The purpose of this study was to measure and analyse the economic efficiency, and to identify the main factor behind economic efficiency of sorghum and millet for small scale farmers in traditional rainfed sector in North Kordofan State. Primary data is collected using structured questionnaire for a sample of 205 farmers from four localities namely (Sheikan, Umrwaba, Elnuhoud, and Elkhowi). Stochastic frontier approach (cost function) was used to analyse economic efficiency and descriptive statistics were used to analyse socio-economic characteristics of farmers. The results of stochastic frontier cost function revealed that the estimated economic efficiency of the sorghum and millet farmers obtained was found the mean economic efficiency to be 39% and 15%, respectively. The economic efficiency is very weak, because most parameters and inefficiency effect factor found to be not significant, these determinants may give a clear picture of farmers that could be targeted in order to increase efficiency

The study was conducted on farmers' field in sofi district of Harari Regional State during 2013/2014 main cropping season, eastern Ethiopia, to investigate the impact of brewery sludge on sorghum production and soil fertility. The treatments comprised seven levels of brewery sludges (0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0, 12.5 and 15.0 t ha-1) and NP inorganic fertilizer at recommended rate, arranged in randomized complete block design with four replications. Application of brewery sludge at 15 t ha-1 significantly increased the yield and biomass yield of sorghum by 79 and 85% over control and by 57 and 67% over NP application, respectively. There was no effect of brewery sludge application on heavy metals concentrations in soil after crop harvest, compared to international standard tolerable level. Co and Se levels were high in the control as well as in the soils treated with brewery sludge indicating the already high concentration of these heavy metals in the soils of the area. Plots, which received higher brewery sludge application, resulted in decreased or less percentage of grain nitrogen content showing the independence of grain protein content on lower brewery sludge level. The nitrogen uptake by sorghum grain, straw and the total was maximum (52.68, 44.25 and 79.03 kg ha-1, respectively) with the application of brewery waste sludge at 10 and 15 t ha-1 which were significantly higher than the other brewery sludge and NP mineral fertilizer applications.

The study was conducted on farmers' field in sofi district of Harari Regional State during 2013/2014 main cropping season, eastern Ethiopia, to investigate the impact of brewery sludge on sorghum production and soil fertility. The treatments comprised seven levels of brewery sludges (0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0, 12.5 and 15.0 t ha-1) and NP inorganic fertilizer at recommended rate, arranged in randomized complete block design with four replications. Application of brewery sludge at 15 t ha-1 significantly increased the yield and biomass yield of sorghum by 79 and 85% over control and by 57 and 67% over NP application, respectively. There was no effect of brewery sludge application on heavy metals concentrations in soil after crop harvest, compared to international standard tolerable level. Co and Se levels were high in the control as well as in the soils treated with brewery sludge indicating the already high concentration of these heavy metals in the soils of the area. Plots, which received higher brewery sludge application, resulted in decreased or less percentage of grain nitrogen content showing the independence of grain protein content on lower brewery sludge level. The nitrogen uptake by sorghum grain, straw and the total was maximum (52.68, 44.25 and 79.03 kg ha-1, respectively) with the application of brewery waste sludge at 10 and 15 t ha-1 which were significantly higher than the other brewery sludge and NP mineral fertilizer applications.

Sorghum and millet are important food staples in semi-arid tropics of Asia and Africa. Sorghum and millet are cereal grains that have prospective to be used as substitute to wheat flour for celiac patients. These are considered as the good source of many important and essential fatty acids. The volatile profiling of these two important crops is comparable to other cereals as well. The present study was an effort to explore biochemical composition of commercially available sorghum and millet varieties with special reference to their fatty acid and volatile profiling. Chemical composition of sorghum and millet was determined according to respective methods. Fatty acid methyl esters were prepared and then subjected to GC-FID for fatty acids analysis. The results indicated that both sorghum and millet oils are rich in essential fatty acids comprising mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Main fatty acids that are identified in current study includes palmitic acid, oleic acid, palmitoleic acid, behenic acid, linoleic acid, linoleic acid, stearic acid, myristic acid, etc. On the other hand volatile compounds from sorghum and millet were determined by preparing their respective volatile samples by using calvenger apparatus with suitable volatile extracting solvent. Volatile samples were then subjected to GC-MS analysis and respected results were compared with NIST library. About 30 different volatiles were identified in millet varieties while 35 different compounds were discovered in sorghum varieties belonging to aldehydes, ketones, benzene derivatives, esters, alcohols, sulphur compounds.

