Abstract

Sorghum is the chief cereal crop grown under rain-fed conditions in the Madras Presidency. It is grown on an area of more than 4 million acres. It is usually grown in rotation with the commercial crops- cotton, groundnut (Arachis hypogea, L.), tobacco or chillies (Capsicum spp.). A pulse crop like red gram (Cajanus cajan, (L) Millsp.) or Bengal gram (Cicer arietinum, L.) is grown in rotation with it in some parts of the presidency. These as well as other pulses are often grown mixed with sorghum, thereby saving land, labour and cultivation expenses, and obtain- ing a variety of produce. The crops grown mixed with sorghum and in rotation with it depend upon the nature of the soil and season, and the local conditions and demand. Irrigated sorghum is usually grown as a pure crop.

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