Response of rabi sorghum (sorghum bicolor) to seed priming and foliar nutrition

Experiment was carried out to study the effect of seed priming and foliar spray on growth and yield of rabi sorghum. Foliar spray of KNO₃ @ 2% at 55 days after sowing significantly produced more panicle length (17.19 cm), panicle weight (74.80 g), number of panicles m⁻² (11.33) and number of grains panicle⁻¹ (1934) of rabi sorghum than other foliar spray. The foliar spray of KNO₃ @ 2% at 55 days after sowing significantly produced higher grain (2559 kg ha⁻¹) and fodder yield (5616 kg ha⁻¹) as compared to other foliar spray. The panicle length (18.41 cm) and panicle weight (87.25 g) of rabi sorghum was significantly increased under seeds primed with KNO₃ @ 0.5% for 10–12 hrs as compared to other seed priming treatments. The number of panicles m⁻² and number of grains panicle⁻¹ were significantly increased with seeds primed with KNO₃ @ 0.5% for 10–12 hrs (12.08 panicles m⁻² and 2116 grains panicle⁻¹), respectively than the other seed priming treatments.The seeds primed with KNO₃ @ 0.5% for 10–12 hrs recorded significantly highest grain (2657 kg ha⁻¹), fodder yield (6451 kg ha⁻¹) and biological yield (9108 kg ha⁻¹) as compared to other treatments and it was at par with seeds primed with KH₂PO₄ @ 0.5% for 10–12 in respect of grain yield (2588 kg ha⁻¹).