Sorghum Tips

Baling Sorghum Stalks II – Loss of Soil Cover Protection

Statewide

In my last tip I discussed the often misunderstood removal of nutrients in sorghum stalks baled off the field and the potential replacement cost of those nutrients. Many producers are probably not receiving enough income per ton of sorghum stalk hay to adequately compensate themselves for his hidden cost.

It is not easy or simple to quantify the value of having soil surface cover on the field. This is especially important in Texas the windier, sandier, and drier your crop production environment is. If you have high sorghum stalk biomass on the field and you bale what you can off, you might still have modest soil cover protection. If you still largely till sorghum residues into the soil then the duration of soil cover protection potential benefit is reduced. Sorghum stalks are more resistant to natural degradation than corn stalks. Corn stubble biomass is likely higher in a given field, but months later sorghum residues can still provide protection even though the initial biomass was less. But sorghum stalk residues in drier areas of Texas (and where corn production may not be feasible) can especially provide a benefit from stubble controlling wind erosion and reducing precipitation run-off.

So when the potential value of sorghum stalks for erosion control is considered, I ask again “Is that a good deal?” if stalks are baled off. I encourage producers anywhere in Texas to evaluate how they manage their sorghum stalks for soil stability. Times have changed in how many farmers in Texas and beyond manage their crop residues, reduce tillage, etc. There is a lot of equipment now that enables farmers to strip-till and no-till. Consider how changes in your farming methods could potentially add value back to your long-term productivity, especially when you have the ‘gift’ of sorghum stubble to improve soil conservation in your cropping system.

Next Sorghum Tip – Grain Sorghum Hybrids that have Tested as Tolerant/Resistant to Sugarcane Aphid

/* = '9' ){ jQuey('h1,h2,h3,.additioal_posts_module h4,h4,h5,.logo a,.call_to_actio,#ito .ito_title,#ito .tease,#slide_module+#ito h3,#sideba .widgettitle,#outo,#outo a,#foote .widgettitle,.toggle a,.toggle_accodio a,#cotet .tease').css('opacity', '1'); }else if(!ua.msie){ jQuey('h1,h2,h3,.additioal_posts_module h4,h4,h5,.logo a,.call_to_actio,#ito .ito_title,#ito .tease,#slide_module+#ito h3,#sideba .widgettitle,#outo,#outo a,#foote .widgettitle,.toggle a,.toggle_accodio a,#cotet .tease').css('opacity', '1'); }} /* ]]> */