Comparison · crop
Warm-season cereals: maize vs sorghum vs rice vs millet
Compare major warm-season and tropical cereals and their agronomic associations.
| Dimension | Maize | Sorghum | Rice | Millet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Cereal crop | Cereal crop | Cereal crop | Cereal crop |
| Scientific name | Zea mays | Sorghum bicolor | Oryza sativa | Pennisetum glaucum (pearl millet); also cultivated as Panicum miliaceum (proso millet), Eleusine coracana (finger millet), and Setaria italica (foxtail millet) |
| Botanical family | Poaceae (grasses) | Poaceae (grasses) | Poaceae (grasses) | Poaceae (grasses) |
| Lifecycle | Annual | Annual | Annual | Annual |
| Common diseases | Common Smut | Anthracnose, Downy Mildew | Rice Blast | Downy Mildew, Ergot |
| Common pests | Aphids | Aphids, Fall Armyworm | Aphids | Stem Borers, White Grubs |
| Suitable soils | Loam Soil | Loam Soil, Silt Soil | Loam Soil, Clay Soil | Sandy Soil, Laterite Soil |
Methodology
Descriptive dimensions (family, lifecycle, associated diseases/pests, soils) are read from each crop’s reference entry. No crop is ranked as “better”; agronomic outcomes are region- and system-specific.
Limitations
- Descriptive comparison only — not a yield, profitability, or suitability ranking.
- Associated diseases/pests and soils are typical, not exhaustive, and vary by region.
Sources
This article draws on the following authoritative sources. See our sources & methodology for how they are selected.
- [1]FAO — Food and Agriculture Organization (opens in a new tab)Authoritative
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
- Type:
- Intergovernmental organization
- Jurisdiction:
- Global
- Accessed:
- 2026-07-12
- Authoritative
- Type:
- Reference database
- Jurisdiction:
- United States
- Accessed:
- 2026-07-12