Long duration, high yielding sorghum hybrid

By Our Agriculture Correspondent

A LONG duration, high yielding sorghum hybrid with built in tolerance to pests and diseases has been released for commercial cultivation by the Acharya NG Ranga University of Agriculture (ANGRAU), Hyderabad. Christened ``Adilabad Sorghum Hybrid-1'' (ASH-1), the hybrid is superior to existing CSH-9, and it is particularly suited for kharif areas with high rainfall, especially in Adilabad belt.

Developed by the scientists at the Regional Agricultural Research Station, Palem, Mahboobnagar and the Agricultural Research Station at Adilabad, the hybrid is derived from a cross between PSA 9 and PSR 39. Both the parents were obtained from the International Crops Research Centre for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru. The scientists have acknowledged the cooperation of ICRISAT in developing and testing the new hybrid.

The hybrid sorghum has tan plant pigment, and it grows to a height of 2.5 to 3.0 metres. It produces elliptic and semi- compact to compact panicles. The cream-coloured grains are of medium size, and the hundred grain weight is 30 to 32 g. It is resistant to leaf diseases, and moderately tolerant to grain mould. It has field tolerance to stem borer attack, according to the scientists. With a duration of 130 days, the hybrid has recorded an average grain yield of 4.6 tonnes and fodder yield of 13 tonnes per hectare.

In the national level testing in 22 locations this hybrid out performed all the other hybrids tested. The pooled data of kharif hybrid trials of 1994 to 1997 conducted at Adilabad research station revealed that ASH-1 recorded a grain yield of 4605 kg per hectare, which is 35 per cent higher than CSH 9 with 3405 kg per hectare. In farmers' holdings also it did extremely well out yielding all other hybrids evaluated for their performance.

This hybrid is suited for growing in red soils as well as in heavy soils with good drainage in areas of heavy rainfall. It is particularly adapted to Adilabad area, where there is a need for a late hybrid that matures after the cessation of South West monsoon, and also produces more grain and fodder than the existing hybrids. In Adilabad region, South West monsoon is spread over a longer period. A long duration hybrid can use the available moisture for a longer time, and also escape the grain mould disease. All the existing hybrids are of medium duration, and are not suited for cultivation here, according to the scientists.

This new, tall and non-lodging hybrid will go a long way in fulfilling the needs of the farmers in this region. Adilabad is the leading sorghum producing district in Andhra Pradesh. Its performance has been appreciated by the growers and all the field personnel of the State agricultural department. The seed multiplication technology is also simplified and communicated to all the agricultural extension staff and progressive seed farmers in the region, point out the scientists.

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