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Sorghum

Sorghum bicolor

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Plant Profile
Other Information
Distribution Map

Flowering Months:

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Order:

Poales

Family:

Poaceae (Grass)

Also in this family:

Alpine Catstail, Alpine Foxtail, Alpine Meadow-grass, Annual Beard-grass, Annual Meadow-grass, Arrow Bamboo, Barren Brome Grass, Bearded Couch Grass, Bearded Fescue, Bermuda Grass, Black Bent, Black Grass, Blue Fescue, Blue Moor-grass, Bog Hair-grass, Borrer's Saltmarsh Grass, Bread Wheat, Bristle Bent, Brown Bent, Brown Sedge, Bulbous Foxtail, Bulbous Meadow-grass, California Brome Grass, Canary Grass, Carnation Sedge, Cocksfoot, Cockspur, Common Bent, Common Cord-grass, Common Millet, Common Reed, Common Saltmarsh Grass, Compact Brome Grass, Corn, Couch Grass, Creeping Bent, Creeping Soft-grass, Crested Dog's-tail, Crested Hair-grass, Cultivated Oat, Curved Hard Grass, Cut Grass, Dense Silky Bent, Downy Oat-grass, Drooping Brome Grass, Drooping Tor Grass, Dune Fescue, Early Hair-grass, Early Meadow-grass, Early Sand-grass, False Brome Grass, False Oat-grass, Fern Grass, Fine-leaved Sheep's Fescue, Flattened Meadow-grass, Floating Sweet-grass, Foxtail Barley, French Oat, Giant Fescue, Glaucous Meadow-grass, Great Brome Grass, Greater Quaking Grass, Grey Hair-grass, Hairy Brome Grass, Hairy Finger-grass, Hard Fescue, Hard Grass, Harestail Grass, Heath Grass, Holy Grass, Hybrid Marram Grass, Italian Rye Grass, Knotroot Bristlegrass, Lesser Hairy Brome Grass, Lesser Quaking Grass, Loose Silky Bent, Lyme Grass, Marram Grass, Marsh Foxtail, Mat Grass, Mat-grass Fescue, Meadow Barley, Meadow Fescue, Meadow Foxtail, Meadow Oat-grass, Mountain Melick, Narrow-leaved Meadow-grass, Narrow-leaved Small-reed, Neglected Couch Grass, Nit Grass, Orange Foxtail, Pampas Grass, Perennial Rye Grass, Plicate Sweet-grass, Purple Moor-grass, Purple Small-reed, Purple-stem Catstail, Quaking Grass, Ratstail Fescue, Red Fescue, Reed Canary Grass, Reed Sweet-grass, Reflexed Saltmarsh Grass, Rescue Grass, Rough Meadow-grass, Rush-leaved Fescue, Sand Catstail, Sand Couch Grass, Scandinavian Small-reed, Scottish Small-reed, Sea Barley, Sea Couch Grass, Sea Fern Grass, Sheep's Fescue, Silver Hair-grass, Six-rowed Barley, Slender Brome Grass, Small Cord-grass, Small Sweet-grass, Smaller Catstail, Smooth Brome Grass, Smooth Cord-grass, Smooth Finger-grass, Smooth Meadow-grass, Soft Brome Grass, Somerset Hair-grass, Spreading Meadow-grass, Squirreltail Fescue, Stiff Brome Grass, Stiff Saltmarsh Grass, Sweet Vernal Grass, Tall Fescue, Timothy Grass, Tor Grass, Tufted Hair-grass, Two-rowed Barley, Upright Brome Grass, Velvet Bent, Viviparous Fescue, Wall Barley, Wavy Hair-grass, Wavy Meadow-grass, Whorl Grass, Wild Oat, Wood Barley, Wood Fescue, Wood Meadow-grass, Wood Melick, Wood Millet, Yellow Oat-grass, Yorkshire Fog

Type:

Flower

Life Cycle:

Annual

Maximum Size:

3 metres tall

Habitats:

Fields, roadsides, wasteland.

