Production requirements for 1 ha of Sorghum ( 1 hectare - 2.

47 acres )
Seed requirements: Allow 15 kg of seed per ha for a population of 300 000 - 350 000 per ha.
Spacing: 30 plants per metre of row with rows 900 mm apart. Reduce to 24 plants per m with higher yielding varieties.
Planting dates: Mid to late Novmeber.
Target yield : 3 - 4 tonnes per ha. Up to 8 tonnes can be achieved with much heavier fertilization.

Fertilizer Requirements Product Rate/ha Nitrogen Phosphate Potash Sulphur Comments Rate/ha Cost/tonne Cost / ha
Base dressing Compound D 7:14:7 9S 300 21 42 21 27 Apply all at planting 0.3
Top dressing AN 34.5% N 250 86 - - - Apply at 6 - 8 weeks 0.25
OR T otal 107 42 21 27
Base dressing 13:27:13 1.5Zn 150 20 40 20 2 Apply all at planting 0.15
Top dressing AN 34.5% N 250 86 - - - Apply at 6 - 8 weeks 0.25
Total 106 40 20 2

Herbicides, Pesticides and Fungicides.

Product Pack Cost per Total

Problem Product Mixing rate Application / Comments
for 1 ha Size Pack Cost
Broadleaf Atranex 260 - 336 ml/15 lt knapsack Pre and Post emergent on soils over 25% clay - NR <30% clay 3.5 - 4.5 lt 2 & 25 lt
weeds and Bomoxynil/Buctril DS
55ml/15 lt knapsack Post emergent, for broadleaf weed control only 0.75-1.0 lt 25 lt
some MCPA 95 - 185 ml/15 lt knapsack Post emergent when crop is 150 - 250 mm high 1.25 - 2.5 l 5 & 25 lt
Pre emergent of weeds and crop. ( Terbutryn = Igran ). In tank
Grasses Terbutryn 50SC 150-225ml/15 lt knapsack mixture with Atranex N.B. not under <20% clay content 2.0 - 3.0 l 5 & 10 lt
Agriquat/Paraquat 75 - 150ml/15 lt knapsack Post emergent directed spray. Do Not spray crop. 1.0 - 2.0 l 2 & 25 lt
Aphids Dimethoate 40EC 53ml/15 lt knapsack Spray well in the funnel. Repeat if necessary 500 - 700ml 1, 2.5, & 3 lt
Thionex 50WP 75g/15 lt knapsack Repeat if necessary at 10 - 14 day intervals. 1 kg 1, 2 & 20 kg
Warning: DO NOT use Azodrin, Monocron, Monocrotophos or Nuvacron on Sorghum as it could be phytotoxic
Heliothis Thionex 35EC 150ml/15 kg knapsack Full cover spray using at least 200 l of mixture per ha 2.0 lt 5 & 20 lt
bollworm Thionex 50WP 105g/15 lt knapsack As above 1.4 kg 1, 2 & 20 kg
Fenvalerate 15ml/15 lt knapsack Lowveld, use in Jan & Feb only. Highveld after 1st Feb 200 ml 0.5, 0.75 & 1,0 lt
Stalk - Carbaryl 85WP 30g/15 lt knapsack Spray the funnels well. Add 5% molasses 625 g 1 - 2 kg
borer Thiodan 50WP 150g/15 lt knapsack Spray the funnels well. Add 5% molasses 700 g 1 - 2 kg
Smut Thiram 80WP 90 g /50 kg seed Applied as a seed dressing 27 g 1 & 5 kg
Vitavax Plus 150ml + 350ml water/50kg seed Applied as a seed dressing 25ml 5 lt
Storage Malathion 1% 40g /50 kg seed ( Ingwe ) Mix well with seed at time of bagging. 3 kg

Notes: Fertilizer mixtures are often changing so select what is available. The 2 shown above are only examples, others can be used.
Agrochemical pack sizes are often changing with more smaller pack sizes becoming available.

FOR FULLER DETAILS READ THE LABELS AND FULLY UNDERSTAND THEM.
THIS IS NOT AN ORDER