Seasonal Emergence and Growth ofSorghum almum

Abstract

Field studies on time of emergence, influence of planting date on growth and reproduction, and winter survival of rhizomes were conducted on sorghum-almum grown in corn and crop-free environments. In 1985, peak emergence of sorghum-almum occurred during early May in crop-free plots and mid-May in corn. In 1986, two peaks of emergence, one in early June and one in late June, were noted in both crop-free and corn plots. Emergence after mid-July was 4% or less of the total emerged in 1985, and no sorghum-almum emerged after mid-July in 1986. In planting date studies, sorghum-almum was seeded alone or in corn at 2-week intervals. Corn competition reduced sorghum-almum shoot, rhizome, and root growth at all planting dates. Maximum sorghum-almum seed production was 43 110 seed/plant when grown without competition but only 1050 seed/plant when grown with corn competition. When grown with corn competition, no seed developed on sorghum-almum seeded 6 or more weeks (mid-June or later) after corn planting. Shoot dry weight of sorghum-almum grown with corn competition was 3 g/plant or less for plants seeded 4 or more weeks (early June or later) after corn planting. Therefore, controlling sorghum-almum in corn through mid-June should prevent seed production and corn yield losses due to sorghum-almum competition. Rhizomes produced by sorghum-almum grown alone or with corn competition did not survive the winter; therefore, in Minnesota, sorghum-almum survival from one growing season to the next depends on seed production.