Effect of conservation practices and fertilizer on sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) yield under rainfed conditions of northern India

A field experiment was carried during the rainy seasons of 2011 and 2012 in split-plot design at New Delhi, to study the impact of conservation practices and fertilizer levels on yield of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Monech] under rainfed conditions. Sorghum variety ‘CSH 14’ hybrid was planted using 2 types of tillage (minimum and conventional) and 2 methods of planting (ridges and furrows, and flat bed). For each type of tillage and method of planting three levels of fertilizer were applied. No significant effects of the treatments and interaction was observed at 5% level of significance on the leaves/plant, plant height, stem girth, panicle weight, harvest index and benefit: cost ratio. However, it affected the panicle length, panicle girth, 1,000-seed weight, total cost of production, gross returns and net returns significantly. The plant-moisture content was affected by sowing method and tillage type regardless of fertilizer levels. The highest average grain yield (2.03 tonnes/ha), fodder yield (9.42 tonnes/ha), maximum cost of production ( 7.7×10³/ha), gross returns ( 16.0×10³/ha), net returns ( 8.3×10³/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (2.08) were found under sowing on ridges and furrows in conventional tillage with 100% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF). Yield attributes were affected by rainfall quantity between the 2 crop growing years. The system of ridges and furrows planting method in conventional tillage with 100% RDF for sorghum production, although it consumes higher expenditure (32.7%), but it provides higher return of money (139.1%) as compared to the flat bed planting in minimum tillage with 100% RDF.