VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Sorghum halepense | Johnson Grass 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Rodents eat the seeds of this species [1].

Although Johnson grass is an undesirable weed species, it is a valuable
forage and hay grass for livestock.  It may, however, cause prussic acid
or hydrocyanic acid poisoning in cattle [19].  This danger is most
prevalent following drought or frost and just before pollination
[23,31].  Young leaves of Johnson grass have the highest level of cyanide
and can be highly toxic when heavily fertilized.  Burrow and others [6]
detail symptoms and treatments for livestock poisoning from
Johnson grass.


PALATABILITY : 
NO-ENTRY


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
Percent digestible organic matter of leaves and stems for spring,
summer, and fall is as follows [18]:

              spring         summer       fall

leaves         73%            ---          63%
leaves/stems   ---            70%          ---


COVER VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Johnson grass is sometimes used to rehabilitate overgrazed ranges in the
Southwest [10].


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
Historically, Pima Indians ate Johnson grass seeds [19]. 


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Johnson grass is considered one of the ten worst weed species in North
America, despite its use in revegetation projects and for hay [26].  It
can take over irrigation ditches and field crops, as well as produce
much pollen, to which many people are allergic [19,30].  As its parts
decay, Johnson grass inhibits the growth of other species and
nitrogen-fixing bacteria with the release of dhurrin [39].  The ecotype
that spreads mainly by rhizomes is much harder to control than the seed
reproducing ecotype [26].  Chemicals are usually effective in control of
Johnson grass, as is proper crop rotation and management [9,13,16].
Polyethylene sheets tightly covering small plots of Johnson grass may
also be an effective and nontoxic control method [3].  Johsongrass may
also be controlled through fall and winter cultivation, which exposes
the cold-sensitive rhizomes (down to 27 deg F (-5 deg C)) [22].

Related categories for Species: Sorghum halepense | Johnson Grass