Johnson Grass Scientific Name: Sorghum halepense Family: Poaceae Origin: Mediterranean region Warm Season Perennial Produces best in brown loam areas Johnson Grass is a good forage crop. It was introduce to the U.S. as a forage crop and now is one of the most troublesome weeds in agronomic and horticultural crops. It is easy to maintain after it is established. Twenty pounds of seeds should be broadcasted to obtain a stand. It can reach a height of 6 ½ feet. Johnson grass is a good forage for grazing animals, especially cattle and horses. It is also a productive hay plant. To get the best quality of hay it should be cut during the boot stage. After the boot stage it becomes coarse. Johnson grass can become toxic to livestock from prussic acid. Prussic acid accumulates in the leaves and stems when growth is stopped prematurely due to frost, and will stay in the plant if it is cut for hay or left standing for grazing. Johnson grass responds to fertilizer. It can use about a pound a day. It should be approximately 20-30 inches tall. Johnson grass will make approximately 5-8 tons/acre/year. It grows good with vetch and red clover. These two are legumes, which will make nitrogen. There is no legally labeled herbicide labeled for Mississippi on Johnson grass when used as a forage, but 2,4-D and dicamba can be applied for establishing the crop. Johnson grass links http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/natresources/az97105/johnson_grass.html http://www.ppws.vt.edu/scott/weed_id/sorha.htm http://168.178.120.79/mnt/Roadside/WeedPages/sorhgum.htm
