Impact of Row Spacing and Nitrogen Levels on Growth, Yield and Economics of Fodder Sorghum (Sorghum bicolour L. Moench)

Abstract

The field experiment entitled "Impact of Row Spacing and Nitrogen Levels on Growth, Yield and Economics of Fodder Sorghum (Sorghum bicolour L. Moench)" was conducted during the Kharif season of 2022 in the sandy loam soil at Crop Research Centre, ITM University, Gwalior (M.P.). The experiment was laid out in the RBD with three replications. The experiments included twelve treatments, consisting of three-row spacing i.e., 20cm, 30cm and 40 cm and four nitrogen levels viz., 0, 60, 90 and 120 kg ha -1 . The results revealed that the growth attributes such as plant height, number of leaves per plant, number of tillers per plant and leafstem ratio were found significantly higher in the wider row spacing of 40 cm over 20 and 30 cm. while the green fodder yield, dry fodder yield and total green and dry fodder yield was found higher at the row spacing of 30 cm as compared to 20 and 40 cm of row spacing. Results indicated that the application of various nitrogen levels had significant effects on plant growth such as plant height, number of leaves per plant, number of tillers per plant, leaf-stem ratio and dry matter percentage was found significantly higher with the application of nitrogen up to 120 kg ha -1 . Increased nitrogen levels considerably influenced the yield characters and maximum when nitrogen was applied 120 kg ha -1 ; The highest green (35.12 t ha -1 ) and dry fodder yield (7.52 t ha -1 ) was recorded at the tune of 35.12 t ha -1 and 7.52 t ha -1 , respectively with the application of 120 kg N ha-1 which was significantly higher over lower doses of nitrogen. Appreciably higher net return ( 49646.1) and B: Cratioof ( 2.0 re -1 invested) with a combination of 30 cm row apart.