Sorghum is considered to be originated in Northern Africa or at the Egyptian-Sudanese border 5,000-8,000 years ago. It is third major food grain crops of India. It is used as fodder crop also as industrial raw material in various industries in the USA and other country. USA is the largest producer of sorghum. In India Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh are the important sorghum growing states.

In Himachal Pradesh, it is mainly grown in areas of height of 1500m. It gives an approximately of 250qtl/acre of yield. Depending on the facility of irrigation, two crops can be grown in one year i.e. first in March-June month and second in monsoon season (June-October).
 

It grows on wide range of soil but sandy loam soil with good drainage is suitable for cultivation. pH of 6 to 7.5 is ideal for cultivation and better growth.

SSG-59-3: It is an early maturing variety which thin stem and broad leaves. 2-3 harvestings can be done easily. First harvesting is done after 55-60 days of sowing and then second harvesting is done after 35-40 days of second harvesting. It gives an average yield of 165-220qtl/acre.

MP Chari: It is moderately maturing variety. First harvesting of this variety is done after 55-60 days of sowing. It gives an average yield of 145-150qtl/acre for fodder.

Other state varieties:

CSV 15: The height of plant reaches upto 232cm. The variety gets mature within 100-112 days. It gives an average yield of 15qtl/acre for grains and 50qtl/acre for fodder.

CSV 17: The height of plant reaches upto133-140cm. The variety gets mature within 97 days. It gives an average yield of 10qtl/acre for grains and 30qtl/acre for fodder.

CSV 20: The height of plant reaches upto 240cm. The variety gets mature within 109 days. It gives an average yield of 12qtl/acre for grains and 55qtl/acre for fodder.

CSV 22: The height of plant reaches upto 180-200cm. The variety gets mature within 120 days. It gives an average yield of 9qtl/acre for grains and 20 qtl/acre for fodder.

CSV 23: The height of plant reaches upto 215cm. The variety gets mature within 110-115 days. It gives an average yield of 10-12 qtl/acre for grains and 65 qtl/acre for fodder.

SSV 84: The height of plant reaches upto 277 cm. The variety gets mature within 120-125 days. It gives an average yield of 9-10 qtl/acre for grains and 145-150 qtl/acre for fodder.

CSH 14: The height of plant reaches upto 170-200cm. The variety gets mature within 105-120 days. It gives an average yield of 15-17 qtl/acre for grains and 35-40 qtl/acre for fodder.

CSH 16: The height of plant reaches upto 180cm. The variety gets mature within 110 days. It gives an average yield of 17 qtl/acre for grains and 40 qtl/acre for fodder.

CSH 17: The height of plant reaches upto 203cm. The variety gets mature within 103 days. It gives an average yield of 17 qtl/acre for grains and 43 qtl/acre for fodder.

CSH 27: The height of plant reaches upto 180-200cm. The variety gets mature within 106 days. It gives an average yield of 12 qtl/acre for grains and 55 qtl/acre for fodder.

Rajasthan Chari 1: The height of plant reaches upto 190-220cm. The variety gets mature within 85-90 days. It gives an average yield of 160-200 qtl/acre for fodder.

Rajasthan Chari 2: The height of plant reaches upto 190-220cm. The variety gets mature within 70 days. It gives an average yield of 125-150 qtl/acre for fodder.

Pratap Chari 1080: The height of plant reaches upto 240-260cm. The variety gets mature within 60-65 days. It gives an average yield of 15 qtl/acre for grains and 145-150 qtl/acre for fodder.

Pratap Jowar 1430: The height of plant reaches upto180-200cm. The variety gets mature within 90-95 days. It gives an average yield of 15-18 qtl/acre for grains and 47-50 qtl/acre for fodder.

SL44: It is a Sweet, juicy and thin - stemmed variety applicable for cultivation of whole Punjab during kharif season under irrigated condition. Gives average fodder yield of 240 qtl/acre.

Punjab Sudax Chari 1: Hybrid of sorghum. Plants are tall with long broad leaves. Stems are sweet and juicy. Timely sown crop gives three cutting. It is resistant to red leaf spot disease. Gives average yield of 480 qtl/acre.

SSG 59-3

MP Chari

Pusa Chari

HC 136

Pusa Chari 9

Pusa Chari 23

HC 260, HC 171

Harasona 855 F

MFSH 3

Give one deep ploughing every year in shallow to medium deep soil. Give one to two ploughing followed by 2 criss cross harrowing. Prepare land in such a way that water stagnation will not occurred in field.
 

