Evaluation of Rabi Sorghum Cultivars Under Different Moisture and Nutrient Management Practices Through Farmer’s Participatory Approach

Rabi sorghum is an important dry land crop of North Karnataka and is the major source of food and fodder. Several production technologies have been recommended by the research stations but in most cases farmers have either not adopted or only partially adopted these. Hence, it seems clear that technologies have to be evaluated by taking into account the farmers’ environment, and with farmers’ active participation. In the present study integrated production technologies comprising moisture conservation practices, nutrient management practices and different cultivars revealed that the moisture conservation practice of ‘compartmental bunding’ increased grain yield and fodder yield by 14% and 19%, respectively. The increase in grain and fodder yield due to integrated nutrient management practice was up to 28% and 35%, respectively. Among the three cultivars, CSV 216R was found superior to CSH 15R and M 35-1, for grain and fodder yield. The benefit: cost ratio was significantly superior for compartmental bunding and for cultivar 216R, compared to farmers’ normal practices.