Download SORGHUM PT - agronomy society of pakistan

Production Technology
of
Sorghum
Mubashar Shahbaz
2008-ag-2522
Scientific Classification
Botanical Name:
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Sorghum bicolor (L)
Kingdom: Plantae
Order:
Poales
Family:
Poaceae
Subfamily: Panicoideae
Genus:
Sorghum L.
History
• Native to the tropical areas in Africa
• The oldest cultivation record dates back to
3000 B.C. in Egypt
• The original variety of sorghum was purple or
red and the seed coat was red
• In the 1950s hybrid sorghums were developed
for higher yields
Sorghum cultivating areas in Asia:
Country
Area(000 ha)
Production(000 MT)
Yield(kg/ha)
China
784
3107
3966
India
9200
6500
706
Pakistan
400
230
575
Saudi Arabia
180
200
1111
Thailand
88
200
2272
Yemen
320
260
812
Description
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Local names are “jawar” , “chari”
Self-pollinating plant
Height of plant 60-460 cm
Sorghum seed is small and round
The long, wide leaves grow off the stalk
Climate and Soil
• Sorghum is tropical plant
• More drought and temperature resistant
• Can grow on all types of soils except saline
and waterlogged
• Heavy, loamy soils are most suitable
• Prefers hot, dry climate
• Does not grow well in areas with high summer
rainfall
Seedbed Preparation
• Requires good seedbed
• Which can be prepared with 1 ploughing with
mouldboard plough
• Followed by 2 ploughings with cultivator along
with planking
Manuring
Fertilizer
Quantity
(per Ha)
DAP
2.5 bags
Urea
1.25 bags
• 1.25 bag of Urea at first Irrigation
Varieties
JS 2002
• Certified variety of Sargodha
• Long and sweet plants which remain green for
long time
• Production is 700 mounds/acre
Chakwal 2008
• Best for Arid zone
• Sweet stemmed and remains green for long
time
Hegari
• Tall, sweet stemmed and high yielding
• Production is 550 mounds/acre
• Good seed production also
JS-263
• Suitable for fodder and grain
• Production is 500 mounds/acre
• Attack of Red Leaf Spot disease
Method of Sowing
• Mostly sown by broadcasting
• Recommended method is line sowing (pora
method)
• Line to line distance should be 30 cm for
fodder crop
• 45-60 cm distance between lines in case of
seed production
Seed Rate
• 32-35 kg/acre for fodder crop
• 6-8 kg/acre for grain purpose
Sowing Time
In Punjab:
• For fodder in March-August
• For grain June-July
Sindh:
• In June for both fodder and grain
KPK:
• During June and July
Baluchistan:
• In July and August
Intercultural Practices
• Fodder crops don’t require interculture
• 1 hoeing for grain crops in case of line sowing
Irrigation
• 3-4 irrigations for March, June crops
• 1-2 irrigations for monsoon crops
depending upon rainfall
Pests and Diseases
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Shootfly and borer cause serious damage
Apply 3% Furadon granules @ 10-12 kg/acre
Red leaf spot is most serious disease
Seeds should be treated with Vitavax or
Benlate @ 2g/kg of seed
• Light irrigation during disease attack
Time of Harvesting
Best time for
harvesting of
fodder crop is at
50% heading stage
For seed
purpose crop is
ready in
November
At this stage
fodder tastes
good and is
free of toxins