For taking ratoon crop of sorghum:
Main crop should be cut at 1-4 cm height above the ground level after its maturity.
When cutting the stubble, make sure the mower blades are sharp. Shattered, split, or broken stalks may not put on new growth.
The field need to be cleaned by removing diseased and damaged plants, weeds and dried leaves etc. This should be completed within 4-5 days after harvest of the main crop.
Mix in the soil 25 kg N and 20-25 kg P2O5/ha using a blade hoe in between two lines.
The crop should be irrigated immediately after the application of fertilizers, if there are no rains.
Spray 0.04% Endosulphan 35 EC seven days after the harvest of main crop to control shoot fly.
The excess tillers are removed when they are of 25-30 days old by keeping only 2-3 tillers per plant. It is necessary to remove new tillers again for 2-3 times.
Second dose of N should by given 25-30 days after first dose.
The crop need to be irrigated once in 15-20 days up to the grain filling stage. Stop irrigation on 70-80 days after ratooning.
The varieties recommended for ratoon crop are CSH-1, CSH-5 and CSH-6.
CO25, CO 26, CSH 5, and K Tall are recommended in Tamil Nadu
The CSH-9 variety is not recommended for taking ratoon crop.
Harvest the crop when the grains turn yellow.
The durationof the ratoon crop is about 15 days less than the main crop. The yield of ratoon sorghum could be about 2500-3000 kg/ha depending upon the variety, soil type and management of the crop.