Grass sorghum

Abstract

This is an important group of fodder plants, widely used for short-term pastures, fodder, break- or catch crops. Special interest is justified because it is the only species cultivated in the region that resists drought well in semiarid zones, while growing more actively in the dry season of the subhumid zones than perennial grasses. An estimated 10.000 ha is sown annually to Grass Sorghum in Kenya alone. The term “Grass Sorghum„ is adopted here to encompass all Sorghum species in actual use, not only “Fodder Sorghum” (S. bicolor) but also Sudan- and Columbusgrass and various Sorghum hybrids.