Being a highly nutritious food, sorghum growing has increased across the world. However, its production is affected by the post harvest handling methods which reduce the quality and quantity.
For good quality high harvest, good quality seeds are top priorities. Sorghum has strong drought resistance and being an indispensable grain crop for feed and alcohol there is to coordinate sowing of mother plant and timing of blooming.
Sorghum production
Management during growth period include eliminating weeds, defect seeds and preventing damage by birds for the hybrid to achieve high standards in both quality and quantity at maturity stage. Ensure there no other varieties of same family in seed production zone as well as with in 300m from separation belt to avoid mixing with pre season crop during early stages.
Similarly, follow standard procedures to eliminate defects and weeds before flower blooming and take precautions against birds during fruiting period then carry out test on seed moisture content and transport process control during harvesting. Harvest quality is determined by seed maturity, climate, transport conditions and moisture content, seed damage, dryness and temperature during threshing. Consider storage condition and provide sufficient seed for planting to farmers in next season. Stock a proportion of seed for safe inventory levels and while in warehouse, loading cabin of dryer cabins must be known. Unload sorghum into dryer cabins while spot checking sorghum ear condition and randomly sample for quality test.
Furthermore, drag the drier cabin to drying installation and connect wind pipes and ventilate until all moisture evaporates. Also increase temperature and start drying and check regularly during drying process. Immediately fix motor if problems occur to avoid delay in operations. Moisture content must drop 18% to proceed to threshing process and arrange cabin, warehouse position for sorghum drying and check if doors are correctly opened and transferring belts is set as well.
Not only the above but also a batch of ears is threshed and raked evenly in the warehouse. Take samples and conduct moisture content test, heat up and dry them up to 12% and start seed sorting process. Set threshed sorghum seeds at 40 degrees centigrade and drying level should have thickness of less than 40cm. Conduct moisture content testing in morning and afternoon.
Begin selection process by adjusting sorting machine first and ensure dust collecting equipment is ready and finally calibrate large seeds, packaging machines and prepare packages or cartons before sorting.
