Sorghum crop economic importance and cultivation technologies

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is a versatile and resilient cereal crop that belongs to the grass family, Poaceae. It is one of the world's leading cereal crops, particularly important in arid and semi-arid regions due to its drought tolerance. Here's a brief description of sorghum:

### **Botanical Features:**
- **Appearance:** Sorghum is an annual grass that grows to heights ranging from 0.6 to 4 meters, depending on the variety. The plant has broad leaves and a compact, branched inflorescence known as a panicle, where the grain develops.
-Grain: The seeds (grains) are small, round, and vary in color from white, yellow, red, brown, to black. The grain is used as food for humans, feed for livestock, and for industrial purposes.

### **Climate and Soil:**
- **Climate:** Sorghum thrives in hot, dry climates and can grow in regions with annual rainfall as low as 250 mm. It is highly drought-resistant, making it a staple crop in arid regions of Africa, India, and parts of the Americas.
- **Soil:** The crop is adaptable to a wide range of soils but performs best in well-drained, loamy soils with a pH range of 5.5 to 7.5.

### **Cultivation:**
- **Planting:** Sorghum is typically planted in rows, and it requires less water and fertilizer compared to other cereal crops like maize. It is usually sown during the warm season.
- **Growth Period:** The crop has a growth cycle of about 90 to 120 days, depending on the variety and growing conditions.

### **Uses:**
- **Food:** In many developing countries, sorghum is a dietary staple. The grain is ground into flour and used to make bread, porridge, and other traditional foods. It is gluten-free, making it suitable for people with celiac disease.
- **Feed:** Sorghum is also widely used as animal feed, particularly for poultry and cattle.
- **Industrial Uses:** Sorghum is used in the production of biofuels, alcoholic beverages, and other industrial products like starch and syrup.

### **Nutritional Value:**
- **Rich in Nutrients:** Sorghum is a good source of energy, carbohydrates, protein, dietary fiber, and several essential vitamins and minerals, including B vitamins, magnesium, phosphorus, and iron.
- **Health Benefits:** Being gluten-free, it's a suitable grain for those with gluten intolerance. It also contains antioxidants and has a low glycemic index, making it beneficial for managing blood sugar levels.

### **Economic Importance:**
- **Global Production:** Sorghum is one of the top five cereal crops in the world, with major producers including the United States, Nigeria, India, and Mexico.
- **Drought Resistance:** Its ability to grow in harsh, dry conditions makes it a critical crop for food security in regions vulnerable to climate change.

Sorghum's adaptability, nutritional value, and diverse uses make it a vital crop in many parts of the world, particularly in regions where other cereals may not thrive.

2. Sorghum bicolo

Family- Gramineae

Rn 2n = 20

3. Introduction

« Origin:- North East of Africa
* Sorghum is the fifth most important
crop.

major producers .

4. Nutrition

* Sorghum grain contains 11.3% protein, 3.3%
fat and 56- 73% starch.
* It is relatively rich in iron, zinc, phosphorus
and B-complex vitamins. 7,
* Tannins, found particularly in red graihei
types, contain antioxidants that pre
against cell damage, a major cause o!

and aging. :

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5. Health benefits

Sorghum starch is gluten-free, making

sorghum a good alternative to wheat flot

individuals suffering from celiac dis
* it also helps in weight loss.
* It provides good antioxidants

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of solar energy and use of water.

Sorghum is known as a high- ene
tolerant crop.

7. sterile lemma

pedicel

8. Sorghum flower

9. Sorghum production

* Inrank first sorghum production by country NN
(10,988.00 MT) in world €: India in rank fifth
(5,000,00 MT) in world. y

* In India, mainly on central & peninsulai ~
such as, Maharashtra, Karnataka, MP, Al

Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat are importar

states cultivating sorghum crop.

10. Nigeria
India
Mexico
Sudan
Argentina
China
Ethiopia

me.

Sorghum production

9068
7150
6202
4999
2794
2434
2173

11. Sorghum importing count

Quantity (1000 +)

China
Mexico
Japan
Chile
Kenya
Sudan
pakistan

5500
700
700
150
100
100
100

12. Sorghum exporting countri

quam

Argentina 1071717

China 237663
Brazil 225430
Francis 74321
Belgium 43969
India 42137
Australia 20800

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do

13. avoid water stagnation.

. Previous crop in the land should n
other variety of sorghum.

Land should be used sandy loam & w
= drained soil.

14. Climate

. Though sorghum is grown as rain fed as well a
irrigated crop in different seasons, af
season to produce good quality
important.

development stage.

15. Quantity of seed required
* Irrigated - 7.5 kg/ha;

* Direct sown - 10 kg/ha

* Rainfed - 15 kg/ha

* Foundation seed is 62.5 Rs./Kg
* Certified seed is 47.25 Rs./Kg

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11

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16. sowing

+ Form ridges and furrows of 6 m length and 45

cm apart Seeds are sown with a spacing of

cm on one side of the ridge . NS
Bisa in ra à

Sowing

17. + Instead of chemicals, botanicals like Pros
leaf extract (1%) can also be use
purpose.

* One kg of seeds are to be soaked in (
extract for 16 hours.

~ >

18. « Seeds are soaked in 2% potassium di hydrogen
phosphate solution for 10 hrs and then dried
back to original moisture

19. Growth stages

1. Seedling stage

2. Vegetative stage

3. Flowering/Reproductive Stage
4. Maturity

5, Ripening

20. Fertilizer application

+ Apply NPK fertilizers as per blanket recomme
of 100 : 50:50 kg of NPK / ha.

N (kg/ha) | P (kg/ha) | K (kg/ha)

Basal
application

25 days after 25 2
>. sowing
45 days after 25 E

sowing

21. Micro nutrient

Mix 12.5 kg of micronutrient mixture
formulated by the Department of Agricul

Tamil Nadu .
Basal application of ZnSO4 25 kg/

FeSO4, 50 kg/ha

22. Weed management _

* Apply PE Atrazine@ 1.25 kg/ha on 3-5
followed by one hand weeding on 3

23. Irrigation management

* Irrigation is given once in 7 days or on
days. The following are the important s
which drought should be avoided.

a =

+ à Panicle emergence stage Flowering stage
=

24. Plant protection

Disease Control:

* Disease plant should be control Sugary disease \

* Spraying of 0.2% Zineb should be spray after 45
days of sowing. Á

li
Insect control: b 4,

« 15 kg of Thimet ha should be apply in
fertilizer attime of sowing to control

* One spray 1.5 kg Thidon/ha should be at 10 $
days after germination for controlling Stem borer. A

At

25. Harveting

> Sorghum crop should be harvested fro
days after 50% flowering.

> At this stage, moisture content will be arou

20-22 per cent, seeds will have black layer a
the basal portion.

26. Seed yield

+ The harvested ear heads should be drie
bring down the seed moisture content
18% and then thrashing is done to avoid the
injury to seed.

content of 10-12 %.
« Seed yield of 2000 kg/ ha can be hi

27. Seed storage

and 8% moisture content in 700 g

ethylene bag for long term storage .