Toxic nitrate accumulation in the sorghums

Abstract

The sorghums are valuable crop plants to the cattle industry. Their use as forages is varied and widespread throughout the United States. As pasture they may become hazardous to grazing ruminants if toxic accumulations of cyanide and/or nitrates exist. As hay the major toxic threat is excessive nitrates since cyanide is readily lost as gaseous HCN during the curing process.

The sorghum plant is a hardy soil feeder which allows for tremendous dry matter production in a relatively short period of time. This feature also allows for excessive nitrate accumulations when there is a luxury of soil nitrogen or if the plant becomes stressed. An understanding of sorghum culture and the plant’s growth processes is essential to the prevention and management of toxic nitrate accumulations.