Time of sowing
Optimum time for sowing is from mid-march-April. For monsoon crop, sowing is done at the start of monsoon.

Spacing
For sowing, use spacing of 45cm x 15cm or 60cm x 10cm.

Sowing Depth
Seed should not be sown more than 2-3cm depth.

Method of sowing
In north India, sorghum is sown either by broadcast or sown in rows behind the plough. Seed drill method is also used for sowing.

Seed Rate
Use seed rate of 22kg/acre for sowing.

Seed Treatment
To protect crop soil borne disease, do seed treatment with 300mesh Sulphur powder@4gm and then Azotobacter@25gm/kg of seed before sowing.

Use any one fungicide/insecticide from below

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

Before sowing add 10-15tons of Farm Yard Manure or well decomposed cow dung in soil. Apply basal dose of N:P@33:22kg/acre in form of Urea@73kg and SSP@140kg/acre. Apply all dose of P along with 50% N is applied as basal at the time of sowing. Apply remaining half dose of fertilizer, 30days after sowing.

To get good yield, give proper irrigation at important stages like tillering, flowering and grain formation stages. These are critical stages for irrigation. In kharif season, the crop requires one to three irrigations depending upon rainfall intensity. Under adequate water supply in Rabi and summer season, irrigation should be given at all these critical stages. If water is available for only 2 irrigations, then these should be applied at flower primordial initiation and flowering stages.

• Pest and their control:
  

Sorghum shoot fly: They laid eggs on younger leaves. Eggs are of white, cylindrical shape while adults are of whitish gray color. Maggots are of yellowish color and grow inside stem leads to cut of stem. Shoot get dried and produces "dead heart". Side tillers are produces in affected plant. Plant come out easily when pulled out and gives bad smell. One to six week seedlings are more susceptible to this pest.

Do not delay in sowing. After harvesting of previous crop, clean field and remove remains of earlier plants. At time of sowing, soil application of Phorate 10G@7kg/acre or Carbofuran@13kg/acre will help to control it. Before sowing do seed treatment with Imidacloprid 70WS@4ml/kg of seeds. Remove infected seedlings and destroyed them away from field. If infestation is observed Methyl Demeton 25EC@200ml/acre and Dimethoate 30EC@200ml/acre.

Stem borer: Oval shape egg bunch observed undersurface of leaves near mid rib. Larvae are of yellowish brown with brown head. Moth is of straw colored. On infestation, withering and drying of central shoot is observed. Bore holes are observed on stem. Series of pin holes on emerging leaves.

Set up of light traps till mid night to monitor, attract and kill adults of stem borer. Mix Phorate 10G@5kg/acre or Carbofuran 3G@10kg/acre with sand to make quantity upto 20kg/acre and apply in the leaf whorls. Take spray of Carbaryl S50WP@800g/acre.

Ear head caterpillar: Eggs are creamy white and of spherical shape. Show color variation from greenish to brown having dark brown grey lines on body. Adults are of light pale brownish yellow moth. On incidence of this pest, earheads are partially eaten and gives chalky appearance. Excreta is observed within ear head.

To know intensity of infestation, set up light trap. Use sex pheromone traps@5/acre to attract male moths from flowering to grain hardening. Spray with Carbaryl 10D@1kg/acre or Malathion 5D@10kg/acre.

Ear Head bug: When grains are at milking stage, nymph and adult suck juice from grains. Because of it grains get shrink and gives black color. Large no of nymphs are observed on ear head. Nymphs are slender, green in color. Male adults of ear head bug are of green color and females are green with brown margins.

On 3rd and 18th days after panicle emergence, Do dusting of Carbaryl 10D@10kg/acre or Malathion 5D@10kg/acre. Spray with Malathion 50EC@400ml/acre in 200lit of water at 10% heading.

Sorghum Midge: Sorghum midge fly is small mosquito shape having bright orange abdomen and pair of transparent wings and long telescopic ovipositor. Maggots of midge fly feeds on developing grains. Larvae feed on the ovaries and destroyed developing grains results in partial feeling of grains. Red ooze from spikelets show presence of maggots.

