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Summary
Physical Characteristics
Sorghum hybrids is a PERENNIAL growing to 3 m (9ft) by 1 m (3ft 3in) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
See individual species/hybrids.
Plant Habitats
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Seed Stem
Edible Uses:
Carbon Farming Solutions - Staple Crop: balanced carb, sugar (The term staple crop typically refers to a food that is eaten routinely and accounts for a dominant part of people's diets in a particular region of the world) [1-1].
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Possible. For example Sorghum bicolor is Astringent, Demulcent, Diuretic, and Haemostatic. Sorghum halepense is Demulcent and Diuretic.
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
Possible but not reported. Sorghum halepense is a good biomass plant. The plant is a potential source of biomass with yields of up to 19 tonnes per hectare[269]. Sorghum bicolor has been used as Biomass, Brooms, and for Weaving. The flowering panicles are used as brushes brooms and whisks etc[1, 2, 4, 46, 57]. Stems are used for weaving fences, mats, wattle houses etc[178]. The plant is an excellent source of biomass[269].
Special Uses
Carbon Farming Food Forest
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
Management: Hay Management: Standard Staple Crop: Balanced carb Staple Crop: Sugar Under Development
Climate: cold temperate to tropical, tropical highlands. Humidity: semi-arid to humid. Sorghum is well suited for dry conditions, areas with uneven rainfall distribution that may adversely affect the growing season of other crops, and high year to year variation in rainfall and water supplies. Carbon Farming Solutions - Cultivation: under development. Management: standard, hay (Describes the non-destructive management systems that are used in cultivation) [1-1]. Sorghum is already weakly perennial in the tropics. It "rattoons", or resprouts for several years. Perennial breeding at the Land Institution focused on crosses with Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense), while other breeders focus on Ni gao liang (Sorghum propinquum). Perennial sorghum could be bread for grain and sweet syrup. Sorghum is particularly suited to dry regions and some promising hybrids have been trialed [1-1]. For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is a runner spreading indefinitely by rhizomes or stolons [1-2].
Carbon Farming
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Management: Hay
Cut to the ground and harvested annually. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.
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Management: Standard
Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
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Staple Crop: Balanced carb
(0-15 percent protein, 0-15 percent oil, with at least one over 5 percent). The carbohydrates are from either starch or sugar. Annuals include maize, wheat, rice, and potato. Perennials include chestnuts, carob, perennial fruits, nuts, cereals, pseudocereals, woody pods, and acorns.
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Staple Crop: Sugar
Perennial sugar crops include sugarcane and compare favorably to annuals.
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Under Development
Plant breeders are actively working to domesticate these plants for cultivation, but they are not yet commercially available as crops. Examples include most of the perennial cereal grains.
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:
Fahrenheit:
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Plant Propagation
Seed - sow April in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. Germination should take place within 2 weeks. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and plant them out after the last expected frosts. Division in mid spring as the plant comes into new growth. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found it best to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame, planting them out once they are well established in the summer.
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Perennial Sorghum, Sorghum hybrids, Sorghum, Common sorghum, Grain sorghum, Sudangrass, Johnson Grass
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Found In
Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available
A hypothetical hybrid. Sorghum species range extend to Australia, Africa, Asia, Mesoamerica, and certain islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.
None Known
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed
Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
Expert comment
Author
Various
Botanical References
Links / References
For a list of references used on this page please go here
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Subject : Sorghum hybrids
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