Grain Sorghum Desiccation with Sodium Chlorate and Paraquat in the Texas Rolling Plains

Abstract

Grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is frequently planted in late June and early July in many parts of the Rolling Plains. Late planting results in grain maturing under unfavorable environmental conditions, prolonging high grain moisture content. Field studies were conducted at the Chillicothe Research Station, Chillicothe, TX to evaluate grain sorghym desiccants that could accelerate grain moisture loss. Desiccation treatments of sodium chlorate at 6.7 and 13.4 kg/ha or paraquat at 0.7 and 1.4 kg/ha were applied to a medium-late-maturing grain sorghum hybrid. In both years, desiccation treatments did not affect grain moisture loss during the 16 days after treatment. These results indicate that desiccants are generally ineffective in reducing grain moisture for late-planted sorghum in the Rolling Plains of Texas especially when grain moisture is < 24% at application and high relative humidity follows desiccant application.