Perennial Sorghum
Sorghum hybrids

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

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.

Height (m): 3

Where it is found

Not known in the wild. Under development

Origin: Hypothetical hybrid. Sorghum species range extend to Australia, Africa, Asia, Mesoamerica, and certain islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

A hypothetical hybrid. Sorghum species range extend to Australia, Africa, Asia, Mesoamerica, and certain islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

How it is used

Food

Rating: 4

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).

Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Stem: this often intergrades into leaves.

Medicine

Rating: 1

Possible. For example Sorghum bicolor is Astringent, Demulcent, Diuretic, and Haemostatic. Sorghum halepense is Demulcent and Diuretic.

Other

Rating: 3

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. Sorghum bicolor has been used as Biomass, Brooms, and for Weaving. The flowering panicles are used as brushes brooms and whisks etc. Stems are used for weaving fences, mats, wattle houses etc. The plant is an excellent source of biomass.

Management: Hay: Cut to the ground and harvested annually. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

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.

Staple Crop: Sugar: Perennial sugar crops include sugarcane and compare favorably to annuals.

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.

Management: Hay: Cut to the ground and harvested annually. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

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.

Staple Crop: Sugar: Perennial sugar crops include sugarcane and compare favorably to annuals.

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.

Carbon Farming: Plants that can be a critical part of the solution to climate problems. The Carbon Farming Solution - Eric Toensmeier.

Food Forest: Plants for Edible Forest Gardens and Food Forests.

How it is grown

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). 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. 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.

Propagating it: 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.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Perennial

Hardiness: 7-12

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Dry, moist

Things to keep in mind

The pollen can induce hay fever.

Its other names

Local names

Perennial Sorghum, Sorghum hybrids, Sorghum, Common sorghum, Grain sorghum, Sudangrass, Johnson Grass

Synonyms

See individual species/hybrids.