Sorghum — Package of Practices
A tough, drought-hardy coarse cereal for grain and fodder — sow on time to dodge shoot fly, and it carries a crop through dry spells that beat other cereals.
Overview
Sorghum (jowar) is a hardy coarse cereal grown for grain and fodder in both kharif and rabi seasons. It is one of the most drought-tolerant cereals.
It thrives where rainfall is uncertain; timely sowing to escape early shoot fly and care against grain mould at the head are the main concerns.
Climate & season
Sorghum likes warm weather (about 26–32 °C) and tolerates dry spells well.
- Grown in kharif and, on stored moisture, in rabi.
- Highly drought-hardy and mostly rainfed.
- Stands heat better than most cereals.
Soil & land preparation
Grows on a wide range of soils, best on well-drained loam to clay loam; tolerates pH 6.0–8.5.
- Prepare a clean, fine seedbed.
- Mix in 8–10 t/ha farmyard manure.
- Conserve soil moisture on rainfed land.
Choosing a type & seed
Choose grain or dual-purpose (grain plus fodder) types to suit the season. No specific cultivar is named here.
Seed rate
- About 10–12 kg/ha.
- Thin to one healthy plant per spacing.
- Sow 3–4 cm deep.
Seed treatment
- Treat with a recommended fungicide against seedling diseases and smut.
- An insecticidal treatment helps against early shoot fly.
Sowing & spacing
- Sow with the onset of the season into moist soil.
- Keep rows 45 cm apart.
- Space plants 12–15 cm within the row after thinning.
- Sow 3–4 cm deep for even emergence.
- Aim for a quick, uniform stand to escape shoot fly.
Nutrient management
Sorghum responds well to moderate nutrition; split the nitrogen on irrigated or better-rainfall land.
| Input | Dose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Farmyard manure | 8–10 t/ha | Basal |
| Nitrogen (N) split | 80–100 kg/ha | Basal · top-dress at about 30 days |
| Phosphorus (P₂O₅) | 40 kg/ha | Full basal |
| Potash (K₂O) | 40 kg/ha | Basal |
Water management
Largely rainfed, but it rewards moisture at the key stages.
- Most sensitive at flowering and grain filling.
- Give supplemental irrigation at these stages where possible.
- Drains and ridges help in heavy rain.
Weed management
- Keep the crop weed-free in the first 30–40 days.
- Use a recommended pre-emergence herbicide with one weeding.
- Inter-row cultivation conserves moisture too.
Plant protection
| Problem | Type | Watch for | Manage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shoot fly | Pest | Dead hearts in young seedlings | Timely sowing, treated seed, higher seed rate for a quick stand |
| Stem borer | Pest | Shot-holes, dead hearts | Destroy stubble, recommended insecticide at threshold |
| Midge | Pest | Chaffy, unfilled grain at the head | Uniform, early flowering; spray at flowering if severe |
| Head bug | Pest | Shrivelled, discoloured grain | Monitor at grain set; spray only if needed |
| Grain mould | Disease | Discoloured, mouldy grain in wet weather at maturity | Harvest promptly when mature; choose tolerant, compact heads |
| Downy mildew & charcoal rot | Disease | Pale streaks; lodging in dry spells | Treated seed, rogue affected plants, avoid moisture stress |
- Sow treated seed on time for a fast, even stand.
- Scout for shoot fly early and midge at flowering.
- Harvest promptly at maturity to avoid grain mould.
- Spray only at the threshold, following the label.
Use crop-protection inputs responsibly
Read the label, use the recommended dose, wear protective gear while spraying, and strictly observe the pre-harvest (waiting) interval before picking — on crops harvested repeatedly this matters at every picking. Prefer cultural and biological methods first and spray only when monitoring shows it is needed.
Harvesting & yield
Harvest when the grain is hard and the heads are mature, generally 100–120 days.
- Dry the grain well before storage to avoid mould.
- Grain yields of about 2.5–4 t/ha are usual, more under irrigation.
