Prospects for the cultivation of grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) in the arid region of the Kazakh Aral Sea region: Literature review

The purpose of the present study was to substantiate effective breeding and agronomic solutions for improving the resistance of sorghum to climatic stresses in the conditions of the Aral Sea region. Based on an analysis of literature sources, the study showed that the agricultural sector of the Kyzylorda region of the Republic of Kazakhstan faces a persistent water shortage caused by both natural and anthropogenic factors. A considerable reduction in water inflows to the lower reaches of the Syr Darya, degradation of irrigation infrastructure, and deterioration of water quality create conditions under which conventional water-intensive crops such as rice become economically and environmentally unviable. A review of sources confirmed that, along with technical measures such as the introduction of water-saving technologies, the transition to more drought-resistant crops, including sorghum, is becoming increasingly significant. Sorghum was demonstrated to have unique physiological adaptations to water and heat stress due to its morphological and anatomical characteristics, growth phases, and ability to retain green mass. In the Aral Sea region, this crop is considered a key element in the strategy for adapting crop production to changing climatic conditions. Furthermore, sorghum has a wide range of applications, from food and feed to bioenergy, which highlights its agro-economic value. The literature review also noted growing interest in the genetic and breeding potential of sorghum: international gene banks hold more than 42,000 samples, including unique genotypes from Africa and Asia, which opens prospects for the creation of sustainable and high-yielding varieties. Thus, the findings of the literature review confirmed the pronounced adaptability of sorghum to the conditions of the Aral Sea region, its strategic significance in conditions of water stress, and the relevance of further breeding and agronomic developments aimed at its widespread introduction into the region’s agriculture