Flower:

Brown, 5 petals

Sorghum bicolor flowers are small and delicate, with five petals in shades of yellow or pink. They grow on long stems and have a sweet, floral scent. The flowers attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies, and the tiny grains that develop from the flowers are edible.

Fruit:

The fruits of Sorghum bicolor are small, dry grains that develop from the flowers. The grains are edible and have a slightly sweet, nutty flavor. They can be cooked and eaten as a cereal or added to soups or stews. The grains are also used to make flour, and can be used in baking or to make porridge.

Leaves:

Sorghum bicolor leaves are long and narrow, with a glossy green surface and a light underside. They grow in an alternate pattern along the stem and are light and airy, making them ideal for catching the sun's rays. The leaves are also slightly serrated, giving them a jagged appearance.

Aroma:

Sorghum bicolor is fragrant, with a sweet, floral scent.

Other Names:

Durra, Great Millet, Jowari, Milo.

Frequency (UK):

Unusual

Summary

Sorghum bicolor is a species of grass that is used for food and animal feed. It is native to Africa, and is now grown in many parts of the world. Sorghum is a cereal crop that is drought tolerant and can be grown in a variety of climates and soils. It is a source of carbohydrates, protein, and other nutrients. Sorghum is also used for forage and for making ethanol and other biofuels.

Blog

Sorghum bicolor, also known as sorghum or milo, is a cereal grain plant that belongs to the Poaceae family. It is native to Africa but is now widely grown in many parts of the world, including Asia, North and South America, and Australia. Sorghum is a versatile crop with a variety of uses, ranging from food and feed to biofuel and industrial products. In this blog post, we'll explore some of the fascinating features and benefits of Sorghum bicolor.

Firstly, let's talk about the nutritional value of sorghum. Sorghum is a good source of dietary fiber, protein, and several essential minerals and vitamins, such as iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and B-complex vitamins. It is also gluten-free, making it a safe alternative for people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance. Sorghum grain can be consumed as a whole grain, flour, or flakes and can be used to make a variety of dishes, including porridge, bread, and snacks.

Sorghum is also a valuable crop for animal feed. Its high protein content and digestibility make it an excellent ingredient in animal feed formulations, particularly for poultry, swine, and ruminants. Sorghum forage is also a good source of nutrition for livestock, particularly in regions with limited grazing resources.

Beyond its use as a food and feed crop, sorghum is also a promising feedstock for biofuel production. The plant's high biomass yield, drought tolerance, and low input requirements make it an attractive option for bioenergy production, particularly in semi-arid regions where traditional crops like corn and soybeans may not thrive. Researchers are also exploring the potential of sorghum to produce other industrial products, such as bioplastics, biochar, and bio-based chemicals.

Sorghum's resilience and adaptability are perhaps its most remarkable features. The plant is well-suited to grow in challenging environments, such as arid and semi-arid regions, where water and other resources are scarce. Sorghum has a deep root system that enables it to access soil moisture and nutrients from lower depths, making it more drought-tolerant than other cereal crops like maize and wheat. Sorghum's ability to withstand pests and diseases further enhances its value as a resilient crop that can support food and livelihood security in vulnerable regions.

In conclusion, Sorghum bicolor is a versatile and resilient crop with numerous benefits and applications. Its nutritional value, animal feed potential, and bioenergy and industrial uses make it a valuable crop for food, feed, and fuel security. Its resilience and adaptability also make it a promising crop for sustainable agriculture in challenging environments. With continued research and innovation, Sorghum bicolor has the potential to contribute significantly to global food and energy security while supporting the livelihoods of millions of farmers worldwide.

Facts

Here are some additional interesting facts about Sorghum bicolor:

Sorghum is a C4 plant, which means that it uses a different photosynthetic pathway than C3 plants like wheat and rice. This allows it to be more efficient at using sunlight and water, particularly in hot and dry conditions.
Sorghum has a long history of cultivation in Africa, where it is believed to have been domesticated around 5000 years ago. It has since spread to other parts of the world, where it has become an important crop for food, feed, and industry.
There are many different varieties of sorghum, each with unique characteristics such as grain color, size, and shape, as well as plant height, maturity, and drought tolerance. Some of the most common types of sorghum include grain sorghum, sweet sorghum, forage sorghum, and broomcorn.
Sorghum has been used for centuries in traditional medicine to treat a variety of ailments, such as diarrhea, fever, and malaria. Modern research has also found that sorghum contains compounds that may have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-cancer properties.
Sorghum is a key crop for smallholder farmers in many developing countries, particularly in Africa and Asia. It provides a source of income and food security for millions of households, particularly in rural areas where other crops may not grow well.
Sorghum is also a popular crop for conservation agriculture, which is a sustainable farming practice that aims to protect soil health, reduce erosion, and increase productivity. By planting sorghum in a no-till system with cover crops and crop rotations, farmers can improve soil fertility and water retention, while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions and conserving biodiversity.

Overall, Sorghum bicolor is a remarkable crop with many valuable features and benefits. From its nutritional value and animal feed potential to its resilience and adaptability, sorghum has the potential to support sustainable agriculture, food security, and economic development in many parts of the world.

Benefits of Sorghum for Human Health

Sorghum is a nutrient-dense grain that provides several health benefits to humans. The high fiber content of sorghum promotes healthy digestion and can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. The grain is also a good source of protein, which is essential for building and repairing tissues in the body. Sorghum is rich in antioxidants, which can help protect against oxidative stress and inflammation. Some research suggests that sorghum may also help improve blood sugar control and reduce cholesterol levels.

Sorghum as a Valuable Crop for Livestock Feed

Sorghum is a valuable crop for livestock feed, particularly in regions with limited grazing resources. The high protein content of sorghum makes it an excellent ingredient in animal feed formulations, particularly for poultry, swine, and ruminants. Sorghum forage is also a good source of nutrition for livestock, particularly in areas where grazing land is scarce. By providing a source of high-quality feed, sorghum can help support animal health and productivity, which in turn can improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers who depend on livestock for income.

Sorghum as a Promising Bioenergy Crop

Sorghum is a promising crop for bioenergy production, particularly in regions with high temperatures and limited water resources. The plant's high biomass yield, drought tolerance, and low input requirements make it an attractive option for biofuel production, particularly in semi-arid regions where traditional crops like corn and soybeans may not thrive. Sorghum is also being explored as a potential feedstock for other industrial products, such as bioplastics, biochar, and bio-based chemicals.

Sorghum's Resilience and Adaptability in Challenging Environments

Sorghum's resilience and adaptability make it an attractive crop for sustainable agriculture in challenging environments. The plant's deep root system enables it to access soil moisture and nutrients from lower depths, making it more drought-tolerant than other cereal crops like maize and wheat. Sorghum can also withstand pests and diseases, which reduces the need for chemical inputs and promotes ecological sustainability. By cultivating sorghum in a conservation agriculture system that promotes soil health and water retention, farmers can improve their resilience to climate change and other environmental stressors.

Conclusion

Sorghum bicolor is a versatile and resilient crop with numerous benefits and applications. Its nutritional value, animal feed potential, and bioenergy and industrial uses make it a valuable crop for food, feed, and fuel security. Its resilience and adaptability also make it a promising crop for sustainable agriculture in challenging environments. With continued research and innovation, Sorghum bicolor has the potential to contribute significantly to global food and energy security while supporting the livelihoods of millions of farmers worldwide.

Video

Sorghum filmed at Appley Bridge, Lancashire on the 4th March 2023.

Music credits
Bad Ideas Distressed by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100488
Artist: http://incompetech.com/

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Reproduced by kind permission of the BSBI.

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