The influence of N-fertility on the adverse effects of water deficit on seedling growth and on the recovery after relief from water stress in two sorghum genotypes, CSH-6 and local differing in grain yield potential, was investigated. The plants grown with added N suffered more reduction in drymatter and leaf area during water stress than those grown on native fertility. But the N-fertilised plants recovered faster after relief from water stress. During recovery, leaf expansion was faster than stem extension. Addition of N increased net assimilation rate as well as leaf area during recovery. Ability to recover after relief from water stress could not be attributed to better root growth under added N. Both hybrid and local were affected by water sterss equally but the former recovered better than the latter.
