Genetic improvement of sorghum in the semi-arid tropics

Reddy, B V S and Ashok Kumar, A and Sanjana Reddy, P (2008) Genetic improvement of sorghum in the semi-arid tropics. In: Sorghum Improvement in the New Millennium. International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh, India, pp. 105-123. ISBN 978-92-9066-512-0

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Abstract

Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] – a major cereal of the world after wheat, rice, maize and barley, is a staple food for millions of the poorest and most foodinsecure people in the Semi-Arid Tropics (SAT) of Africa and Asia. Being a C4 species with higher photosynthetic ability, and greater nitrogen and water-use effi ciency, sorghum is genetically suited to hot and dry agro-ecologies where it is diffi cult to grow other food crops. These are also the areas subjected to frequent droughts. In many of these agro-ecologies, sorghum is truly a dual-purpose crop; both grain and stover are highly valued products. In Africa, sorghum is predominantly grown for food purposes, while in USA, Australia, China, etc, it is grown for livestock feed and animal fodder purposes. Unlike in other parts of the world, sorghum is grown both in rainy and postrainy seasons in India. While the rainy season sorghum grain is used both for human consumption and livestock feed, postrainy season produce is used primarily for human consumption in India. Thus sorghum is the key for the sustenance of human and livestock populations in SAT areas of the world.

Item Type: Book Section
Divisions: UNSPECIFIED
CRP: UNSPECIFIED
Subjects: Mandate crops > Sorghum
Depositing User: Ms Vibha Raju
Date Deposited: 05 Dec 2011 05:34
Last Modified: 05 Dec 2011 05:34
URI: http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/4396
Acknowledgement: UNSPECIFIED
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