Influence of land leveling and planting pattern on productivity, water use efficiency and economic of sorghum (Sorghum bicolar)

Abstract

This study was conducted at Engineering farm, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, India, during winter 2016-17 using sorghum crop (Sorghum bicolar) to examine the effect of three land leveling (control or unleveled, conventional land leveling and leveling with laser guided land leveler) and three planting systems (ridge and furrow, double row bed planting and triple row bed planting). The laser guided land leveler significantly improved the growth attributes of sorghum as compared to the control whereas the growth attributes were recorded highest under double row bed planting. The highest yield attributes were recorded in laser guided land leveler. The best results of sorghum yield attributes were recorded under double row bed planting. In land leveling, laser guided land leveler significantly improved yield of sorghum (grain and fodder) as compared to control. Whereas, maximum sorghum yield was obtained under double row bed planting over rest planting system. The soil moisture distribution, water saving and water use efficiency were improved under laser guided land leveler with double row bed planting over rest of the treatments. The highest gross return, net return and benefit: cost ratio were obtained under laser guided land leveler with double row bed planting over rest of the treatments.