Sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench )

Sorghum is a self pollinating, diploid (2n=2x=20) with a genome (1C=735 Mbp) about 25% the size of maize, or sugarcane.

Sorghum is the fifth most important cereal crop and is the dietary staple of more than 500 million people in more than 30 countries . It is grown on 42 m ha in 98 countries of Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas. Nigeria, India, USA, Mexico, Sudan, China and Argentina are the major producers. Other sorghum producing countries are Mauritania, Gambia, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Niger, Somalia and Yemen, Chad, Sudan, Tanzania and Mozambique.

Grain is mostly for food purpose (55 %), consumed in the form of flat breads and porridges (thick or thin); stover is an important source of dry season maintenance rations for livestock, especially in Asia; also an important feed grain (33%), especially in the Americas.

Asia

The sorghum area in Asia decreased continuously from 23 m ha to 11 m ha between the early 1970s and 2006 (Figure 1). However, production increased from 19 m t in the early 1970s to 21 m t in the late 1970's, but decreased thereafter to 11 m t in 2006. Yield has increased from 800 kg ha^-1 in the early 1970s to 1000 kg ha^-1 in 2006.

 

Figure 1. Three-year moving average for sorghum area, production, yield; and number of varieties released (3-year total) based on ICRISAT-bred material in Asia.

India

In India, production level increased from 9 m t in the early 1970s to 12 m t in the early 1980s and was almost maintained at this level over a decade until the early 1990s, followed by a steep decrease to 7.2 m t (Figure 2). Despite decrease in sorghum area over the years, the production level during 2006 was almost similar to that in the early 1970s, which could be largely attributed to adoption of improved varieties and hybrids.

Figure 2. Three-year moving average for sorghum area, production, yield; and number of varieties released (3-year total) based on ICRISAT-bred material in India.

Grown on 8.7 m ha (20% world's sorghum area), 3.9 m ha in rainy ( kharif) season and 4.8 m ha in postrainy ( rabi ) season in 2006/07. Productivity is 1345 kg/ha in the rainy season and 480 kg/ha in the postrainy season.

In India, the area under high-yielding cultivars has increased from 0.7 m ha in the early 1970s to 6.5 m ha
in the late 1990s. Most of the area under high-yielding cultivars is planted with about 70 private sector (PS) hybrids, of which over 50 are based on ICRISAT-bred parental lines or their derivatives.

Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA)

While both area and production in ESA has increased from the early 1970s to 2006, there is marginal (15%) increase in yield from 800 kg ha ^-1 in the early 1970s to just over 920 kg ha^-1 in 2006 (Figure 3).

Figure 3. Three-year moving average for sorghum area, production, yield; and number of varieties released (3-year total) based on ICRISAT-bred material in ESA.

 

Western and Central Africa (WCA)

While the area increased by almost two-folds, production increased nearly 2.5 times from the early 1970s
to 2006 (Figure 4). Substantial improvement in productivity was achieved (from 700 kg ha^-1 in the early 1970s to 1080 kg ha^-1 in 2006) indicating increased productivity by 54%.

 

Figure 4. Three-year moving average for sorghum area, production, yield; and number of varieties released (3-year total) based on ICRISAT-bred material in WCA.

 

Latin America

The area increased marginally from 4 m ha in the early 1970s to 5 m ha in the early 1980s followed by
a slight decrease till 2006, almost maintaining the level of the early 1970s (Figure 5). The production increased 1.7 times from the early 1970s (9 m t) to the early 1980s (15 m t), then decreased steeply thereafter to 9 m t in the early 1990s. However, the production increased thereafter to 11 m t by 2006.
The productivity increased from 2000 kg ha^-1 in the early 1970s to 3100 kg ha^-1 in 2006.

Figure 5. Three-year moving average for sorghum area, production, yield; and number of varieties released (3-year total) based on ICRISAT-bred material in Latin America.

Cultivars released

Over the years, a large number of cultivars have been released (201) based on ICRISAT-bred improved germplasm and hybrid parents, in all regions – Asia, India, ESA, WCA and LA (Figures 1-5). The number
of cultivar releases were highest in ESA (62) closely followed by Asia (54), WCA (50) and Latin America (35). While released cultivars include both hybrids and varieties in Asia, it is mostly varieties that were released in WCA and ESA (the exception being one hybrid released in Sudan).

Energy and Nutrition

• Sweet sorghum is emerging as a feedstock for ethanol production. It gives food/feed, fodder and fuel, without significant trade-offs in any of these uses in a production cycle. ICRISAT has pioneered the sweet sorghum ethanol production technology, and its commercialization.
• Sorghum grain has high levels of iron (>70 ppm) and zinc (> 50 ppm), and is hence being targeted as
  a means to reduce micronutrient malnutrition globally.