Sorghum
Sorghum is an important cereal in relatively drier tropical regions. It requires less water than maize. While usually grown for the grain, sorghum can also be used to make sorgum syrup. In some areas it is grown as a fodder crop. Recently it has also become more important as a biofuel. Globally it is now the 5th important cereal after maize, rice, wheat and barley, but in Africa it is the second most important cereal after maize.
This page provides some basic information about sorghum, together with some photos of sorghum, and a list of sorghum proverbs and quotes.
Basic information and facts on sorghum
| Scientific name: | Sorghum sp. Sorghum bicolor |
| Synonym: | Sorghum vulgare |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Order: | Poales |
| English: | Sorghum Guinea corn Broom sorghum Broom millet Durra Dowar Jowar Jowari |
| Dutch: | Sorghum Kafferkoren |
| Spanish: | Sorgo Zahína |
| Italian: | Sorgo |
| German: | Sorghum Durrakorn Mohrenhirse Sorghumhirse |
| French: | Sorgho Sorgho commun Sorgo |
| Origin: | Sorghum probably originates from Africa, south of the Sahara. |
| Distribution: | Sorghum is grown in dry warm climates. It is used for human consumption in semiarid tropical aresa in Africa and Asia. In Australia and the Americas it is more important as a fodder crop. |
| Grain: | Sorghum graisn are produced in large branched clusters. |
| Stem: | Sorghum is a grass with a cane-line stem, which can be up to 6 meters tall. |
| Climate and weather: | Sorghum grows well in relatively dry tropical or warm climates. |
| Pollination: | Sorghum is self-pollinated or cross-pollinated by the wind. |
| Height: | Up to 6 meters tall, but this depends on the variety. Some very short varieties exist that are even less than 1 meter tall. |
| Moisture: | Sorghum requires less water than maize and is quite drought resistant. |
| Spacing (close range) | |
| Spacing (wide range) | Sorghum is usually planted in rows. Distance between plants about 15 centimeters, between rows about 1 meter. |
| Propagation: | Sorghum is grown from seeds. |
| Insect pests: | Several insects attack sorghum including the American bollworm, aphids and borers. Also seed eating birds can cause damage to the crops. |
| Diseases: | Sorghum anthracnose |
| Weeds: | Parasitic witchweed (Striga) can be a problem for sorghum production in some parts of Africa. |
| Harvesting: | Sorghum grain are harvested when ripe by cutting the ears. |
| Uses: | Sorghum grains are eaten as food. Sorghum is also be eaten as sorghum syrop or sorghum molasses. Sorghum can also be used to make alcoholic drinks. Other uses of sorghum include use as a fodder crop or as a biofuel. |
Sorghum photos
Above sorghum pictures by: Spider Webs Unite.
Proverbs
Who knows a proverb or funny quote about sorghum?
Quotes about sorghum
- Of course, we are happy to receive this aid, but at the same time, we are trading our dignity for 5 kilograms of sorghum, ... The Fulani man has never counted on anybody for assistance, just Mother Nature. (Amadou Doutchi)
Did you know that?
- American pioneers used sweet sorghum as a substitute for sugar to make syrup.
- Sorghum has been grown in southern Africa for over 3000 years.
Recipes
No recipe yet. Who can send me a sorghum recipe?