When was sorghum introduced to China?
Sorghum, also known as shushu, taoshu, muji and so on, is an annual herbaceous plant of the genus Sorghum in the grass family. It is widely cultivated in China. According to its characteristics and uses, it can be divided into grain sorghum, sweet sorghum, broom sorghum and other types. The grain of grain sorghum is used for food and brewing wine, the stalks of sweet sorghum can be made into syrup or eaten raw, and the panicles of broom sorghum can be made into brooms or pot scourers. Now let us take a look at when sorghum was introduced to China!
When was sorghum introduced to China?
Relevant unearthed artifacts and agricultural books and historical records prove that sorghum has been cultivated for at least 5000 years. There have long been two theories about its origin and evolution: one says it was introduced from Africa or India, and the other says it is native to China. However, many researchers believe that sorghum originated in Africa, then spread to India, and then to the Far East. Sorghum is widely distributed in the world and highly variable in form, and Africa is the region with the most sorghum varieties. Snowden collected 17 wild species of sorghum, 16 of which came from Africa. Of the 31 cultivated species identified, 28 are found in Africa, and of the 158 varieties, only 4 are found outside Africa.
Growth habits of sorghum
Sorghum likes warmth and light. The temperature it needs during its growth period is higher than that of corn, and it has a certain tolerance to high temperatures. The suitable temperature for its whole growth period is 20-30°C. Moreover, sorghum is a C4 crop and needs sufficient light throughout its whole growth period. Its root system is well developed, and its root cells have relatively high osmotic pressure, giving it a strong ability to absorb water from the soil. At the same time, the surface of its stems and leaves has a layer of white wax, which can reduce sensitivity during drought.
Where are the sorghum producing areas?
1. Spring-sown early-maturing region: The spring-sown early-maturing region includes all of Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Inner Mongolia, the Chengde area of Hebei Province, the area below the Zhangjiakou dam, northern Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces, the arid region of Ningxia, central Gansu and the Hexi region, and the northern plains and basins of Xinjiang. The production varieties are mainly early-maturing and medium-early-maturing types. Because the accumulated temperature is relatively low, production is easily affected by low-temperature cold damage, so technical measures should be taken to prevent low temperatures and promote early maturity. It is a one-crop-per-year system, usually sown in early to mid-May and harvested in September.
2. Spring-sown late-maturing region: The spring-sown late-maturing region includes most areas of Liaoning, Hebei, Shanxi, and Shaanxi provinces, Beijing, Tianjin, the Yellow River irrigation area of Ningxia, eastern and southern Gansu, and the southern and eastern Xinjiang basins. It is the main sorghum producing region in China, with a relatively high yield per unit area. It is basically a one-crop-per-year system. Because the heat conditions are relatively good, late-maturing varieties are mostly used for cultivation. In recent years, due to the reform of the farming system, summer-sown sorghum is planted after wheat harvest, changing one crop per year to three crops in two years or two crops per year.
3. Spring and summer dual-sowing region: The spring and summer dual-sowing region includes parts of Shandong, Jiangsu, Henan, Anhui, Hubei, and Hebei provinces. Spring-sown sorghum and summer-sown sorghum each account for about half. Spring-sown sorghum is mostly distributed on relatively barren low-lying and saline-alkali land, and medium-late-maturing varieties are mostly used. Summer-sown sorghum is mainly distributed on flat and fertile land. As the succeeding crop after summer harvest crops, early-maturing varieties with a growth period of no more than 100 days are mostly used. The cultivation system is mainly two crops per year or three crops in two years.
4. Southern sorghum region: The southern sorghum region includes southern Central China and all of South China and Southwest China. The distribution area is vast, and it is mostly planted in scattered plots. The provinces with relatively more planting include Sichuan, Guizhou, and Hunan. The varieties used are strongly short-day types, mostly loose-panicle and glutinous varieties, and most have tillering ability. The cultivation system is three crops per year. In recent years, ratoon sorghum has seen some development.