Pacific Sweet

Sorgo–Sudangrass Hybrid

(Sorghum bicolor x sorghum sudanese)

* Thin stemmed, small seeded product

* Fast regrowth for high yield

* Photoperiod Sensitive

Pacific Sweet is a Photoperiod Sensitive that can be used for grazing, hay or silage. It is a thin stemmed type allowing for faster dry down for high quality hay production. Regrowth is very fast giving it high yield potential.  Higher planting rates will produce a smaller stemmed forage.

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: Good

Rotational Grazing: Excellent

Palatability: Good

Anti-Quality: Prussic Acid and Nitrates

Downy Mildew: MR

Agronomic Traits:

Early Seedling Vigor: Good

Growth Habit: Upright

Recovery After Cutting: Good

Uniformity: Good

Plant Color: Purple

Midrib Type: Juicy

Seed Set: None

Maturity: Will head out when day length is 12 hours long ( 140-180 days)

Planting Rates:

Bushel Weight: 56 lbs.

Do not plant in soil temperatures below: 60` F

Seeds per Pound: 24,000 – 25,000

Rate (Lbs.):           Dryland                                           Irrigated

                              10 – 30                                           35 - 100

Seeds/Sq. Ft.       5 – 14                                            17 – 48

Strengths                                                                        Weaknesses

Small stemmed product                                                            Early planting may void Photoperiod Sensitivity                                                

Small seeded product                                                               Later cuttings slows drydown                             

Long season maturity                                                                                                                     

Low water requirement- will wait on rain without heading

Seeding:

Soil temperature should be at least 60`F at 1-2” deep

Can be no-tilled into the stubble of winter and spring crops

Do not plant on soils with pH greater than 7.5 to 8.0. Chlorosis will be a problem

Harvest:

Premium Stock LS can be harvested at any time. With Photoperiod Sensitive varieties, you can harvest when the plant is 4’ tall or you can wait until the plant reaches 10-12’ tall. It will also wait on a rain and not head out when the plant is stressed. Premium Stock LS also has a small stem but will not lodge.

Avoiding 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 weeks after application

Do not harvest drought damaged plants within 4 days following a good rain

Do not harvest 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

Pacific Seed Company

Walnut Creek, Ca 94598  USA

1(925)256-8585