Striga is a parasitic weed causing remarkable yield lose in Sorghum bicolor. In this study, phytotoxicity of leaf and flower extracts of Striga hermonthica were investigated on three sorghum varieties under laboratory conditions. Before allelopathic bioassay, total phenolics, alkaloids and terpenoids were quantified in the extracts. For allelopathic bioassay, 5 and 10% (w/v) aqueous extracts were prepared by reconstituting dried crude extracts of leaf and flower of S. hermonthica in distilled water. Varieties of sorghum named Muyra 1 (M1), Muyra 2 (M2) and Fendishe (Fe) were treated with equal amounts of 5 and 10% (w/v) extracts in Petri dishes lined with Whatman no.1 filter paper. The control treatment received distilled water and treatments were laid out in a completely randomized design with three replications. Germination parameters were monitored for 15 days and General linear model was used to analyze data. Results showed that both leaf and flower of S. hermonthica produce phenolics, alkaloids and terpenoids. Values of total phenolics and total alkaloids did not show significant variation, whereas total terpenoid was significantly higher in flower than leaf. Percent germination, shoot and root lengths as well as their dry weights were significantly affected by extract concentration, sorghum variety and their interactions. Compared to control, percent germination and seedling growth were highly reduced at 5% w/v extract concentration and completely inhibited at 10% w/v extract concentration. Varieties were not differentially affected by leaf extracts, but M1 and M2 appeared to be more affected than Fe by flower extract. The result also showed that root growth was more affected by extracts than shoot growth. Overall, this study for the first time revealed that S. hermonthica reduces yield of S. bicolor not only due to parasitism, but also through its negative allelopathic effect on seed germination and early seedling growth.

The purpose of this research study was to evaluate phenotypic correlation between yield, quality and certain yield components, and to determine the direct and indirect effects of 13 different components on yield and quality in sorghum×sudangrass hybrids. The research was conducted in the trial area of the Bilecik Seyh Edebali University Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Sciences in Bilecik, Turkey, in the 2015 crop year. The randomized complete block design with 4 replications was used. In the study, Aneto and Teide sorghum×sudangrass hybrid varieties belonging to Fito Seed Company and Gözde 80, Leoti, Nes, Rox and Early Sumac sorghum×sudangrass hybrid varieties belonging to Mediterranean Agricultural Research Institute were used as the materials. Relationships between ADF (Acid Detergent Fiber) and NDF (Neutral Detergent Fiber) ratios, RFV (Relative Feed Value) and ME (Metabolic Energy) values and characters were investigated in the study, in addition to plant height, panicle height, leaf ratio, stem ratio, panicle ratio, green grass yield, hay yield and crude protein yields of sorghum×sudangrass hybrid varieties. Results show that the Teide variety showed the highest performance in terms of herbage yield, crude protein ratio, ADF, NDF, RFV and ME, while the lowest yields were obtained from Rox and Early Sumac. Crude protein ratio was found to significantly correlate with leaf ratio, ADF, NDF, RFV and ME similarly, leaf ratio correlated with ADF and NDF; ADF with NDF; RFV with leaf ratio, ADF and NDF; and ME with leaf ratio, ADF, NDF and RFV.

The study explored the potential of local Oasian sorghums from the Algerian Sahara, alongside the Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands (ACSAD) varieties, focusing on their sap and sugar yield capabilities, for selecting the most appropriate ones as good sources for bioethanol production. The method used in this study consisted of a complete randomized block design with three repetitions in open field. Harvesting was carried out at two vegetative stages: milky-pasty and hard-grain. Morphometric measurements and estimation of the produced biomass yields followed. The second step of the study concerned the extraction of the sap from the stems and the determination of its volume and sugar content. Depending on the physiological stage, the volume of produced sap fluctuated as much as the sugar rate. The diameter of the stems varied the bark-to-pith ratio of populations. According to this ratio, the largest fraction of pith, which contains sap, was found in the populations: Hamra, Kharssi, Beïda-Adrar, respectively, 0.65, 0.83, and 0.91. The stems yield of Biofuel and Beïda-Adrar were notably high at milky-pasty stage, approximately 1.87 and 1.51 kg m-², respectively; indicating their suitability for bioethanol production. The research highlighted the variation in sap volume across different growth stages and populations, with a proportional relationship observed between sap volume and sugar concentration. The analysis demonstrated significant differences across all the studied parameters. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) further categorized the parameters into two distinct groups based on growth phases, facilitating a deeper understanding of the determinants of sorghum’s bioethanol potential. The findings emphasize the need for a balanced selection of sorghum populations for bioethanol production, considering sap volume, sugar yield, and biometric parameters. This study not only underscores the viability of sorghum as a bioethanol source but also aligns with sustainable agriculture and renewable energy goals, especially in arid regions like the Algerian Sahara.

Sorghum and millet are important food staples in semi-arid tropics of Asia and Africa. Sorghum and millet are cereal grains that have prospective to be used as substitute to wheat flour for celiac patients. These are considered as the good source of many important and essential fatty acids. The volatile profiling of these two important crops is comparable to other cereals as well. The present study was an effort to explore biochemical composition of commercially available sorghum and millet varieties with special reference to their fatty acid and volatile profiling. Chemical composition of sorghum and millet was determined according to respective methods. Fatty acid methyl esters were prepared and then subjected to GC-FID for fatty acids analysis. The results indicated that both sorghum and millet oils are rich in essential fatty acids comprising mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Main fatty acids that are identified in current study includes palmitic acid, oleic acid, palmitoleic acid, behenic acid, linoleic acid, linoleic acid, stearic acid, myristic acid, etc. On the other hand volatile compounds from sorghum and millet were determined by preparing their respective volatile samples by using calvenger apparatus with suitable volatile extracting solvent. Volatile samples were then subjected to GC-MS analysis and respected results were compared with NIST library. About 30 different volatiles were identified in millet varieties while 35 different compounds were discovered in sorghum varieties belonging to aldehydes, ketones, benzene derivatives, esters, alcohols, sulphur compounds.