period
is less than 12 hours and 20 minutes, providing a wider harvest window.
Even though Forage King will not head out until late in the fall, we
recommend harvesting at 60 days. If harvest is delayed, the product will
not lose quality.
Disease/Insect/Nematode Ratings:
Anthracnose:
MR
Downy Mildew:
MR
Agronomic Traits:
Early Seedling Vigor:
Excellent
Growth Habit:
Upright
Recovery After Cutting:
Excellent
Maturity:
60 days harvest
Uniformity:
Excellent
Plant Color:
Purple
Midrib Type:
Juicy
Planting Rates:
Bushel Weight:
56 lbs.
Seeds Per Pound:
15,000
Rate (Lbs.)
Dryland
Irrigated
Pounds/Acre
8-35
10-40
Seeds/Sq. Ft.:
5-14
17-48
Adaptation Ratings:
Photosynthetic Type:
C4 - Warm Season
Photoperiod:
Sensitive
Soil Temperature:
Warm (60 F)
Water Requirement:
Very Low
Seeding:
Soil temperature should be at least
60 F
Forage King
is usually planted between June 10 and July 10
in the northern states.
Can be no-tilled into the
stubble of winter and spring crops.
Planting
depth should be 1”.
Do not plant in soils with pH greater
than 7.5 to 8.0. Chlorosis will be a severe
problem.
Harvest:
Forage King is usually harvested 60
days after seeding.
The quality of
Forage King will not decline if harvested at 60
days or 90 days as the plant is all vegetative during
months with at least 12 hours and 20 minutes
of sunshine.
Crop Use Information:
Life Cycle:
Annual
Ease of Establishment:
Good
Shade Tolerance:
Poor - Fair
Drought Stress:
Good
Wet Soil:
Fair
Low pH Tolerance:
Moderate
Minimum pH:
6.0
Saline Soils (White Alkali):
Fair
Saline – Sodic Soils (Black Alkali):
Poor - Fair
Hay:
Excellent
Silage:
Excellent
Continuous Grazing:
Do not Continuous Graze
Rotational Grazing:
Excellent
Palatability:
Excellent
Anti-Quality:
Prussic Acid and Nitrates
Strengths
High yield potential.
Photoperiod sensitive.
Wide harvest window.
Dark green plant color.
Sweet juicy midrib.
Weaknesses
Large stemmed product.
Moderate
disease package.
Avoid Nitrate and
Prussic Acid Poisoning from sorghum:
Avoid large nitrogen applications prior to expected drought
periods. 2,4-D can increase Prussic Acid
concentration for several weeks after application. Do
not harvest drought-damaged plants within 4 days
following a good rain. Do not green chop within 7 days
of a killing frost. Cut at a higher stubble
height, nitrates tend to accumulate in the lower
stalk. Wait 1 month before feeding silage to
give Prussic Acid enough time to escape.
Download Forage King Sorghum PDF (1.20 MB) 
