Biomass production of six sorghum accessions from Northern Somalia

Six accessions of forage sorghum were collected in Northern Somalia on local markets and sown in rangeland fields. The aim of the trial was to start the classification and in situ agronomic valorisation of the local genetic diversity of the genus Sorghum. Plant growth rates, sugar contents and grain yields were good in comparison to hybrids of the same species and especially considering the results that are normally achieved locally. Total dry matter ranged within 58 and 93 g per plant, sugar content was comprised between 13 and 16.8° Brix at ripening, grain yielded 1.7 to 2.7 t ha -1. Nonetheless of the doubts on the origin of the genetic material that we used, this proved to have good potentialities and we suggest further investigation and valorisation.