Productivity and Water Use Efficiency of Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] Grown under Different Nitrogen Applications in Sudan Savanna Zone, Nigeria

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) is an essential nutrient for sorghum growth and development but often becomes limiting due to low availability and loss. The effects of N fertilization on water use efficiency (WUE) and physiological and yield traits of sorghum were investigated in two locations over two cropping seasons (2014 and 2015) in the Sudan Savanna zone of Nigeria. Three sorghum varieties were evaluated under six (6) N-levels (0, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 kg ha−1) at a constant phosphorus and potassium level of 30 kg ha−1. Results showed that N increased grain yield by 35–64% at the Bayero University Kano (BUK) and 23–78% at Minjibir. The highest mean grain yield in the N-fertilizer treatments (2709 kg ha−1 and 1852 kg ha−1 at BUK and Minjibir, resp.) was recorded at 80 kg N ha−1. ICSV400 produced the highest mean grain yields (2677 kg ha−1 and 1848 kg ha−1 at BUK and Minjibir, resp.). Significant differences were observed among the N-levels as well as among the sorghum varieties for estimated water use efficiency (WUE). The highest mean value coincided with the highest mean grain yield at an optimum application rate of 80 kg ha−1. N-fertilizer treatments increased WUE by 48–55% at BUK and increased WUE by 54–76% at Minjibir over control treatment. Maturity and physiological trait have a significant effect on WUE. The extra early maturing variety (ICSV400) recorded the highest mean WUE while late maturing variety (CSR01) recorded the lowest WUE.

Phenological and physiological evaluation of first and second cropping periods of sorghum and maize crops

“…Our results show that the water-use efficiency increased in the second cropping period compared with the first in both crops studied (Figure 8a,b). Better performance in this parameter in sorghum plants confirms that this cereal is well adapted to situations of low water supply, using available water more efficiently in its metabolic processes (Ajeigbe, Akinseye, Ayuba, & Jonah, 2018). Increases in water-use efficiency were observed in sorghum biomass (Enciso, Jifon, Ribera, Zapata, & Ganjegunte, 2015), saccharine sorghum (Curt, Fernandez, & Martinez, 1995) and grain sorghum (Jabereldar, Naim, Abdalla, & Dagash, 2017) in conditions of low water availability.…”

Growth, Yield and Nutritional Performance of Sweet Sorghum and Legumes in Sole and Intercropping Influenced by Type of Legume, Nitrogen Level and Air Quality

“…These reductions showed that intercrop competition occurred for N instead of supplementation of N by the associated legume. Abd El-Lattief [43] and Ajeigbe et al [44] observed that increasing N levels increased grain yield of sorghum.…”

Understanding the response of sorghum cultivars to nitrogen applications in the semi-arid Nigeria using the agricultural production systems simulator

“…12.17 N,Long 8.65 E, 473 m asl) and Teaching and Research farm, Bayero University Kano (BUK) (Lat.11.98 N and Long 8.43 E, 508 m asl). The agronomic data such as dates of sowing, flowering and maturity), yield and final biomass for two (early-ICSV-400 and medium-Improved Deko) sorghum varieties were obtained from several field experiments conducted in the context of larger varietal characterization trials under integrated soil fertility management (Ajeigbe et al 2018a(Ajeigbe et al , 2018b. The soil of the experimental sites (Minjibir and BUK) were characterized as slightly acid to neutral (pH 5.5-7), and was low in plant available nitrogen, phosphorus and calcium, had low organic carbon content (OC 1%).…”

“…Sorghum has been found as water efficient crop transforming available water more into dry matter than most other C 4 crops (e.g., maize) (Dercas and Liakatas 2007) and the crop is able to utilize water as deep as 270 cm soil depth (Mishra, Thakur, and Singh 2015). Its production is not only limited by rain shortage and nitrogen nutrition, but by the poor resource base, low input use and returns and rapid population increases (MacCarthy et al 2010;Ajeigbe et al 2018aAjeigbe et al , 2018b.…”

“…In additions, due to peculiar farming practice in the region, the levels of fertilizer input do not compensate for nutrient lost through crop harvest, thereby creating a negative nutrient balance (MacCarthy et al 2010). However, Ajeigbe et al (2018aAjeigbe et al ( , 2018b have reported that the use of inorganic fertilizers increased growth and yield of sorghum by 29-90% at optimal rates of 60 and 80 kg N ha À1 , as well as improved the chemical properties of soil in a Sudanian zone of Nigeria. Similarly, MacCarthy et al (2010) reported the use of mineral N fertilizer at optimal rates of 40 and 80 kgNha À1 economically profitable while agronomic N use efficiency was found between 21 to 37 kg grain kg À1 N with intensively managed homestead fields.…”