Sweet sorghum:
Sweet sorghum is a hardy, nutritious, biofuel crop that offers solutions in drought-hit southern Africa because of El-Nino phenomenon.
- Sweet sorghum is the most important millet crop occupying largest area among the cereals next to rice.
- One of the key characteristics of sweet sorghum varieties is their drought resistance. It allows them to enter a dormant state during extended periods of dryness and resume growth afterwards.
- The crop does not prefer high rainfall as high soil moisture or continuous heavy rain after flowering may hamper sugar increase.
- All soils that have medium depth with good drainage are suited.
- Depending on the soil (red, black, laterite and loamy) and its depth water requirement may vary which in turn decide the suitability of the crop.
- It has ability to withstand low water and nitrogen inputs, as well as its tolerance for salinity and drought stress, makes it an ideal crop for farmers in arid regions
- Research has shown that, under intense water scarcity conditions, sweet sorghum makes use of its stalk juice to supplement its plant needs.
