Sorghum is the fifth most important grain crop after
maize, wheat, rice and barley. Sorghum farming in Kenya is an important
agricultural activity in the economy. The crop is grown in Western, Northern Rift
Valley, Eastern and some parts of Central Province. The crop is fairly drought
resistant and thus it is quite popular in drier areas of the country. One of
the major companies that buy sorghum from farmers in Kenya is East Africa
Breweries Limited.
Land
Preparation
For both forage and food varieties of sorghum, start
preparing the land at the end of the rains following a crop season. Sorghum
does well in sandy soils. It can also be grown where the soils are not
disturbed much (where conservation
tillage is practiced).
Sorghum
Varieties
1. E6518:
Matures in 230 days (about seven-and-half months). It produces about 33 x 90kg
bags of sorghum grain and 230 x 90kg bags of fodder per acre. The plant attains
a height of 3m. This variety is suitable for fodder.
2. E1291:
Matures in 160 days (about five months). One acre produces 66 x 90kg bags of
sorghum grain, 66kg of sorghum matter and 200kg dry matter. It grows to 1.7m.
The variety is suitable for food and fodder.
3. Ikinyaruka:
Matures in 160 days. It produces 77 x 90kg bags of sorghum and 200kg dry matter
per acre. The variety is suitable for both food and fodder. It grows to a
height of 1.7 metres.
4. BJ28:
Matures in 110 days and produces 156 bags of fodder and 33kg dry matter per
acre. It grows to 2.5 metres. The variety is good for food and fodder.
5. BM30:Matures
in 210 days and produce 66 x 90kg bags of grains per acre, 244kg DM. Grows up
to a height of 2.5m
Seed
Rate and Spacing
Farmers should plant sorghum at a seed rate of 2.4 to
3.2kg per acre (6 to 8kg/ha). Fodder varieties of sorghum should be planted at
a spacing of 75 X 10cm.
Sorghum withstands dry conditions of 600mm annual
rainfall and remains green at very low moisture levels. It provides the farmers
with for feed and grain (dual-purpose sorghum) requires a spacing of 60 x 20cm;
this spacing allows for a higher grain-fodder ratio.
Sowing
Sorghum should be sown at the onset of the long rains.
Drill seeds along the furrows (trenches). Seeds should be planted 3cm deep when
dry planting to avoid germination in false rains, but 2cm deep if the ground is
wet.
Manure
Application
Well-composted manure
should be applied during land preparation and worked into the soil. Organic
foliar feeds can be added when the plant is knee high.
Thinning
The crop should be thinned when it is 30cm high or 30
days after planting, whichever comes first, to ensure a spacing of 75 x 10cm
between rows for fodder sorghum and 60 x 20cm between rows for dual-purpose
varieties. The spacing for dual purpose varieties allows for higher grain to
herbage ratio.
Weeding
Hand weeding should be done at least twice. A sorghum
field should be kept weed-free especially at early stages of growth.
Pest
and Disease Control
Control of cutworms, aphids, shoot-fly and stalk borer is
important. Birds like sorghum especially at milk stage; they prefer
white-seeded varieties. Sorghum is generally disease tolerant. Control disease
when necessary.
Harvesting
Sorghum meant for seed production should be harvested at maturity stage. Sorghum meant for feed can be cut when still green and fresh. Leave it in sun to allow wilting for 12 hours then chop and then feed the animals. To make silage, start harvesting at dough stage (between milky and hardening stage). For dual-purpose sorghum, cut the head with a knife or use a combine harvester.
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