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How to Grow "KARI/MTAMA-1" Sorghum Cutivar

Plant characteristics

KARI/MTAMA-1 is approximately 130-150 cm in height depending on altitude and soil fertility. The plant color is tan. It reaches 50% flowering in 58-65 days and matures in 95-100 days. The panicle is partially semi compact (free at the tip), approximately24cmlong, and the peduncle is well exserted but is poor under moisture stress. The grain color is white with no testa. The endosperm is sermhard. The potential grain yield is 4000 kg/ha (44 bags) with a mean of 2500 kg/ha (27 bags). On-farm production plots managed by farmers yielded approximately 8 to 12 bags per acre with application of one 50 kg bag of 20:20: 0. The 1000 seed weight is approximately 3 0 g. KARI/MTAMA- I responds well to nitrogen fertilizer and can be sown at a recommended population of 66000 plants/ha at a spacing of 75 x 20 cm.

'KARI/MTAMA-l' SORGHUM CULTIVAR was developed, by Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), National Dryland Farming Research Center (NDFRC), Katumani, Machakos Kenya. KARI/MTAMA- I was tested as KAT 369 and released by KARI in August 1994.

Qualities

Some limited tolerance to striga was observed at Busia and Homa Bay. KARL/MrAMA- I must be protected against shootfly if late planted by applying Furadan at planting. Nfillirig tests indicated that KARI/MTAMA- I has a recovery rate, of > 80 %. Processing tests, showed that acceptableugaliandporridge(uji)canbeprepared from AMA-1. KARI/MTAMA-1 flour canbeblendedwithwheatflourataratio of 15:85 to make acceptable bread and 2:3 for chapatis. It has high germination rate (95%) and good ratoonability.

Target areas of production

KARI/N4TAMA- I is recommended for areas between 50 - 1700 m altitude in agro-ecological zones (AEZ) HI and IV where seasonal average rainfall is 3 00 mm. These include Coast, Eastern, Western, Nyaza, and Rift valley (Baringo, Turkana, West pokot, Nakuru Districts), and some parts of North Eastern provinces

Source of breeder -seed

Center Director, KARI/NDFRC-Katumani,
P.O. Box 340, Machakos, Kenya.

Other sources of seed

Western Seed & Grain Co. Ltd. Box 49464, Nairobi and Kenya Seed ro Kitale.

Crop Management

Seed rate: 7-10 Kg ha -1

Seedbed preparation

KAR/MTAMA-1 requires a fine seed bed for better seedling establishment. If tractor or oxen plough is used to open up the ground, it is advisable to harrow it after the first ploughing. When hoes are used for land preparation, farmers are advised to ensure that boulders are reduced by breading them to provide a smooth seedbed.

Planting

drill or hill plant early and dry planting is highly reconunended
depth of planting @ onset of rains should be 2.5 - 4 cm (1 - 1.5")
depth of planting when dry planting should be 5.0 an (2")
when the sofl is moist, plant shallow but press the sofl so that seed may be in contact with moist soil.

Plant Population

Mono Cropping

Row spacing is 75 cm and between plants is 20 cm in AEZ IV (semi-arid lowlands and humid coastal strip and hinterland), or row spacing of 60 cm and between plants at 20 cm in coffee zones AEZ in and also when planting using wheat driller. In senfi and lowlands, where the oxplough yoke is fixed at 90 cm, especially in Machakos, Makueni, Kitui and Mwingi districts, the recommended between plant spacing is 15 cm.

Intercropping

Intercrop with legumes (beans, pigeon pea, cowpea, and green gram): alternate single row of legume between 2 sorghum rows at 90 cm and legume row at the center. This is recommended in areas where ox-plough yokes are fixed at a distance of 90 cm. When intercropping in semi and areas, sow two rows oflegume between two rows of sorghum spaced at 150 cm and between plants spacing is 20cm.

Caution: one ofthe disadvantages ofintercropping in senn and areas is the competition for moisture when rainfall is limited. However, it may be advantageous when rainfall is adequate.

Fe rtilizer rate

Apply fertilizer along the furows and thoroughly mix vath soil before placing seed. In moist mid altitute zones ofwestem Kenya and coffee zones. of Central and Eastern provinces, apply two (50 kg) bags of NPK (20:20:0) per acre at planting and top dress with two (50 Kg) bags of CAN per acre if the rainfall is sufficient. In Semi arid, lowlands, apply two (50kg) bags of NPK (20:20:0) per acre at planting. Top dress with two (50 Kg) bags of CAN per acre if the rainfall is sufficient. In cold semi-arid highlands (Nakuru, L4Mpia and Narok), apply two (50 kg) bags of DAP per acre at planting and top dress with two (50 kg) bags per acre ofCA-N ifnecessary. When applying -,at low rate, use one 50 Kg bag of 20:20:0 and if there is sufficient moisture, topdress with I bag of CAN after first weeding and thinning.

Weeding and Thinning

First weeding should be done within two to three weeks after emergence. Two weedings are recommended and the first weeding must be done within three weeks after emergence, because sink capacity of sorghum plant is determined within 45 days after emergence. Thin sorghum seedlings to one plant per hill, three weeks after emergence in semiarid lowlands or four weeks in cold semiand highlands where the growth rate is low; or/ and when the plants are 45 cm or 11/2ft high. Thinning should be done after the first weeding. If hill planted at the recommended spacing, thin to one plant per hill.

Crop protection

Planting seed are treated with Femisan-D (10 g per debe or 15 -kg of grain). At planting, where necesmul add furadan to the soil to control shootfly and other soil insect pests, especially to late planted crop. Use Marshall or Diptrex (2.5 GR) to control stem borers (3 kg ha-') if needed when especially the crop is 3 weeks old.