Related crops
Sorghum — Package of Practices
A tough, drought-hardy coarse cereal for grain and fodder — sow on time to dodge shoot fly, and it carries a crop through dry spells that beat other cereals.
Overview
Sorghum (jowar) is a hardy coarse cereal grown for grain and fodder in both kharif and rabi seasons. It is one of the most drought-tolerant cereals.
It thrives where rainfall is uncertain; timely sowing to escape early shoot fly and care against grain mould at the head are the main concerns.
Climate & season
Sorghum likes warm weather (about 26–32 °C) and tolerates dry spells well.
- Grown in kharif and, on stored moisture, in rabi.
- Highly drought-hardy and mostly rainfed.
- Stands heat better than most cereals.
Soil & land preparation
Grows on a wide range of soils, best on well-drained loam to clay loam; tolerates pH 6.0–8.5.
- Prepare a clean, fine seedbed.
- Mix in 8–10 t/ha farmyard manure.
- Conserve soil moisture on rainfed land.
Choosing a type & seed
Choose grain or dual-purpose (grain plus fodder) types to suit the season. No specific cultivar is named here.
Seed rate
- About 10–12 kg/ha.
- Thin to one healthy plant per spacing.
- Sow 3–4 cm deep.
Seed treatment
- Treat with a recommended fungicide against seedling diseases and smut.
- An insecticidal treatment helps against early shoot fly.
Sowing & spacing
- Sow with the onset of the season into moist soil.
- Keep rows 45 cm apart.
- Space plants 12–15 cm within the row after thinning.
- Sow 3–4 cm deep for even emergence.
- Aim for a quick, uniform stand to escape shoot fly.
Nutrient management
Sorghum responds well to moderate nutrition; split the nitrogen on irrigated or better-rainfall land.
| Input | Dose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Farmyard manure | 8–10 t/ha | Basal |
| Nitrogen (N) split | 80–100 kg/ha | Basal · top-dress at about 30 days |
| Phosphorus (P₂O₅) | 40 kg/ha | Full basal |
| Potash (K₂O) | 40 kg/ha | Basal |
Water management
Largely rainfed, but it rewards moisture at the key stages.
- Most sensitive at flowering and grain filling.
- Give supplemental irrigation at these stages where possible.
- Drains and ridges help in heavy rain.
Weed management
- Keep the crop weed-free in the first 30–40 days.
- Use a recommended pre-emergence herbicide with one weeding.
- Inter-row cultivation conserves moisture too.
Plant protection
| Problem | Type | Watch for | Manage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shoot fly | Pest | Dead hearts in young seedlings | Timely sowing, treated seed, higher seed rate for a quick stand |
| Stem borer | Pest | Shot-holes, dead hearts | Destroy stubble, recommended insecticide at threshold |
| Midge | Pest | Chaffy, unfilled grain at the head | Uniform, early flowering; spray at flowering if severe |
| Head bug | Pest | Shrivelled, discoloured grain | Monitor at grain set; spray only if needed |
| Grain mould | Disease | Discoloured, mouldy grain in wet weather at maturity | Harvest promptly when mature; choose tolerant, compact heads |
| Downy mildew & charcoal rot | Disease | Pale streaks; lodging in dry spells | Treated seed, rogue affected plants, avoid moisture stress |
- Sow treated seed on time for a fast, even stand.
- Scout for shoot fly early and midge at flowering.
- Harvest promptly at maturity to avoid grain mould.
- Spray only at the threshold, following the label.
Use crop-protection inputs responsibly
Read the label, use the recommended dose, wear protective gear while spraying, and strictly observe the pre-harvest (waiting) interval before picking — on crops harvested repeatedly this matters at every picking. Prefer cultural and biological methods first and spray only when monitoring shows it is needed.
Harvesting & yield
Harvest when the grain is hard and the heads are mature, generally 100–120 days.
- Dry the grain well before storage to avoid mould.
- Grain yields of about 2.5–4 t/ha are usual, more under irrigation.