Sorghum Cultivation Practices

Sorghum Overview

• Botanical Name: Sorghum bicolor
• Family: Gramineae
• Origin: East Central Africa
• Known as "Camel crop" for drought resistance
• Chromosome number: 2n=20, n=10

Agronomic Practices

• Stubbles decompose slowly due to wide C:N ratio, immobilizing soil nitrogen.
• To mitigate nitrogen blockage, apply 25% more nitrogen for succeeding crops.

Seed Rate, Spacing & Sowing Time

• Seed Rate: 12-15 kg/ha
• Spacing: 30-35 cm
• Planting Depth: 3-4 cm
• Plant Population: Approximately 1,80,000 plants/ha
• Optimal Sowing Time: Late June to early July

Manure & Fertilizer Requirements

• Farmyard Manure (FYM): 10-15 tonnes/ha
• Nitrogen (N): 100 kg/ha
• Phosphorus (P): 50 kg/ha
• Potassium (K): 40 kg/ha

Major Diseases

• Downy Mildew: Peronosclerospora sorghi
• Anthracnose and Red Rot: Colletotrichum graminicolum
• Rust: Puccinia purpurea
• Ergot: Sphacelia sorghi
• Grain Smut: Sphacelotheca sorghi

Major Insects

• Shoot Fly: Atherigona varia soccata
• Sorghum Midge: Contarinia sorghicola
• Shoot Bug: Peregrinus maidis

Harvesting Guidelines

• Ideal harvest stage: Grains hard with moisture below 25%

Yield Potential

• Rainfed Condition: 25-30 quintals/ha
• Fodder: 300-400 quintals/ha
• Hybrid Sorghum (Grain): 40-50 quintals/ha

Toxicity Considerations

• Sorghum leaves possess high levels of Hydrocyanic acid (HCN) during knee stage; risky for animal consumption.
• Grazing sorghum leaves under drought with HCN can be fatal to animals.

High Yield Varieties

• Best Rabi Jowar: M 35-1
• Drought and Salinity Tolerant: CSH-1
• First Hybrid Developed: CSH-1 (1964)
• Important Male Sterile Variety: Combine Kafir-60

Nutritional Content

• Sorghum grain low in Lysine but high in Leucine.

Climate and Soil Requirements

• Prefers warm climates, tolerating high temperatures.
• Total water requirement: 350 mm
• Soils: Clay loam or loam preferred, pH 6.0-8.5.
• Notable Soil Type: Black cotton soil of central India.

Temperature Preferences

• Minimum Growth Temperature: 8-10°C
• Optimum Growth Temperature: 32-35°C
• Maximum Tolerance: 36-38°C

Sorghum Sickness

• Refers to nitrogen unavailability impacting succeeding crops due to sorghum stubbles.