Sorghum Production Guide: A Step-By-Step Cultivation Practices

The grains of sorghum, an essential cereal crop, are extensively grown for use as food, animal feed, and fuel. It is a crop that can grow in harsh conditions with little moisture because it is drought-resistant. Site selection, seedbed preparation, planting, fertilization, irrigation, pest and disease control, harvesting, and post-harvest processing are all production procedures for growing sorghum. These procedures can help raise sorghum yields and ensure a Profitable crop.

Sorghum Production Guide

Best Package and Practices of Sorghum High Production

To increase sorghum output, farmers should follow best practices, such as choosing high-yielding varieties, using quality seeds, managing soil fertility, and managing pests and diseases. It’s also essential to spread seeds on time, manage weeds, manage irrigation, and harvest crops on schedule. The use of modern technology and agronomic techniques can increase production even more. Farmers who follow these procedures can make the most of their sorghum farming operations.

Land/ Field Preparation and Soil Requirements for Sorghum

Sorghum can be raised on various soil types, but sandy loam and well-drained soil are considered the finest. However, stay away from growing sorghum in clayey soils with waterlogging issues.

The soil pH should range from 6 and 7.5 for optimal agricultural growth and development. Ensure the ground dirt is free of weeds and pathogens before dispersing seeds. One to two ploughings can be used to prepare the area, followed by two crosswise harrowings. This method of field preparation will assist you in creating a suitable seedbed for the sorghum crop. Avoid getting the area wet.

Temperature, Climatic, and Rainfall Requirements for Sorghum

Tropical climates with temps between 25 and 35 °C are ideal for sorghum, but temperatures below 16 °C are unsuitable. A planting temperature of 25–30°C is ideal for seed germination, while a harvest temperature of 18–26°C is preferred. The best places to produce sorghum have an average annual rainfall of at least 40 cm.

Propagation Method and Seed Quality for Sorghum

To achieve high yields in sorghum production, high-quality seeds treated with fungicides and insecticides should be used to control seed-borne diseases during propagation.

Seed Treatment for Sorghum

High-quality seedlings treated with sulfur powder (4g/kg) and Azotobacter (25g/kg) can propagate sorghum successfully. Carbendazim, Captan, or Thiram (2g/kg) can treat seeds to avoid spreading fungal diseases. Alternative options include using a refuse decomposer or panchgavya for 20 minutes before sowing. Sorghum sudangrass seeds can be planted to produce sorghum fodder.

Seed Rate and Spacing for Sorghum

With a row-to-row distance of 45 cm and a plant-to-plant distance of 12–15 cm within the row, the suggested seed rate for sorghum farming is 7-8 kg/ha or 3 kg/acre. There should be 72,000 plants per acre (or 18 seedlings per square meter).

Sowing Method for Sorghum

Manual broadcasting, using pora to sow behind a country plow, using improved seed drills with or without fertilizer hoppers, and using mechanical seed drills connected to a tractor are just some ways sorghum can be planted.

Crop Rotation and Intercropping in Sorghum

Sorghum cultivation depends heavily on crop rotation. It is advised that other grains such as maize, pearl millet, or minor millets be grown between sorghum harvests or legumes like groundnut. Sorghum and other legumes like the common bean, pigeon pea, and mung bean are important as nutrition and cash crops. Sorghum and pulses can be intercropped for maximum benefit, as it minimizes the probability of losing an entire harvest and lowers reliance on any one product.

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Manure & Fertilizer Applications in Sorghum

Before planting seeds, enriching the soil with 15-20 tons of Farm Yard Manure (FYM), jeevamrut, or a waste decomposer is suggested. The soil’s nutrient content can be estimated with laboratory research.

An application of 60 kilograms of nitrogen, forty kilograms of phosphorus, and forty kilograms of potassium per hectare at the time of planting is recommended, with a top dressing of thirty-five kilograms of nitrogen applied a month later. It is suggested to add 45-60 Kg of sulfur per hectare to sulfur-deficient soil, but organic substitutes like jeevamrut, waste decomposer, or panchgavya are preferred for organic farming.

Weed Management and Herbicide Application in Sorghum

Controlling weed growth is crucial to prevent crop yield loss. Weeder cum mulcher can be used for hoeing at the 3-week crop stage. Pre-emergence herbicides like atrazine can be applied at 0.50 Kg per hectare in 650 liters of water to control weed growth effectively.

Water Management in Sorghum

The quantity of rainfall will determine how frequently you need to irrigate the crops if you plant them during the monsoon season, which is from June to July. In most cases, one to three irrigations are sufficient. However, 5 to 7 irrigations are ideal for summer crops. Crops grown in the winter require four to five watering cycles. To increase crop output, you can also use panchgavya with irrigation water.

Disease Control in Sorghum

Sorghum is susceptible to several ailments, including anthracnose, downy mildew, rust, and smut. Chemical fungicides are frequently used to manage these diseases. Azoxystrobin, propiconazole, and tebuconazole are a few fungicides that may be used to treat sorghum disease. The use of integrated pest control techniques, such as crop rotation, use of disease-resistant varieties,

Pest Control in Sorghum

Chemical pesticides can manage sorghum pests like stem borers, shoot flies, and aphids. To control pests in sorghum, popular pesticides include imidacloprid, lambda-cyhalothrin, and chlorpyrifos. It’s critical to use pesticides correctly and to follow all safety precautions.

Harvesting and Threshing of Sorghum

Sorghum is harvested 65 to 70 days after sowing, with the first cut occurring at 45 to 50 days and additional cuts occurring every 30 days. Sickles can be used for harvesting; the best period is when the moisture content is under 25%.

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Sorghum Yield per Acre

We can get 12–14 quintals of production per acre. jowar (Sorghum) is currently priced at a maximum of 3937.00 Rs per quintal

Conclusion

Overall, careful planning and execution are necessary for profitable and sustainable sorghum production, including selecting high-quality seeds, preparing the soil, timely planting, controlling pests and diseases, adding fertilizers, and irrigation. Additionally crucial are crop rotation and weed management. Such measures assist farms in earning more money and promoting sustainability.

Sorghum Production Guide: A Step-By-Step Cultivation Practices