Khuzestan - Sorghum offers a strategic solution for boosting forage production despite water scarcity and climate change, according to a researcher at the Khuzestan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center.

 

Hossein Kazemi said that the plant's high tolerance to drought, salinity, and extreme heat makes it well-suited for Iran's arid and semi-arid regions.

 

"Sorghum has an efficient photosynthetic system, well-functioning stomata, and a deep, extensive root network that allows it to absorb water effectively and reduce moisture loss," he explained.

 

Kazemi concludes that expanding sorghum cultivation is an effective strategy to counter water limitations, boost forage output, and ensure agricultural sustainability amid climate change.

 

Unlike many crops, sorghum survives long dry spells, with stomata resuming normal function after rainfall or irrigation. It also tolerates waterlogging better than corn, which often perishes under such conditions. Forage sorghum yields an estimated 100–150 tons of fresh matter per hectare, of which 20–25 percent is dry matter.