SUDAN GRA 

Time Of Planting 
Sudan grass is a native of tropical Africa; there- 
fore, it is necessary to wait for the soil to warm up in 
the spring before sowing the seed. If sown in cold soil, 
germination will be slow and irregular, many seeds 
will rot, and the plants that do start will grow very 
slowly until warm weather comes. In the meantime, 
weeds start and are likely to smother the Sudan grass. 
The period of May 15 to June 15 will be, on the average, 
as early as it is practicable to sow Sudan grass. It may 
be sown as late as July or August, but the yields of hay 
will be less and the pasture period shortened. 
Soil Requirements 
Soils which produce good crops of corn are well 
suited to Sudan grass. On the other hand, sandy soils 
that dry out quickly and cold, wet, heavy soils are not 
as well suited to the crop. Liming is seldom necessary 
for Sudan grass, since it grows fairly well on acid soils. 
Seed Bed Preparation 
Early plowing and seedbed preparation as for corn, 
followed by two weeks of fallow cultivation to kill 
sprouting weed seeds, conserve soil moisture, and firm 
the seedbed, will generally give better stands of Sudan 
grass than if it is sown on a poorly prepared, loose, and 
dry seedbed. 
Rate Of Sowing 
Fifteen to twenty pounds of seed per acre will usual- 
ly give a satisfactory stand, although 25 pounds are 
generally advisable if any unfavorable conditions are 
present. The heavier rates of seeding give the finer qual- 
ity hay. Thin stands may yield as many tons per acre, 
but the coarse stems are harder to cure. 
How To Sow 
Sudan may be sown with a grain drill, using the 
wheat feed and drilling solid as for small grain (row 
seeding and cultivation are 
seldom used now outside of 
the seed-production areas). 
When set to sow two pecks 
of wheat, the drill will usual- 
ly sow about 15 to 20 pounds 
of Sudan grass per acre. If 
the drill cannot be set to sow 
this small amount, the seed 
may be mixed with an equal 
bulk of screened, cracked 
corn. If the drill method can- 
not be used, the seed may be 
broadcast and then covered 
with a weeder. harrow, drag 
roller or cultipacker. Any 
method may be used which 

will cover the seed shallow, 
one-half to one inch deep on 
heavy soils and one to two 
inches on light, loose soils. 

This Sudan grass pasti 
‘per acre on rich soil in Ju 
It will furnish grazing for 
live stock like Sudan grass. 
the weather ia thoroughlv y 
