The required plant population can be obtained by using a seed rate of 8 -12 kg/ha. The seeds are sown about 3 to 4 cm deep on the furrows. The optimum seed rate for grain sorghum is 10 pounds of seed per acre assuming a seed size of 14,000 seeds per pound and 70% emergence. The seed size varies from about 13,000 to 16,000 seeds/pound depending on the hybrid. The seeding rate on a pound per acre basis must be decreased for smaller seed and increased for larger seed. The goal is to achieve about 1,00,000 plants per acre.
The seeds of sorghum are treated with the 300-mesh sulfur powder about 4 gm of sulfur per kg of seeds for controlling the smut disease. The sorghum seeds are soaked in 30% salt solution. Ergot affected sorghum seeds which floats are removed to avoid the incidence of ergot disease.
