Sorghum
Sorghum bicolor
About Sorghum
Sorghum is the fifth most important cereal globally and the most important cereal in the semi-arid tropics of Africa and Asia. It is uniquely drought-tolerant among cereals due to its deep root system, waxy leaf surface, and ability to resume growth after drought stress. Over 500 million people depend on sorghum in Africa and Asia, primarily in dryland areas where maize and wheat cannot grow reliably. Sorghum is used for food (flour, porridge, flatbread), animal feed, brewing (traditional beer), and increasingly for bioethanol. It is a C4 grass with high water-use efficiency, making it a climate-resilient crop.
Growing Conditions
Full sun — short day plant requiring high light intensity
Very drought-tolerant — produces grain with 400-600 mm rainfall. Deep roots access subsoil moisture.
Tolerates a wide range of soils including heavy clays and vertisols. pH 5.5-8.0.
Optimal 27-32°C. Tolerates heat better than maize. Growth stops below 15°C.
Low to moderate. Grain mold problems under high humidity during grain fill.
Warm season — 90-150 days. Plant at onset of rainy season in tropics.
Step-by-Step Growing Tips
Select varieties appropriate for rainfall zone (early-maturing for drier areas)
Plant at 75 × 15 cm for grain sorghum, wider for dual-purpose types
Apply modest nitrogen (40-60 kg/ha) in semi-arid zones — match to expected rainfall
Protect grain from bird damage — this is often the biggest yield constraint
Harvest when grain is hard and at 20% moisture or less
Thresh and store at <12% moisture to prevent grain mold and insect damage
Disease Risks to Watch
All diseases →Sorghum anthracnose (Colletotrichum sublineolum) causes elliptical leaf spots with acervuli, panicle rot, and grain mold. Yield losses reach 30-67% in humid tropics. Manage with resistant varieties, crop rotation with non-host crops, seed treatment with thiram, and foliar application of azoxystrobin at flag leaf if disease pressure is high.
Downy mildew produces angular yellow patches on upper leaf surfaces with grayish-purple fuzzy growth underneath. Caused by Peronospora or Plasmopara oomycetes, it thrives in cool wet weather. Manage with resistant varieties, preventive mancozeb or copper sprays, good air circulation, and avoiding overhead irrigation. It requires free water to infect — keep leaves dry.
Companion Planting
✅ Good Companions
Growing Zones
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to plant Sorghum?
Warm season — 90-150 days. Plant at onset of rainy season in tropics.
What soil does Sorghum need?
Tolerates a wide range of soils including heavy clays and vertisols. pH 5.5-8.0.
How much water does Sorghum need?
Very drought-tolerant — produces grain with 400-600 mm rainfall. Deep roots access subsoil moisture.
What are the most common diseases affecting Sorghum?
The most common diseases are: sorghum anthracnose, downy mildew. Monitor regularly and practice crop rotation.
What plants grow well with Sorghum?
Good companions include: cowpea, groundnut, pigeon-pea. Avoid planting near no specific plants.
Related Crops — Poaceae
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