Sorghum Cultivars

Most of the local tall varieties of sorghum grown in various states are of long duration (5-7 months) with poor yielding potential. Local varieties vary in their sensitivity to both temperature and photoperiod.
Improved hybrids and other varieties had yielded about 80-100 percent more than the local tall Cultivars.

Selection of sorghum cultivars depends mainly on the following factors:

• Method Of Sowing
• Crop Rotation
• Pest and Disease
• Irrigation Facilities
• Climatic Conditions

Natural selection and domestication over thousands of years have resulted in the development of numerous varieties highly local in their adaptation. Most of the improved varieties prior to 1960 are the result of selections among the principle local Cultivars. Changes in yield levels with these improved verities were not substantial.

Notable among such improved cultivars developed during this early period and which are still under cultivation are:

• The Co-series in Tamil Nadu;
• The Nandyal, Guntur and Anakapalle series of Andhra Pradesh;
• The 'Bilichigan', 'Fulgar white', 'Fulgar yellow', 'Kanki Nandyal', 'Hagari' and 'Yenigar' cultivars of Karnataka;The PJ kharif and
• PJ rabi selections, Saoner, Ramkel, Aispuri, Maldandis (M. 35-1, M. 47-3 and M. 31-2) and Dagadi (compact-headed types) selections of Maharashtra;
• The 'Budhperio', 'Sundhia‘, 'Chasatio' of Gujarat;
• The selections of Gwalior and Indore of Madhya Pradesh;
• The RS selections of Rajasthan

Research efforts, which began with the development of commercial sorghum hybrids during 1962, now lay equal emphasis on hybrid as well as on true-breeding varieties.
This is necessary to bring about an eventual transformation.
A choice of hybrids as well as of improved varieties is now available for the different sorghum-growing states and situations. Cultivars recommended for kharif and specially to manage drought.

Cultivars  recommended  for  kharif  and  specially  to  manage  drought:

State	Hybrid	Varieties	Recommendations / comments
Maharashtra	CSH 9, CSH 13, CSH 14	-----	Light soil areas
	CSH 16, CSH 18 , CSH 21	CSV 13, CSV 15, CSV 17, PVK 400, SPV 699	Medium to heavy soils
Karnataka	CSH 14, CSH 17	SB 1066, DSV 1, DSV 2, CSV 17	Low rainfall areas, ;
	CSH 10, CSH 16, CSH 13, CSH 18,	CSV 10, CSV 11, CSV 13, CSV 15, CSV 17, DSV 2, DSV 3	Normal rainfall and midge endemic areas

Cultivars  recommended  for  kharif  and  specially  to  manage  drought:

State	Hybrid	Varieties	Recommendations / comments
Andhra Pradesh	CSH 14,PSH1	CSV15	Low rainfall areas
	CSH 9, CSH 10 , PSH 1	SPV462(PSV1), CSV10,                     CSV11,CSV 13,CSV15	Normal rainfall area
	CSH9	CSV10,CSV11	Late kharif
Madhya Pradesh	CSH 9,  CSH10,CSH13 ,                                 CSH16 , CSH17,CSH18,                                   CSH23	CSV10,CSV11, CSV13,                         CSV15, SPV235,JJ741,                    JJ938,JJ1041	Entire state
Gujrat	CSH9,CSH11,CSH16,                    CSH17,CSH18,CSH23	CSV10,CSV13,CSV15, CSV17,GJ35,GJ36,                 GJ38,GJ40	South Gujrat
	CSH17,CSH13,CSH16,                                     CSH18	CSV10,CSV15,GJ37, GJ38,GJ39,GJ40,GJ41	North Gujrat and Saurashtra
Rajasthan	CSH14,CSH23,CSH9,         CSH10,CSH11,CSH13,                  CSH16,CSH18	CSV10,CSV13,CSV15, CSV17,SPV96	Medium to heavy soils Semi-arid & transitional zones

 Cultivars recommended for rabi :

State	Hybrids	Varieties
Maharashtra	CSH-7R,CSH-8R,CSH-1,CSH-4(CSH-2 &CSH-3 when profile moisture very is low)	M.35-1,CSV-7R for early planting only
Karnataka	CSH-1,CSH-7R,CSH-8R	M.35-1,CSV-7R for early planting only
Andhra Pradesh	CSH-1,CSH-7R,CSH-8R	CSV-2,CSV-4,CSV-5,CSV-7R
Tamil Nadu	CSH-1,CSH-7R,Kovilpatti Tall  CSH-5,CSH-6,CSH-8R	CSV-4,CSV-5
Gujrat	CSH-1,CSH-7R,CSH-8R	CSV-7R

Cultivars recommended for summer irrigated crops:

State	Hybrids	Varieties
Tamil Nadu	VSH-1,CSH-5,CSH-6	CSV 5,CSV 1
Karnataka	CSH-1,CSH-5,CSH-6,CSH-8R	CSV 5,CSV 1
Andhra Pradesh	CSH-1,CSH-5,CSH-6,CSH-8R	CSV 5,CSV 1

Cultivars recommended for Forage Sorghum: 

Single Cut	Haryana chari6(HC308),HC 171,HC136,HC260,Pusa chari6 &9,Jawahar chari6,U.P.chari 1 &2,Rajasthan chari1&2,CSV 15,CSH13
Multicut	Methi Sudan(SSG 59-3)

 The hybrids and varieties of sorghum developed under the All-India Coordinated Sorghum Improvement Project have been tested sporadically in different parts of the world and found to be promising in the following countries: CSH 1, CSH 5, CSH 6- The Philippines

• CSH 5, CSH 6            -  Pakistan
• CSH 1                      -  Bangladesh
• CSV 1, CSV 2, CSV 4  and CSV 5 - Pakistan and The Philippines

Special Features

• CSV 5, CSV 6 and Resistant to Downy Many hybrids mildew
• CSV 5 Most leaf-spots, Shoot fly and Striga
• CSH 5, CSH 6 and Some resistance to CSV 4 head-moulds