RANGE GRASSES OF HAWAIl - ctahr - University of Hawaii

RANGE GRASSES OF HAWAII
No. 45. SORGHUM VULGARE SUDANENSE, HOLCUS SORGHUM SUDANENSl8.
ANDROPOGON SORGHUM SUDANENSIS (lO,p.37)
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Common name: Sudan grass
Sudan grass (10, p. 36) is cultivated in the warmer regions of both
hemispheres. It is annual or perennial and 3 to 7 feet tall. Although
making its best growth at lower levels it will grow at relatively high
altitudes. It is as drought resistant as the best ,Tarieties of sorghums.
In regions of low rainfall and high temperature its carrying capacity
FIGURE 45.-Sorghum vulgare sudanense
du;ring the summer is said to exceed that of any other grass or legume.
It is also well adapted to irrigated regions. It is valuable as cut feed
and also as pasturage if rested at intervals. The grass recovers
rapidly after having been cut and produces heavily throughout the
year. Sudan grass resembles Johnson grass (Sorghum halepense) in
appearance, but has broader and more numerous leaves and no llnderground
stems. So far as is known, Johnson grass is not used in Hawaii
either for pasture or for cut feed, but grows along the roadsides in many
places. Although about equal in value to Sudan grass, Johnson grass
is not recommended because of its underground stems, which make its
eradication from cultivated fields difficult.
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