Effect of nutrient and weed management on forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) under rainfed condition

A field experiment was conducted during 2000–01 to 2003–04 at Pali-Marwar, Rajasthan to study the effect of nutrient and weed management on yield of forage sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] under rainfed condition. The experiment was laid out in split-plot design with 3 replications. Application of 5 t FYM/ha + 50% recommended dose of fertilizer 30 kg N and 8.75 kg P/ha significantly increased green and dry fodder yields of sorghum by 35.1 and 35.7% over the control. This treatment also caused highest uptake of N and P by sorghum. The effect of FYM treated plots on water-use efficiency was significantly higher over the control. Pre-emergence application of atrazine @ 0.5 kg/ha + 1 hoeing or interculture with peg tooth-weeder at 35 days after sowing, being on a par among themselves, caused least weed population and weed dry weight and significantly increased green and dry fodder yields of sorghum by 66–67%. Application of 5 t FYM/ha + 50% recommended dose of fertilizer resulted in the highest mean net return over the control. Pre-emergence application of atrazine alone or atrazine + interculture with peg tooth-weeder at 35 days after sowing gave high net returns and benefit: cost ratio.