The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1913-02-06
SORGHUM AND
JOHNSON GRASS

WT. II. H. humphrey, Arlington,
Arizona, writes: What property does
sorghum take from the ground that
other grains need? ! notice that
wheat and barley grown this spring
on plot of ground that had sorghum
on 1t last summer was very poor,
while on an adjoining plot of exactly
the same kind of soil the crop was
very good. making nearly twice as
much grain to the acre. Can you
advise me what Is the best method of
killing Johnson grass"
We have been unable to find an
analysis of sorghum which shows the
amount of the different plant food
elements that this crop takes from the
soil. Sorghum fodder is rather low in
protein and high in crude fiber as COM
pared with corn fodder. This would
lead us to believe that sorghum is not
as heavy nitrogen feeder as the COM
mon corn. The amount of sugar
which sorghum contains varies from
two to twenty per cent of the juice, or
from one and one-half TO twelve per-
cent Of the cane. We note what you
say regarding the growth Of oats and
wheat on a plot that produced sor-
ghum last year. The decrease in yield
may not have been due to any particil-
lar drain OH the plant food elements
caused by the sorghum, but might
have been the result of lack OF
moisture Sorghum is a heavy feed
ing plant and requires cons de able
moisture, hence 1t may have taken so
much moisture from the soil that
there was not sufficient amount as
compared with other fields to produce
a good crop of wheat or oats.
We do not believe that you will
have any trouble in cutting your corn
with the ordinary corn binder, even
though there are pea vines in the
corn. The corn binder may be used
very satisfactorily for cutting sor'
ghum, also milo maize. Where these
crops grow unusually high and heavy
some of the machines may not handle
them as easily as they do corn because
they are built for corn and not for
heavy sorghum crops. The height OF
grain that can be cut with the ordi-
nary grain binder varies some with
the binder. This machine will handle
grain considerably higher than the
ordinary run of grains.
The most successful method OF kill
ing Johnson grass is to pillow early in
the fall and to harrow the land thor
oushly, using spring tooth harrow II
possible, or a peg tooth If the spring
tooth Is not available. This will tear
out large number of the root stalks,
which should be removed from the
field. A heavy seeding OF small
grain or millet should now be
sown which will keep down the john
son grass during the late fall and early
spring. This crop should be cut for
hay, and the land should next be plowed
and narrowed as before. 1t is we'll to
keep this land under thorough cult
walton during the summer months,
not permitting any Of the Johnson
grass to grow to any extent. BY fall
the field will be free from the Johnson
grass. The main objection to this Is
the loss OF one years crop, but 1t has
been found to be the most satisfac-
tory way of killing out this grass.
Close pasturing and considerable
tramping is very injurious to Johnson
grass, and will practically kill 1t out
IN time. A thorough drainage OF tho
land. combined with the above. will
be Of material assistance in eradicat-
ing Johnson grass.