Sorghum is a drought-resistant crop native to Africa that is cultivated worldwide, especially in Asia and Africa. It can be grown for grain, fiber, or fodder. As a fodder crop, it is high-yielding and nutritious, though it contains some anti-nutritional factors like tannins and dhurrin. It is best sown in spring or summer as a rain-fed or irrigated crop using improved varieties. Proper agronomic practices like soil preparation, seed treatment, fertilizer application, and pest and disease management can optimize fodder sorghum production. Harvesting as silage helps preserve the nutritive value of the fodder for extended animal

1. Sorghum Fodder

3. Related Contents
• Discription
• Sowing Time
• Yield
• Nutritive Profile
• Anti-Nutritional Factors
• Cultivation Time
• Preservation

4. Description
Botanical Name : Sorghum bicolor
• Local names are “Jawar” , “Milo”
• Grow in harsh environament
• Self-pollinating plant
• Height of plant 60-460 cm
• Sorghum seed is small and round
• The long, wide leaves grow off the stalk

5. Description
• 5th most imp crop grown in the world
• Plant use for Grain, Fiber and Fodder
• Consider best summer crop
• Use as Staple Food

6. History
• Native to the tropical areas in Africa
• The oldest cultivation record dates back
to 3000 B.C. in Egypt
• The original variety of sorghum was
purple or red and the seed coat was red
• In the 1950s hybrid sorghums were
developed for higher yields

7. Country
Area(000
ha)
Yield(kg/ha)
China 784 6396
India 9200 706
Pakistan 400 575
Sorghum cultivating areas in Asia:

8. Sowing Time
In Punjab:
• For fodder in March-August
• For grain June-July
Sindh:
• In June for both fodder and grain
KPK:
• During June and July
Baluchistan:
• In July and August

9. Climate and Soil
• Sorghum is tropical plant
• More drought and temperature resistant
• Can grow on all types of soils except
saline and waterlogged
• Heavy, loamy soils are most suitable
• Prefers hot, dry climate
• Does not grow well in areas with high
summer rainfall

10. Seedbed Preparation
• Requires good seedbed
• Which can be prepared with 1 ploughing
with mouldboard plough
• Followed by 2 ploughings

12. Manuring
• 1.25 bag of Urea at first Irrigation
Fertilizer Quantity
(per Ha)
DAP 2.5 bags
Urea 1.25 bags

13. Varieties
JS 2002
• Certified variety of Sargodha
• Long and sweet plants which remain green
for long time
• Production is 700 mounds/acre
Chakwal 2008
• Best for Arid zone
• Sweet stemmed and remains green for
long time

14. Hegari
• Tall, sweet stemmed and high yielding
• Production is 550 mounds/acre
• Good seed production also
JS-263
• Suitable for fodder and grain
• Production is 500 mounds/acre
• Attack of Red Leaf Spot disease

15. Method of Sowing
• Mostly sown by broadcasting
• Recommended method is line sowing
(pora method)
• Line to line distance should be 30 cm for
fodder crop
• 45-60 cm distance between lines in case
of seed production

16. Seed Rate
• 32-35 kg/acre for fodder crop
• 6-8 kg/acre for grain purpose

17. Irrigation
• 3-4 irrigations for March, June crops
• 1-2 irrigations for monsoon crops
depending upon rainfall

18. Nutritive Profile
For 100g Portion
Nutrients Values Nutrients Values
water 9g Iron 4.4mg
Energy 1419KJ Zinc 1.7mg
Protein 11.3g Sodium 2mg
Fat 3.3g CP 9.05%
Carbohydr
ate
75g CF 41.70%
Fiber 6.3g Mg 0.67g
Sugar 0g P 0.17g

19. Anti-Nutritional Factors
1.Tannin
Polyphenolic Compound present in grain
Yellowish in color
Bitter in Taste
Effects:
Reduction in Voluntary Feed intake due to
reduce Palatability
Produce toxicity on metabolism

20. Tannins
• Reduce Proteolytic Enzyme Activity and
stop Protein Digestion
• Positive effect is Suppress Bloat in Cattle
• Catechol Tannins is famous
• Increased level of Plasma Growth
Hormone intake of CT in Sheep

21. ANF
2.Dhurrin
A Cyanogenic Glucoside compound
Located in Aerial Shoot & Sprouted Seeds
• Effects
On Enzyme action yield Hydrogen Cyanide
Excess Cyanide ion can quickly Produce
Anoxia

22. ANF
of CNS through inactivating the
Cytochrome Oxidase System and cause
death in few sec
Making Hay/Silage reduce Poison.

23. Pests and Diseases
• Shootfly and Borer cause serious damage
• Apply 3% Furadan granules/Carbofuran
10-12 kg/acre
• Red leaf spot is most serious disease
• Seeds should be treated with Vitavax or
Benlate 2g/kg of seed
• Light irrigation during disease attack

27. Time of Harvesting

28. Preservation
• Silage
Use Anaerobic Conditions
Make Forages
May use Bunker, Pit and Bale Silo for
Silage making
Use Molasses because Sorghum have
zero gram Sugar

29. Silage
• Yoghurt can be used for Production of
Lactic Acid
• 2-3 Year may Preserve
• If Baled Silo Performed avoid from Birds

33. In case of any confusion
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