Context:
Sweet sorghum is a hardy, nutritious, biofuel crop that offers solutions in drought-hit southern Africa because of the El-Nino phenomenon.
Relevance:
Facts for Prelims
About Sweet Sorghum:
Overview:
- Importance: Most important millet crop, second only to rice in area cultivated among cereals.
- Drought Resistance: Key characteristic allowing varieties to enter dormancy during dry periods and resume growth afterwards.
Required Climatic Conditions:
Rainfall:
- Not Preferred: High rainfall or continuous heavy rain post-flowering can hamper sugar content.
Soil:
- Suitability: Medium depth soils with good drainage are ideal.
- Types: Suitable for red, black, laterite, and loamy soils. Water requirement varies with soil type and depth.
Unique Features of Sorghum:
Resilience:
- Water and Nitrogen: Can withstand low inputs.
- Salinity and Drought: High tolerance makes it ideal for arid regions.
- Stalk Juice: Utilizes stalk juice to supplement plant needs under intense water scarcity.
Uses:
- Food Industry: Stalk used for producing value-added products like ethanol, syrup, and jaggery.
- Animal Feed and Cogeneration: Bioenriched bagasse used as fodder and base material.
Product Varieties:
- Grains and Sugary Juice: Can produce grains, animal feed, and sugary juice.
- Traditional and Commercial Uses: Grains used for steamed bread, porridge malt for traditional beer, and commercial beer production.
-Source: Down To Earth
