Sorghum is third major food grain crops of India. It is used as fodder crop also as industrial raw material in various industries. Jowar contains calcium, potassium, iron, protein and fiber. 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 Uttar Pradesh, Jhansi, Hamirpur, Banda, Fatehpur, Allahabad, Farrukhabad, Mathura and Hardoi are major sorghum growing districts. 

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

Varsha: It is suitable to grow in whole UP area, except Bundelkhand. Gives average yield of 10-12 qtl/acre. Ready to harvest in 125 to 130days. 
 
SV 13: It is suitable to grow in whole UP. Gives average yield of 8.8-11qtl/acre. Ready to harvest in 105-111days.

CSV 15: It is suitable to grow in whole UP. Gives average yield of 9-11 qtl/acre. Ready to harvest in 105-111 days.

SPB 1388 (Bundel): It is suitable to grow in whole UP. Gives average yield of 12-14 qtl/acre. Ready to harvest in 110-115 days.
 
Vijeta: It is suitable to grow in whole UP. Gives average yield of 12-14 qtl/acre. Ready to harvest in 100 to 110 days.
 
CSH 16: It is a hybrid variety. Ready to harvest in 105-110 days. Gives average yield of 12-14 qtl/acre. 
 
CSH 9: It is a hybrid variety. Ready to harvest in 105-110 days. Gives average yield of 15-17 qtl/acre. 
 
CSH 14: It is a hybrid variety. Ready to harvest in 100-105 days. Gives average yield of 14-16 qtl/acre. 
 
CSH 18: It is a hybrid variety. Ready to harvest in 115-125 days. Gives average yield of 14-16 qtl/acre. 
 
CSH 13: It is a hybrid variety. Ready to harvest in 115-125 days. Gives average yield of 14-16 qtl/acre. 
 
CSH 23: It is a hybrid variety. Ready to harvest in 120-125 days. Gives average yield of 16-18 qtl/acre. 
 
UP Chari 1 and 2: Use for fodder purpose. Gives green fodder yield of 140-180 qtl/acre.
 
HC 171: Tall variety suitable for sowing in kharif and summer season. Ready to harvest in 110days. Gives average yield of 160 qtl/acre.
 
HC 136: Multicut variety suitable for sowing under irrigated conditions. Ready to harvest in 140 days. Gives average yield of 160 qtl/acre.
 
Sweet sudan: Tall, multicut variety suitable for sowing under irrigated conditions. Gives average yield of 300 qtl/acre.
 
Other state varieties:
SSG 59-3
Pusa Chari
HC 136
Pusa Chari 9
Pusa Chari 23
MP Chari
HC 260, HC 171
Harasona 855 F
MFSH 3
PCH 106
Safed Moti (FSH 92079)
Pant Chari 5 (UPFS 32)
CSH 20MF
Haryana Jowar 513
CSH 24MF

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

Time of sowing
In kharif season, optimum time for sowing is last week of June to first week of July.
 
Spacing
For sowing use row to row distance of 45 cm and plant to plant distance of 15-20 cm.
 
Sowing Depth
Seed should not be sown more than 2-3 cm deep.

Method of sowing
Jowar is sown by seed drill method. 

Seed Rate
For sowing, use seed rate of 4-5 kg per acre.

Seed Treatment
To protect crop soil borne disease, do seed treatment with 300 mesh sulphur powder@4 gm and then Azotobacter@25 gm/kg of seed before sowing. To protect crop from termite attacks, treat seeds with Chlorpyrifos@25 ml per kg of seed.

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

Always apply fertilizer on basis of soil test.
 
For hybrid varieties, use Nitrogen@32 kg (Urea@70 kg), Phosphorus@16 kg (SSP@100 kg) and Potash@9 kg/acre (MOP@15 kg/acre).
 
For other varieties, use Nitrogen@16 kg (Urea@35 kg), Phosphorus@8 kg (SSP@50 kg) and Potash@9 kg per acre (MOP@15 kg).
 
Apply whole quantity of Phosphorus, Potash and half quantity of Nitrogen at time of sowing. Apply remaining quantity of nitrogen, 30-35 days after sowing. 
 

Jowar crop get affected due to both grassy and broad leaves. Do manual weeding with the help of khurpi 15-20 days after sowing. And second weeding, 35-40 days after sowing. Spray with Atrazine@500 gm/150 Ltr water within 2-3 days after sowing. While spraying, enough moisture should be present in soil. 

Tillering, flowering and grain formation stages are critical stages for irrigation. In kharif season it requires one to three irrigation depending upon rainfall intensity. Under adequate water supply in Rabi and summer season, irrigation should be given at all these critical 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 under surface 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 200 ltr 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 centre 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 10-12^oC along with spell of rainy weather is favourable 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 favourable 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 15 days 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 threshing operation with 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 stored them in clean and dry place.