Performance of Sweet Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) Cultivars as a Source of Green Fodder Under Varying Levels of Nitrogen in Semi-arid Tropical India

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of sweet sorghum cultivars as a source of green fodder under the varying nitrogen levels. Application of 120 kg N ha−1 recorded significantly taller plants, more number of green leaves/plant, larger leaf length and breadth, higher leaf area than 80 kg N ha−1. The fresh and dry fodder yield showed the significant variation with increase in nitrogen rates from 80 to 120 kg N ha−1. Application of 120 kg N ha−1 increased green and dry fodder yields by 8.86 and 12.1% over 80 kg N ha−1, respectively. Among the cultivars, ‘SSV 74’ (62.89 t ha−1) being on a par with ‘SSV 84’ (58.46 t ha−1), ‘CSH 22SS’ (58.21 t ha−1), ‘CSV 19SS’ (57.62 t ha−1) and ‘CSV 24SS’ (57.01 t ha−1) produced significantly highest green fodder yield over rest of the cultivars. However, ‘RSSV 167’ (49.4 t ha−1) recorded markedly the lowest green fodder yield but noted on par with ‘RSSV 104’ (52.4 t ha−1). Application of 120 kg N ha−1 markedly improved the net returns (₹26,138 ha−1) over 80 kg N ha−1. Among cultivars, ‘SSV 74’ (₹30,145 ha−1) being on a par with ‘SSV 84’ (₹30,145 ha−1), ‘CSH 22SS’ (₹25,920 ha−1) and ‘RSSV 167’ (₹30,145 ha−1) recorded significantly higher net returns as compared to rest of the cultivars.