Effect of Foliar Application time and rates of exogenous salicylic acid on growth and grain yield performances of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor L. Moench]

Abstract

The experiment included two sorghum varieties, four salicylic acid (SA) rates, and three application times in a factorial design. Following foliar application of 0.5 or 1mM salicylic acid (SA), stem borer severity and stem lodging percentage were significantly reduced compared to controls (distilled water). For Meko, applying 0.5mM SA after 30 days of planting resulted in a 15% increase in grain yield above the control. Similarly, the application of 1Mm SA, 15 days after planting, increased the grain yield of ESH-1 by more than 20% than control. When sprayed with 0.5mM SA 30 days after planting, the hybrid ESH-1 produced the maximum dry biomass per plant (210.4g), while plants treated with distilled water produced the lowest dry biomass per plant (154.2 g). Similarly, for Meko, the highest dry biomass per plant (207.5 g) was found in plants sprayed with 0.5mM SA 45 days after planting, while the lowest dry biomass (124.3 g) was found in plants sprayed with distilled water 15 days after planting. So, in the Melkassa area, foliar sprays of 0.5 mM and 1 mM salicylic acid (SA) can boost grain yield of Meko and ESH-1 sorghum genotypes.