Effect of mycorrhizal provision and watering frequency on productivity and fresh material of forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench)

Abstract

Sorghum is a cereal crop that has the potential to be developed as animal feed. Sorghum plant experiencing drought stress will decrease their productivity. Efforts to overcome this problem are by adding mycorrhizae. Mycorrhizae increase the ability of plants to adapt to the environment in the form of absorption of water and nutrients. This study aimed to determine the productivity of sorghum (plant height increase, plant length increase, number of leaves and stem diameter) and fresh weight of sorghum plant. The research treatments were mycorrhizal levels and watering frequency using a completely randomized design with a 3x3 factorial pattern. The mycorrhizal fungi provision consisted of three levels, namely without mycorrhizal (M0), mycorrhizal 10 g/polybag (M10), and mycorrhizal 20 g/polybag (M20). The frequency of watering consisted of watering everyday (A1), watering every four days (A4), and watering every eight days (A8). The provision of mycorrhizae significantly affected the productivity of sorghum and fresh weight of sorghum (p<0.05). The difference in watering frequency affected the increase in sorghum plant height (p<0.05). However, it did not significantly affect the increase in length, stem diameter, number of leaves, and fresh weight of sorghum. In conclusion, mycorrhizae can significantly improved the productivity of sorghum plants developed in areas with high drought levels.