Abstract

Sorghum is not only a food crop but also a fodder crop in India. Its adaptability to droughty conditions and its high production of forage, has given it an important status in Agriculture of this country. A large percent of the cattle subsist on this forage and it is preferred to others because of its palatability and nutritive value. In such an important crop, the presence of hydrocyanic acid in lethal doses in its seedling stage has been a drawback. As the plants mature, the poison content decreases and it is a well known fact that even the green stalks can be fed to cattle after the flowering stage. The preliminary study presented in this paper is on hydrocyanic acid content of the five important fodder types of the Madras State at their growth period and has deduced the earliest safe stage when the plants can be cut and fed to cattle.

Keywords: