Response of fodder sorghum to irrigation scheduling and nitrogen levels

Irrigation scheduling is a useful technique that improves water use efficiency and increases crop yield. Nitrogen plays a significant role in the growth and development of crop plants. A field experiment was conducted at Central Research Farm (Gayeshpur), Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia during March to May 2011 to find out the effect of different irrigation scheduling I₁(without irrigation), I₂(irrigation at 20 DAS), I₃(irrigation at 40 DAS) and I₄ (irrigation at 20 and 40 DAS) and nitrogen levels N₁(no nitrogen), N₂(60 kg/ha), N₃(90 kg/ha) and N₄(120 kg/ha) along with 40 kg/ha each of P₂O₅ and K₂O on growth, yield and water use efficiency of fodder sorghum. Irrigation and nitrogen had favourable effects on growth and yield of the crop. The results showed that two irrigations at different stages (I₄) responded positively as compared to other treatments. However magnitude of water use efficiency attained the highest level (99.75 kg/ha/mm) under without irrigation treatment (I₁). Irrespective of growth stages a continuous increasing trend with increase in nitrogen level was recorded for leaf area index (LAI). Similar trend was also recorded for plant height, green fodder yield, dry matter yield and water use efficiency.