Sowing in Sweet Sorghum

• Deep black soil (Vertisol) or deep red loamy soil ( Alfisol ) with a soil  depth of  ³ 1.0m is preferred.
• Seed rate 8-10 kg ha-¹.
• Treat the seed with Carbendazim or Thiram @ 2g per kg of seeds and with Azospirillum @ 600 g per 10 kg of seeds
• Spacing: 45-60 cm ×12-15 cm; (Row to row distance: 45-60 cm; & plant to plant distance: 12-15 cm)
• Two to three seeds are dibbled in each hill/planting hole and the seedlings are to be eventually thinned to one per hill.
• If a planter is used, then the existing seed rate will be reduced to 8 kg
• Pre monsoon sowing or dry sowing of sweet sorghum is effective for improving rainfall use efficiency as the crop takes advantage of early monsoon without considerable effect on germination
• Sowing in June for rainy season; sowing starts in October for postrainy season. However, sowing should be avoided during cold months, under summer irrigated, sowing during February is feasible
• Delayed sowing of sweet sorghum beyond 5^th July, attracts shoot fly
• Crop rotation with legumes is necessary for sustainability of yields on long term basis. 

• Sweet sorghum/pigeon pea (2:1) intercropping is also viable in vertisol.
• Dry sowing cum fertilizer application with tropicultor.
• Planting on light shallow soils should be avoided.
• The ideal pH range is 5.0-8.5