Row spacing and sowing density for grain sorghum in semiarid

There is little information about sorghum management in semiarid areas. Therefore, three row spacing and three sowing densities of sorghum grain cultivars were evaluated during two crop seasons, in the North of Minas Gerais State, Brazil. In each season, two experiments were carried out on contiguous areas, adopting 50 cm, 70 cm and 90 cm as row spacing in the first one and three sowing densities (100000, 140000, 180000 plants ha(-1)) in the second one. In both experiments, four cultivars were evaluated: SHS400, 1G220, BRS310 and 0992045. The experimental design was in random blocks, in 3 x 4 factorial schemes, with three repetitions. Reduction in row spacing promotes increases in grain and panicles productivity of grain sorghum. The viability of increasing sowing density depends on cultivar and row spacing and of climatic conditions prevailing in cropping year. The BRS310 and 1G220 cultivars are promising for grain production in the North of Minas Gerais State.