White Sorghum

 White Sorghum

INTRODUCTION

Sorghum originated in Africa, particularly the Sudan region of the Horn of Africa. Today, grain sorghum is the fifth most important cereal in the world. In Kenya, it is grown on about 171,000ha across the country. Due to its wide adaptation, it is grown in most parts of the country especially the semi areas regions. Nyanza Province leads in production, followed by Western and Eastern in that order. Other areas are in North Rift valley, Coast, North Eastern and Central provinces. Sorghum is used for food, fodder, Starch extraction and production of alcoholic beverages.

Because of its superior drought tolerance, better economic returns may be expected from grain sorghum than from maize in marginal and arid areas. As rainfall reliability and distribution become more and more challenging, sorghum can be an alternative cash crop in dry lands of Kenya and Uganda.

Plant Population

Sorghum planting recommendation is 75cm x 20cm giving an optimum plant population of 66,000 plants per hectare. At bordering low plant populations the crop effectively compensates by producing effective basal tillers (ratoons). However, too low population, below 60,000 plants/ha, must be avoided because sufficient compensatory power is unattainable and poor canopy may lead to built up of excess weed problem.

Cultivars (Guide line for out growers)

East African Breweries will only purchase white-grained sorghum.

The reason being: –

 

• White varieties contain more carbohydrates > 70% than other varieties which is important to the brewer.

 

• They contain less fats and proteins than other varieties (Brewing requires as little proteins and fats as possible).
• Red varieties contain polyphenols and tannins that are absent in white varieties. Polyphenols and tannins affect the quality of beer in terms of colour and taste.

Other considerations while choosing the cultivar are:-

• The adaptability of the cultivar with regard to soil and climatic conditions in the area.
• The length of growing season in the area.
• Important agronomic characteristics of the cultivars such as :
  • Threshability , Compactness of ears, Malting characteristics
  • Resistance to disease and pests, panicle exertion under stress and cold tolerance

The following varieties have been found suitable for EABL market: –

1. Gadam (KARI)
2. Sila (Syngenta)

3.KARI Mtama 1 (KARI)

 

Spacing and Seed Requirements

 

Spacing between Rows	Spacing in Row	Seed Requirements per Ha	Plant Population
60cm	20cm	5-10 kg	83,000
90cm	15cm	4-6 kg	74,074
75cm	20cm	3.5 -5 kg	67,000

 

60cm from row to row and 20cm from plant to plant within the row. A plant population of 83,000 plants per ha can be obtained. Row cropping makes thinning, weeding, spraying and harvesting easier. Thin to one plant per hole when the plants are 15cm tall. This gives the plants good establishment. The spacing between the rows will depend on the yield potential of the area in question.