Department of Agronomy, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar Uttaranchal, 263 145
1,2,3Present address: Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology-J, Main Campus, Chatha, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir 180 009
A field investigation was conducted at Pantnagar, Uttaranchal during the rainy (kharir) seasons of 1998 and 1999, to study the pattern of growth and nutrient uptake by sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench] genotypes to varying fertility levels. Genotype ‘SPH 960’ proved superior in producing higher number of green leaves/plant, leaf-area index and dry-matter accumulation than other genotypes. In ‘SPH 960’, increase in panicle, length, panicle diameter, panicle weight and grains/panicle resulted in significant increase of grain yield than rest of the genotypes. This genotype also removed more phosphorus and nitrogen from the soil. However, genotype ‘SPH 792’ recorded maximum stover yield, fresh fodder yield and potassium uptake. The net return and benefit: cost ratio were also highest in ‘SPH 960’. Application of 80 kg N + 40 kg P2O5/ha not only increased the growth and yield attributes but also increased the grain yield, stover yield, harvest index, fresh fodder yield, uptake of N, P and K significantly which resulted in higher net return and benefit: cost ratio.
Fertility levels, Growth, Sorghum genotype, Uptake, Yield
