sudan grass: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical / Agricultural
Quick answer
What does “sudan grass” mean?
A tall, fast-growing annual sorghum (Sorghum × drummondii) cultivated primarily for forage, hay, and silage.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A tall, fast-growing annual sorghum (Sorghum × drummondii) cultivated primarily for forage, hay, and silage.
A drought-tolerant forage crop known for its rapid regrowth after cutting, often used in warm-season grazing systems and soil improvement.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical in both varieties; the term is technical and region-agnostic.
Connotations
Neutral agricultural term. May connote drought resilience, summer forage, or soil conservation practices.
Frequency
Low frequency in general discourse; common in agricultural, botanical, and environmental science contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “sudan grass” in a Sentence
Farmers [grow/plant] sudan grass.Sudan grass [provides/serves as] forage.The field was [planted/seeded] with sudan grass.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sudan grass” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The agronomist advised to sudan-grass the fallow field to improve soil structure.
- We plan to sudan-grass that paddock next summer.
American English
- The farmer decided to sudan-grass the acreage for summer grazing.
- They're sudan-grassing to suppress weeds.
adverb
British English
- The field was planted sudan-grass early in the season.
- The land was managed sudan-grass for maximum yield.
American English
- They farm sudan-grass intensively in the valley.
- The plot was seeded sudan-grass last week.
adjective
British English
- The sudan-grass field was ready for its first cut.
- We need more sudan-grass seed for the project.
American English
- The sudan-grass forage tested high in protein.
- They adopted a sudan-grass rotation system.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Discussed in agricultural supply, feed, and farming operation contexts.
Academic
Used in agronomy, crop science, botany, and sustainable agriculture papers.
Everyday
Rare in everyday conversation unless discussing farming or gardening.
Technical
Precise term in agricultural extension, forage management, and crop rotation plans.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sudan grass”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sudan grass”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sudan grass”
- Misspelling as 'Sudan grass' (correct) vs. 'Sudangrass' (also accepted, but less common in UK).
- Using as a plural ('sudan grasses') is rare; typically non-count or 'stands of sudan grass'.
- Confusing it with 'Johnson grass' (a related, but often weedy, perennial sorghum).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a type of sorghum (Sorghum × drummondii), which is in the Poaceae family but is distinct from common lawn or pasture grasses.
Yes, it is also used as a cover crop to prevent soil erosion, as a green manure, and in some regions for biofuel production.
No. They are related sorghums, but Johnson grass (Sorghum halepense) is a perennial often considered a noxious weed, while sudan grass is an annual cultivated crop.
It originated from the Sudan region of Africa, where it was first cultivated and later hybridized for agricultural use elsewhere.
A tall, fast-growing annual sorghum (Sorghum × drummondii) cultivated primarily for forage, hay, and silage.
Sudan grass is usually technical / agricultural in register.
Sudan grass: in British English it is pronounced /suːˈdæn ɡrɑːs/, and in American English it is pronounced /suˈdæn ɡræs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'SUDAN' is a place known for heat; this 'GRASS' grows fast in hot, dry conditions.
Conceptual Metaphor
Sudan grass is a SUMMER WORKHORSE (providing reliable forage when other plants struggle).
Practice
Quiz
What is a primary agronomic advantage of sudan grass?