Sustainable practices impact and planting date on yield of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench)

Abstract

Environmental stress affects the yield of sorghum. This impact can be reduced by seed stimulation technique and determining the appropriate planting date. An experiment was conducted in the spring and fall seasons of 2022. Randomized complete block design with split-plot arrangement in four replications was used. Planting dates (spring season: February 15th, March 1st, 15th, April 1st, 15th; fall season: June 15th, July 1st, 15th, August 1st, 15th) were assigned to the main plots. Seed stimulation treatments (banana peel extract 35% + citric acid 100 mg L−1 and soaking in distilled water only) were applied to the subplots. The interaction treatment of soaking with banana peel extract + citric acid and the planting date of April 15th showed superiority in traits of head grain number (1743) and total grain yield (6.135 tons ha−1) during the spring season. Seed stimulation treatment with banana peel extract + citric acid on July 1st planting date outperformed in traits of plant dry weight (398.8 g), head grain number (4582), total grain yield (10.82 tons ha−1), and biological yield (67.8 tons ha−1) during the fall season. It can be concluded that seed stimulation with banana peel extract + citric acid improved yield characteristics. Early planting date in the spring season (February 15th, March 1st, or March 15th) or the delay in the fall season (August 1st or August 15th) resulted in less efficient plant performance. This is closely related to the nature of the climatic conditions accompanying crop growth from planting to harvesting. Also, using of agricultural applications related to the use of natural materials could helping hand sustainable agriculture. It can be recommended to soak seeds with banana peel extract + citric acid and adopt the planting date of April 15th for the spring season and July 1st for the fall season to enhance grain yield.