Effect on growth and yield of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) as influenced by nitrogen management

Abstract

A field experiment entitled “Effect on Growth and Yield of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) as Influenced by Nitrogen Management” was conducted at the Agronomy Research Farm, School of Agriculture, Suresh GyanVihar University, Jaipur, Rajasthan during kharif 2024. The trial was laid out in a Split Plot Design with 15 treatment combinations of nitrogen sources (urea, castor cake, FYM) and biofertilizers (no inoculation, Azotobacter, Azospirillum), replicated thrice. Results revealed that nitrogen management and biofertilizer inoculation significantly influenced growth, yield attributes, and yield of sorghum. Plant height and dry matter accumulation were maximum under N3 and B3, with the highest dry matter (119.67 g/plant) recorded under N3 + B3 at harvest. Yield attributes such as grain number per ear head (1223), panicle weight (71.93 g), and 1000-grain weight (25.08 g) were highest in N3, while B3 significantly outperformed other biofertilizers, producing the maximum grain number (1355), panicle weight (72.60 g), and test weight (26.14 g). The interaction effect was significant for grain number, with N3 / B3 producing the maximum (1603.37). In terms of yield, N3 recorded the highest grain yield (3103 kg/ha), straw yield (5930 kg/ha), and biological yield (9033 kg/ha), with a harvest index of 34.17%. Among biofertilizers, B3 produced the maximum grain yield (3299 kg/ha), straw yield (6136 kg/ha), biological yield (9436 kg/ha), and harvest index (34.85%). The interaction effect was significant, with N3 /B3 producing the highest grain yield (3752 kg/ha), straw yield (6542 kg/ha), and biological yield (10294 kg/ha).