Effect of Nitrogen Levels on Quality, Nutrients Uptake and Productivity of Forage Sorghum Genotypes in Semi-arid Region 0f Vidarbha

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of nitrogen levels on yield, quality and nutrients uptake by forage sorghum genotypes during kharif season of 2005 on clayey soil at Dr. PDKV, Akola. The twelve treatment combinations replicated thrice in factorial Randomized Block Design comprised four nitrogen levels (100, 80, 60 and 40 kg N ha®) with three genotypes (SSG-59-3, SSG-87, AKFR-89) and their combinations. A common dose of 30 kg P and 20 kg K ha was applied to al L the treatments and seed was treated prior to sowing by Azotobacter @ 25 g kg^-1.

The genotype SSG-59-3 was found significantly superior in respect of green fodder yield, dry fodder yield, per day productivity of green fodder and dry fodder as well as in protein per cent, protein yield (q ha'), crude fibre content and concentration and uptake of N,P, K, Ca, Mg and S. However, forage sorghum genotype SSG-87 was found significantly higher in respect of sugar percent in both the cuttings. The treatment consisting of 100 kg N ha^-1 increased the green fodder, dry fodder, per day productivity of green and dry fodder, protein content, sugar percent and concentration and uptake of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S, However, the crude fibre content decreased with increasing the rate of nitrogen  from 40 kg N ha^-1  to 100 kg N ha^-1.