Crop: Sorghum

Overview

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is an important cereal crop grown for food, fodder, and biofuel production, especially in arid and semi-arid regions due to its drought tolerance. It is rich in carbohydrates, fiber, and essential minerals. Sorghum cultivation faces threats from various diseases, insect pests, and weeds, which can significantly reduce yield and quality. Effective management requires integrated approaches combining resistant varieties, crop rotation, timely chemical application, and proper agronomic practices.

Sorghum Crop Management Recommendations

✨ Use Resistant Varieties: Select disease/pest-resistant hybrids; complement with Difenoconazole 3% SC to control seedling blight, Rhizoctonia rot.

✨ Crop Rotation: For post-harvest weed control, use Glyphosate 41% SL to tackle annual and perennial weeds.

✨ Field Monitoring: Detect early diseases (e.g., anthracnose); spray Chlorothalonil 75% WP to combat fungal diseases.

✨ Timely Chemical Application: At economic thresholds, use Imazethapyr 240g/L SL (Vezir® 240 SL) for weeds, Lambda-cyhalothrin 2.5% EC for aphids.

✨ Good Agronomic Practices: Regularly spray Mancozeb 80% WP to prevent diseases like leaf spot.

✨ Post-Harvest Sanitation: Treat fields with Thiram 50% WP post-harvest to reduce overwintering pests/pathogens.

Common Sorghum Diseases

1. Sorghum Rust (Fungal)

Pathogen: Puccinia purpurea
Symptoms: Reddish-brown leaf pustules; leaves yellow and drop.
Control: Triadimefon 25% EC (750-1125ml/ha, 10-day intervals, 2 sprays).

2. Sorghum Anthracnose (Fungal)

Pathogen: Colletotrichum sublineola
Symptoms: Brown leaf lesions (gray centers, purple edges); leaf death.
Control: Mancozeb 80% WP (2250-3000g/ha, protective effect).

3. Sorghum Downy Mildew (Fungal)

Pathogen: Peronosclerospora sorghi
Symptoms: Yellow leaf stripes; white mold; stunted plants, deformed panicles.
Control: Seed treatment with Metalaxyl 35% WS (1:500 ratio); spray Fosetyl-Aluminium 40% SC (1200-1500ml/ha).

4. Bacterial Streak Disease

Pathogen: Xanthomonas campestris pv. holcicola
Symptoms: Brown vein streaks; leaf drying; bacterial ooze in humidity.
Control: Zinc Thiazole 40% SC (1500-2250ml/ha, 7-10-day intervals, 2-3 sprays).

Common Sorghum Pests

1. Sorghum Stem Borer

Damage: Larvae bore into stems, causing lodging and poor grain filling; 30-50% yield loss.
Control: Lambda-cyhalothrin 25g/L EC (300-450ml/ha, spray stems); or Chlorantraniliprole 0.5% GR (15-20kg/ha, seed treatment).

2. Sorghum Aphid

Damage: Suck sap, cause leaf yellowing; transmit viruses.
Control: Imidacloprid 70% WDG (15-22.5g/ha) when 10-15 aphids/plant; or Thiamethoxam 25% WDG (30g/ha, 15-day efficacy).

3. Sorghum Leaf Beetle

Damage: Adults chew leaves; larvae harm roots, stunting seedlings.
Control: Fenvalerate 20% EC (375-525ml/ha, adult spray); Chlorpyrifos 10% GR (30-45kg/ha, root application for larvae).

4. Sorghum Thrips

Damage: Scrape young leaves, causing silvering and curling; weakens seedlings.
Control: Thiamethoxam 25% SC (150-225ml/ha, seedling spray); or Thiamethoxam 30% FS (1:500 seed treatment).

Common Weeds in Sorghum Fields

1. Large Crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis)

Type: Monocot weed
Harm: Fast-growing, competes for resources; hosts pests/diseases.
Control: Quizalofop-P-ethyl 5% EC (750-900ml/ha, spray at sorghum 3-5 leaf stage).

2. Redroot Pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus)

Type: Dicot weed
Harm: Drought-tolerant, shades sorghum; causes 15-20% yield loss.
Control: Atrazine 38% SC (1500-1800ml/ha, spray at weed 2-4 leaf stage).

3. Green Foxtail (Setaria viridis)

Type: Monocot weed
Harm: Tillers heavily, increases humidity; spreads via seeds.
Control: Metolachlor 72% EC (1200-1500ml/ha, pre-emergence); or Clethodim 12% EC (450-600ml/ha, seedling stage).

4. Cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium)

Type: Dicot weed
Harm: Resembles sorghum seedlings; burs affect harvest.
Control: Acetochlor 90% EC (900-1125ml/ha, pre-emergence); or 2,4-D Butylate 72% EC (300-450ml/ha, post-emergence).

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