Role of Pedoagroclimate Settings in Enhancing Sorghum Production in Indonesia

Sorghum is a strategic crop for food, feed, and bioenergy. However, information on its cultivation area and agronomic profile in Indonesia remains limited. Therefore, this study aimed to identify, characterize, and evaluate sorghum cultivation in different agroecosystems and pedoagroclimatic settings in Indonesia. We surveyed published articles, newspapers, and other digital resources, collating a dataset that contained pedoagroclimatic characteristics. We then conducted a field survey to gather data on sorghum farming practices. The results show that sorghum is planted in 11 agroclimatic zones, mainly in D3, B1, and E4, and in seven soil types, mainly in Inceptisols, Mollisols, Vertisols, and Andisols. The cultivated varieties cover Bioguma 1, Bioguma 2, Bioguma 3, Numbu, Kawali, UPCA-S1, Suri 3 Agritan, Soper 9, and local varieties. Under smallholder farmers’ management, the average sorghum yield ranges from 3.6 to 7.5 Mg ha⁻¹. The 15–68% of the yield gap can be closed by implementing site-specific technologies, including high-yielding varieties and soil management. These findings provide a baseline for supporting efforts to increase sorghum production and develop robust sorghum cultivation technologies.