Effect of Nitrogen and Spacing on Green Fodder Yield and Economics of MP Chari (Sorghum bicolor L.)
Mudakala Lokesh Chand *
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Naini Agriculture Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj - 211007, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Rajesh Singh
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Naini Agriculture Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj - 211007, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Rathod Sandeep
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Naini Agriculture Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj - 211007, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Akhankya Pradhan
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Naini Agriculture Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj - 211007, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Thakur Indu
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Naini Agriculture Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj - 211007, Uttar Pradesh, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
At the Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, Naini Agricultural Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology And Sciences, Prayagraj (U.P.), India, a field experiment was carried out during the Harvest season of 2022. To investigate how spacing and nitrogen affect sorghum growth and fodder production (Sorghum bicolor L.). The treatments include nitrogen at rates of 60, 80, and 100 kg/ha, spaced 35, 45, and 55 cm, respectively. There were 10 treatments total, with three replications of each. The soil in the trial plot had a sandy loamy texture, a pH of 7.8 that was almost neutral, a low level of organic carbon (0.35%), and high levels of available N (163.42 kg/ha), available P (21.96 kg/ha), and available K (256.48 kg/ha) nutrients. In accordance with the results, nitrogen application at a rate of 100 kg per hectare and a spacing of 55 cm apart had a significant impact on plant height (186.96 cm), plant dry weight (52.78 g/plant), crop growth rate (55.0 g/m2/day), and green fodder yield (28.36 and 22.43 t/ha) for the first and second cuttings. With nitrogen 100 kg/ha and the spacing 5515cm, there were also larger gross returns (INR 83809.00/ha), net returns (INR 58133.00/ha), and B:C ratios (2.26).
Keywords: Sorghum, nitrogen, spacing, green fodder yield and economics