Sugarcane sorghum is a drought-resistant crop distinguished by a high sugar content in stem juice, ranging from 10 to 21%. Due to these properties, sorghum is used in the food industry for producing sorghum syrup, and in bioenergy for producing bioethanol and biogas. Additionally, this crop has a phytomeliorative effect, helping to reduce soil salinization and salt leaching, thereby improving soil quality for future agricultural use.
Varieties of sugarcane sorghum have different vegetation periods. For example, the variety from the Ivanivska Selection Station matures in 125 days and reaches a height of 180–250 cm. This variety is characterized by a stable high yield of green mass and grain, resistance to lodging and smut disease. The grain has an oval shape, black in color, with high glabrousness, and the awns are oval, black with moderate pubescence. Protein content in the grain is approximately 6%, and sugar content in the juice is approximately 14%.
The hybrid sugarcane sorghum Sioux, certified by OESD and U.S. selection, is mid-season and has a yield potential of 800–1200 centners per hectare, with an average yield in Ukraine of 600–700 centners per hectare. This hybrid is distinguished by high-quality grain with protein content of 11.5%, starch 68%, fat 3.5%, and tannin 5%. Sugar content in the juice of sorghum Sioux reaches 20–21%. The seeds are treated with fungicides and insecticides to protect against diseases and pests. Sugarcane sorghum is widely used for producing silage, green mass, animal feed, and in bioenergy.
