How to Grow Sudangrass

Sudan grass is a form of sorghum that functions as an annual pasture and silage crop in areas of the Upper Midwest and Great Plains that do not receive sufficient rainfall to produce perennial forage grasses. Sudan grass grows 3 to 8 feet tall and develops fine stems. Sorghum-sudan grass, also known as Sudex or Sudax, is a hybrid that serves as a cover crop and soil builder. Sorghum-sudan grass grows taller and develops larges leaves and stems than sudan grass. Both sudan grass and sorghum-sudan grass have growing requirements similar to corn.

Soil test
Tiller
Nitrogen fertilizer
Sudan grass seed
Seed broadcaster

Instructions

- 1
  Prepare the seedbed the fall before planting. Clear the entire area of existing vegetation and till the soil.
- 2
  Conduct a soil test to determine pH level and fertilizer requirements. Sudangrass grows best in neutral soils and typically needs 60 to 120 lbs. of nitrogen fertilizer per acre. Till the fertilizer into the soil prior to planting or broadcast it with the seed at planting.
- 3
  Plant sudangrass from March until June, or when the soil warms to 60 degrees F. Broadcast the seed at a rate of 120 to 150 lbs. per acre for forage, or 20 to 60 lbs. per acre for cover-crop use.
- 4
  Provide sudangrass with ample moisture. Initial crops require watering 4 to 5 times before harvest. Subsequent crops require water 3 to 4 times before cutting.
- 5
  Watch for signs of armyworm and brown leaf. Armyworms are tan or dark brown caterpillars that feed on sudangrass. Carbaryl or pyrethoids prevents the spread of armyworms, but cutting down the sudangrass destroys their food source. Brown leaf causes pale yellow or tan leaves on the lower half of sudangrass plants. Brown leaf occurs when the plant does not receive sufficient nitrogen.

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