Potencial produtivo da cultura do Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench no semiárido brasileiro: revisão

Abstract

Sorghum is a crop that has high adaptability to adverse edaphoclimatic conditions, maintaining a high productive performance, serving as a food source for animal humans, as well as raw material for ethanol production. In the semi-arid region, this crop is even more important, especially as an alternative in complementing the food diet, mainly animal, bringing cost reduction in the livestock sector, and favorably contribute to the balance of grain regulatory stocks and promoting balance in production. Thus, contributing to the sustainable growth of livestock in this region. However, evidence indicates a reduction in planted area in recent harvests due to an evident reduction in sorghum crop production performance under the edaphoclimatic conditions of that region, discouraging large-scale production. In this context, overcoming these obstacles has been the use of cultivars adapted to the edaphoclimatic conditions of these regions, as well as some modifications in crop planning and crop management. This review aimed to explore the general characteristics, classification of sorghum types, socioeconomic importance, ecophysiology, edaphology, phytosanitary agents and yield potential of sorghum cultivars currently available for cultivation in the Brazilian semiarid region. Sorghum cultivation in Brazil has shown a high productive potential, not only for its adaptive ability in different environmental conditions, but for its ease of mechanization from sowing to harvest.