Sorghum is a drought-resistant crop native to Africa that is cultivated worldwide, especially in Asia and Africa. It can be grown for grain, fiber, or fodder. As a fodder crop, it is high-yielding and nutritious, though it contains some anti-nutritional factors like tannins and dhurrin. It is best sown in spring or summer as a rain-fed or irrigated crop using improved varieties. Proper agronomic practices like soil preparation, seed treatment, fertilizer application, and pest and disease management can optimize fodder sorghum production. Harvesting as silage helps preserve the nutritive value of the fodder for extended animal
3. Related Contents
• Discription
• Sowing Time
• Yield
• Nutritive Profile
• Anti-Nutritional Factors
• Cultivation Time
• Preservation
4. Description
Botanical Name : Sorghum bicolor
• Local names are “Jawar” , “Milo”
• Grow in harsh environament
• Self-pollinating plant
• Height of plant 60-460 cm
• Sorghum seed is small and round
• The long, wide leaves grow off the stalk
5. Description
• 5th most imp crop grown in the world
• Plant use for Grain, Fiber and Fodder
• Consider best summer crop
• Use as Staple Food
6. 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
8. 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
9. 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
10. Seedbed Preparation
• Requires good seedbed
• Which can be prepared with 1 ploughing
with mouldboard plough
• Followed by 2 ploughings
11.
12. Manuring
• 1.25 bag of Urea at first Irrigation
Fertilizer Quantity
(per Ha)
DAP 2.5 bags
Urea 1.25 bags
13. 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
14. 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
15. 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
16. Seed Rate
• 32-35 kg/acre for fodder crop
• 6-8 kg/acre for grain purpose
20. Tannins
• Reduce Proteolytic Enzyme Activity and
stop Protein Digestion
• Positive effect is Suppress Bloat in Cattle
• Catechol Tannins is famous
• Increased level of Plasma Growth
Hormone intake of CT in Sheep
21. ANF
2.Dhurrin
A Cyanogenic Glucoside compound
Located in Aerial Shoot & Sprouted Seeds
• Effects
On Enzyme action yield Hydrogen Cyanide
Excess Cyanide ion can quickly Produce
Anoxia
22. ANF
of CNS through inactivating the
Cytochrome Oxidase System and cause
death in few sec
Making Hay/Silage reduce Poison.
23. Pests and Diseases
• Shootfly and Borer cause serious damage
• Apply 3% Furadan granules/Carbofuran
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
28. Preservation
• Silage
Use Anaerobic Conditions
Make Forages
May use Bunker, Pit and Bale Silo for
Silage making
Use Molasses because Sorghum have
zero gram Sugar
29. Silage
• Yoghurt can be used for Production of
Lactic Acid
• 2-3 Year may Preserve
• If Baled Silo Performed avoid from Birds
30.
31.
32.
33. In case of any confusion
Contact
0305-5304181
Shoaibbhutta40@gmail.com
Good Luck