April 25, 2002
Planting Corn and Sorghum for Silage in the Same Field Might Reduce Drought Risk
LINCOLN, Neb. — With dry conditions across much of Nebraska this spring, silage producers may want to prepare for a dry summer as well.
Planting corn and sorghum in the same field for silage can help reduce the risk of poor corn yields and take advantage of sorghum's performance in dry conditions, a University of Nebraska forage specialist said.
"When growing and harvesting conditions are good, corn silage can't be beat, but most of our silage is grown where soil and weather conditions are stressful, especially on dryland," said Bruce Anderson, an Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources forage specialist. "Forage sorghum yields will often shine through in these situations."
In wet years, tonnage for corn and sorghum silage is similar, but when it's dry forage sorghum will yield well even when corn is severely stressed, Anderson said.
"Corn will increase the energy level of forage sorghum silage while the forage sorghum will slightly boost the protein content of corn silage," Anderson said. "However, when conditions are favorable, corn yields best so the sorghum component of the mix will lower energy concentration slightly."
Corn and forage sorghum can be combined in the same field in several ways. Some producers mix seed in the same row throughout the field. This is difficult to do with some planters, so other producers plant one or several rows of corn followed by one or more rows of forage sorghum, Anderson said.
"Since many herbicide and fertilize recommendations are similar for corn and sorghum, this combination won't cause problems with these practices," he said.
Economics are always a factor in planting decisions. The cost of planting corn and sorghum together is similar to planting corn alone, Anderson said.
The only special economic consideration when planting corn and sorghum in the same field is
to be sure the sorghum hybrid that is used will qualify for federal loan deficiency payments, Anderson said.
"If you plant a type that isn't covered by federal guarantee payments they won't give a grain value for it, so you won't get the sorghum portion (of the payment)," he said.
04/25/02-AF
Bruce Anderson - Ph.D
Agronomy
Professor
(402) 472-6237
Sandi Alswager Karstens IANR News and Photography (402) 472-3030
Department: Agronomy & Horticulture
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