Set up light trap to attract midge fly. Apply Carbaryl 10D@10kg/acre or Malathion 5D@10kg/acre on 3rd and 18th day after panicle emergence.

• Disease and their control:
  

Anthracnose: Small red color spots with white center are observed on both sides of leaves. Numerous small black dots like are seen on the white surface of the lesions which are fruiting bodies of fungus. Circular canker is developed on stalk and influence. When we split infected stem it shows discoloration. This disease spread in continuous rain, high humidity and temperature 28-30oC.

Avoid continuous growing of crop. Follow crop rotation. Grow resistive varieties. Before sowing crop treat the seed with Captan or Thiram @3 gm/kg of seeds. If infestation observed spray crop with Mancozeb @ 300 gm or Carbendazim @400gm/200Ltr of water.

Rust: It affect at any growth stage of crop. Small reddish brown flecks observed on lower surface of leaves. Pustules appeared on both surface of leaves, on rupture they gives reddish powdery mass. The pustules may also occur on the leaf sheaths and on the stalks of inflorescence. Low temperature 10-12oC along with spell of rainy weather is favorable to this disease.

Grow rust resistant variety. If infestation is observed spray crop with Mancozeb@250gm/150Ltr of water or do dusting of sulphur@ 10kg/acre.

Ergot: Secretion of honey dew from infected florets is main symptoms of this disease. This secretion attracts large number of insects and ants, also head give black appearance. At base of infected plant white spots on soil is observed. High rainfall, high humidity at flowering stage along with cloudy weather is favorable for spread of this disease.

Grow ergot resistant varieties. Before sowing soak seed in 2% saline solution, ergot affected seeds float on surface, remove them. Do seed treatment with Captan or Thiram@4gm/Kg of seed. Spray with Ziram, Zineb, Captan or Mancozeb@2.5gm/Ltr at emergence of ear head. Take second spray at 50% of flowering. If necessary repeat spray after a week.

Head mould/Grain mould/Head blight: Moist weather at time of flowering or grain filling stage causes fungus growth on earheads. Compact heads are more susceptible to this disease.

Avoid late sowing. Grow resistant varieties. Before sowing treat seeds with Thiram@3gm/Kg of seeds. In case of intermittent rain during ear head emergence, take spray of Mancozeb@2.5gm/Ltr of water or Captan@2gm/Ltr of water.

Downy Mildew: Whitish growth is observed on lower surface of leaves. The leaves give green or yellow coloration appearance.

Avoid growing of crop continuously on same field. Follow crop rotation with pulses and oil seeds. Use downy mildew resistive varieties. Before sowing treat seeds with Metalaxyl@4gm/Kg of seeds. If infection is observed spray with Metalaxyl@2gm/Ltr of water or Mancozeb@2.5gm/Ltr of water.

Leaf Blight: In initial stage small narrow elongated spindle shaped spots are observed. On older plants, long elliptical, necrotic lesions of straw coloured observed in the centre with dark margins. It destroyed large area of leaf and give crop a burnt appearance. High humidity, high rainfall along with cool moist weather are favourable for this disease.

Use disease free seeds and resistive varieties. Follow proper crop rotation. Before sowing treat seeds with Thiram or Captan@ 4gm/kg of seeds. If infestation is observed spray crop with Mancozeb@2.5gm/Ltr of water, if necessary take second spray with 15days interval.

Grain smut/Kernel smut / Covered smut / Short smut: Appeared at time of grain formation in ear. Grains gives dirty white or gray color appearance and get covered with white cream. Affected plants can be detected before the ears come out. They are shorter than the healthy plants with thinner stalks and marked tillering. The ears come out much earlier than the healthy.

Use diseased free seeds and resistive varieties. Follow crop rotation. Before sowing treat seeds with Thiram or Captan@ 3gm/kg of seeds.

The right time for harvest is when grains become hard and contain less than 25% moisture. Once crop gets mature, harvest it immediately. For harvesting sickles are used. The plants are cut from near the ground level. After then stalks are tied into bundles of convenient sizes and stacked on threshing floor. After two to three days removed ear heads from plants. In some cases only ear heads are removed from standing crop and collected at threshing floor. After then they are sun dry for 3-4 days.

After proper drying carryout the threshing operation with the help of sticks or by trampling under bullock feet. Collect grain after threshing operation. Clean and dried them in sun for 6-7 days up-to 13-15% moisture content. Then store them in clean and dry place.