JOWAR (Sorghum)

• Botanical Name: Sorghum bicolor
• Chromosome Number (2n): 20
• Origin: Africa
• Grain Type: Caryopsis
• Title: Known as the King of Coarse Cereals
• Protein Content: 9–11%
• Research Institute: Directorate of Sorghum Research, Hyderabad
• Nickname: “Camel crop” due to its drought resistance
• Inflorescence: Panicle (called head)
• First Hybrid: CSH-1 (Released in 1964)
• Problematic Weed: Striga spp. (Witch weed) — a partial root parasite also affecting Pearl Millet

Nutritional Value:

• Rich in iron, fiber, and antioxidants
• Gluten-free; suitable for celiac patients
• Used to make bhakri, roti, porridges, fermented products

Climate Requirement:

• Warm and dry climate, optimum temp. 26-30°C
• Drought-tolerant crop, ideal for rainfed conditions
• Grown in both Kharif and Rabi seasons

Soil Requirement:

• Loamy to sandy loam soil with good drainage
• pH: 6.0 to 8.5 (tolerates slightly saline soils)

Major Sorghum Growing States:

• Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana
• In 2024, Maharashtra is expected to produce approximately 1.4 million metric tons of sorghum.

Seed Rate:

• Grain production: 10–12 kg/ha
• Fodder purpose: 40–50 kg/ha

Important Varieties:

• Rabi High Yield Variety: M 35-1
• Multicut Fodder Variety: SSG-58-8
• Drought & Salinity Tolerant Variety: CSH-9
• Male Sterile Line: Combine kafir-60
• CSH-14, CSH-16, CSH-18 – grain hybrids
• CSV 15, CSV 20, CSV 21 – improved varieties
• SSV-84, COFS-29, CSH-24MF – fodder purpose

Basic Races of Sorghum

Sorghum is classified into five basic races based on spikelet and grain morphology:

• Bicolor → Primitive race, widely used in breeding
• Guinea → Loose panicle, drought tolerant
• Caudatum → Intermediate characteristics
• Kafir → Compact panicle, good grain type
• Durra → Adapted to dry regions
• Hybrid races are combinations of these basic races.
• Memory Trick for Races “Big Good Crops Keep Dry” (Bicolor, Guinea, Caudatum, Kafir, Durra)

Climate & Soil Requirement

• Warm season C4 crop
• Optimum temperature: 26–30°C
• Highly drought tolerant due to waxy leaves and deep root system
• Best suited soils: Well-drained loam to clay loam, pH 6–8.5

Forage Considerations (Very Important for Exams)

• Sorghum contains dhurrin, which releases HCN (prussic acid)
• Young plants (knee stage) have high HCN content → toxic to livestock
• Drought or frost increases toxicity
• Safe stage for feeding: After 50% flowering
• Toxicity facts: As little as 0.5 g HCN can be lethal. Symptoms: breathing difficulty, nervous signs

Weed Management

• Critical period: First 30–35 days
• Chemical Control: Atrazine @ 0.5–1.0 kg/ha (Pre-emergence), Simazine @ 0.5–1.0 kg/ha
• Cultural Control: Intercultivation, Hand weeding at 20–25 DAS

Nutrient Management

• General fertilizer recommendation: 100:50:40 kg N:P₂O₅:K₂O per hectare
• Application schedule: 50% Nitrogen + full P & K → Basal. Remaining 50% Nitrogen → 2 splits (30 DAS & boot stage)
• Biofertilizer: Azospirillum improves nitrogen availability

Water Management

• Mostly rainfed crop
• Critical irrigation stages: Seedling stage, Boot stage, Grain filling
• Water stress at flowering reduces yield drastically.

Harvesting:

• Harvest at physiological maturity. Grain moisture: 20–25%
• Signs of maturity: Black layer formation, Hard grains, Dry leaves
• Delay causes: Bird damage, Shattering losses

Storage Management: Dry grains to <12% moisture, Store in clean dry bins

Traditional protectants: Neem leaves, Wood ash. Helps control storage pests like grain moth and weevils.

Yield

• Rainfed: 15–20 q/ha
• Irrigated: 35–50 q/ha

Sorghum Important One-Liner Questions

• Scientific name of sorghum → Sorghum bicolor 
• Family → Poaceae (Gramineae)
• Origin of sorghum → North-East Africa (Ethiopia) 
• Sorghum is a → C4 crop 
• Pollination → Self-pollinated (often cross)
• Inflorescence → Panicle
• Fruit type → Caryopsis
• Chromosome number → 2n = 20
• Sorghum is a → Kharif crop (also grown in Rabi in some regions) 
• Optimum temperature → 26–30°
• Highly → Drought tolerant crop 
• Suitable soil → Well-drained loam to clay loam
• Called → Camel of crops 
• Basic races → Bicolor, Guinea, Caudatum, Kafir, Durra 
• Hybrid sorghum developed using → Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS)
• Seed rate (grain) → 10–12 kg/ha 
• Seed rate (fodder) → 35–40 kg/ha
• Spacing → 45 × 15 cm
• Method of sowing → Drilling
• Recommended fertilizer → 100:50:40 NPK kg/ha 
• Nitrogen applied in → 2 splits
• Biofertilizer → Azospirillum 
• Critical weed competition → First 30–35 days 
• Pre-emergence herbicide → Atrazine / Simazine 
• Toxic compound → Dhurrin
• Causes → HCN (Prussic acid) poisoning
• Safe stage for feeding → After 50% flowering 
• Harvest at → Physiological maturity
• Grain moisture at harvest → 20–25%
• Storage moisture → <12%
• Average yield → 20–25 q/ha (rainfed)
• Sorghum is called → Poor man’s crop
• Important fodder and food crop
• Used for → Food, fodder, ethanol, industrial uses
• Sorghum research institute → ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research (Hyderabad) 

Most Repeated Exam Facts

• Scientific name → Sorghum bicolor
• Camel of crops → Sorghum
• Most important pest → Shoot fly
• Toxic compound → Dhurrin
• Herbicide → Atrazine
• Drought tolerant