• Biomass/organic matter source (Dry Matter: 8,000-10,000 lbs/ac/yr)
  
• Weed suppression
  
• Nematode and disease suppression
  
• Subsoil loosener
  
• Forage
  
• Insectary plant
  
  

Plant Highlights

• EXCELLENT for taking up & storing excess N, for increasing organic matter and improving soil structure, for providing erosion control, for quick growth and establishment
  
• VERY GOOD for suppressing weeds, for animal grazing (production, nutritional quality & palatability), for providing lasting residue.
  
  

• Excellent heat tolerance
  
• Excellent drought tolerance
  
• Good shade tolerance
  
• Good flood tolerance
  
• Good tolerance to low fertility
  
• pH range 5.5-8.3 (NRCS), prefers 6.0-7.0 (SAN)
  
  

• Drilled: Seed at 35 lb./A (1 bu/A)
  
• Broadcast: Seed at 40-50 lb./A (1-1.25 bu/A)
  

• Cultivars commonly recommended by the Hawai`i Natural Resources Conservation Service include: ‘DeKalb SX-17+’ and ‘DeKalb ST-6E’ (Sudex, Sudax)
  
  

• Excellent for loosening subsoil
  
• Good at releasing P and K
  
• Good at loosening topsoil
  
  

• Very good nematode suppression
  
• Very good disease suppression
  
• Excellent allelopathic properties (weed)
  
• Excellent weed suppression
  
• Good for attracting beneficial insects
  
  

• Good trafficability
  
• Rapid establishment and growth ideal for short windows
  
  

• For loosening hardpans, mowing when stalks reach 3 to 4 feet tall increases root mass and forces roots to penetrate deeper into the subsoil.
  
• Sow at higher rates for best results as a weed smother crop. Allelopathic compounds secreted by the roots can last for weeks.
  
• Plants become woody as they mature and tough residues can pose a management problem. Chopping to decrease residue size will help. Mowing when stalks are 3-4 feet tall keeps growth vegetative and less fibrous.
  
• Nitrogen tie-up from residue can occur. To minimize this effect: 1) interplant a legume cover crop, 2) follow up with a legume cover crop, or 3) apply N and leave fallow to give time for residue to decompose.
  
• Often sorghum-sudangrass hybrids are used effectively for nematode suppression. Effects vary with cultivars.
  
  

• Minimum broadcast seeding rates of 50 lbs. pure live seed/acre;
  
• pH range from 5.5-8.3;
  
• Approximate growing time 60 days;
  
• Approximate dry matter yield 3 tons/acre;
  
• Approximate N content 13 lbs./T dry matter;
  
• Add 25 lbs. of nitrogen/ton dry matter at plow down;
  
• Optimum planting period year round at elevations between 0-1000 ft;
  
• Optimum planting period spring/summer at elevations between 0-2000 ft.