Sudan grass is an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the family Poaceae, native to Sudan and Ethiopia in Africa, and later introduced around the world as an important forage crop. The stems of Sudan grass can reach a height of up to 2 meters, the leaves are broad, and the inflorescences are conical spikes with yellow or purple colors. Sudan grass seeds are small, about 2 million seeds per kilogram, and are rich in starch and protein.
Sudan grass is generally grown in spring or summer, depending on the local climatic conditions. The optimal sowing temperature for Sudan grass is 15-30, the optimal growing temperature is 25-35, the minimum cold-tolerant temperature is 5, and the maximum heat-tolerant temperature is 45. Sudan grass is not very demanding on the soil, but it is better to have loose, fertile, well-drained soil. Sudan grass also does not require much water, but requires proper irrigation during dry periods to keep the soil moist.
There are two main methods of planting Sudan grass: direct seeding and transplanting. The seeding method is to spread the seeds of Sudan grass directly in the field, and then cover it with a thin layer of soil to keep the soil moist and wait for germination. The advantages of the direct seeding method are simple, time-saving, and labor-saving, and the disadvantage is that more seeds are required, and the seedling stage is easily affected by weeds and pests and diseases. The transplanting method is to sow the seeds of Sudan grass in the seedbed first, and when the seedlings are 10-15 cm high, the seedlings are transplanted to the field, maintaining the appropriate row spacing and plant spacing. The advantage of transplanting method is to save seeds, and the seedling stage is stronger, the disadvantage is that it is more cumbersome, and it is easy to cause damage to seedlings during transplanting.
The main advantages of Sudan grass are as follows:
High yield: Sudan grass grows fast, producing 10-15 tons of fresh grass and 2-3 tons of hay per mu.
High nutrition: Sudan grass has a high nutritional value and contains more protein, sugar, vitamins and minerals, which can increase the growth rate and yield of livestock.
Drought resistance: Sudan grass has a well-developed root system that is able to absorb water from deep layers and is able to grow in arid conditions.
Disease resistance: Sudan grass is highly resistant to disease and can resist a wide range of germs and pests.
Easy to digest: Sudan grass is low in fiber, making it easy for livestock to digest and absorb.
The precautions for Sudan grass are as follows:
Prevent overripening: Sudan grass generally matures 10-15 days after flowering, when fresh grass and hay have the highest nutritional value and are suitable for harvesting. If the mature period is exceeded, the stalks of Sudan grass will become thicker, the fiber content will increase, and the nutritional value will decrease, which is not conducive to the digestion and absorption of livestock.
Prevention of poisoning: Sudan grass will produce a toxic substance called cyanogenic glycosides when it is stimulated by frost damage, drought, cuts, etc., and if domestic animals eat Sudan grass containing cyanogenic glycosides, they will experience symptoms of difficulty breathing, rapid heartbeat, drop in blood pressure, coma and even death. To prevent poisoning, it is advisable to avoid harvesting Sudan grass at low temperatures, drought, injury, etc., or to leave it for a period of time after harvesting to allow the cyanogenic glycosides to decompose before feeding them to livestock.
Prevent cross-pollination: Sudan grass and sorghum are closely related plants, and if planted on adjacent plots, cross-pollination can occur, resulting in a decrease in the quality of Sudan grass and a decrease in the yield of sorghum. To prevent cross-pollination, Sudangrass and sorghum should be planted at a distance or at different sowing dates.
Sudan grass is a highly efficient forage crop, which can provide high-quality feed for livestock and improve the productivity and economic benefits of livestock. The planting season and planting method of Sudan grass is not complicated, and with some attention to some details, it is easy to grow high-quality Sudan grass. I hope this article can be helpful to you, if you have any questions or ideas about Sudan grass, please leave a message in the comment area, and we will exchange and learn together. Thank you for reading, and we'll see you next time!