The Effect of Sulfur and Cutting Height on the Growth Characteristics of Sorghum Crop (Buhooth 70)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the 2022 season at the Research Center of the College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences - University of Baghdad, with the aim of studying the effect of agricultural sulfur levels and cutting heights, as well as their interaction, on the growth characteristics of sorghum (Variety Buhooth 70). The experiment included four levels of agricultural sulfur (0, 1, 2, and 3 tons S ha-1) and three cutting heights (10, 15, and 20 cm). The experiment was conducted according to a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with split-plots arrangement, with three replications and two cuts. Samples were taken at the beginning of the flowering stage, and the following characteristics were studied: plant height, stem diameter, leaf number, leaf area, nodes, and internodes. The results indicated a significant effect of agricultural sulfur addition on all studied characteristics. The treatment with the highest sulfur level (3 tons S ha-1) and both the first and second cuts recorded the highest mean for plant height, stem diameter, leaf number, leaf area, nodes, and internodes, with values of (200.6 cm, 0.737 cm, 8.46, 1434 cm2, 8.08) for the first cut respectively, and (242.7 cm, 1.8 cm, 13.44, 4243 cm2, 8.389) for the second cut respectively. Cutting height also had a significant effect on most of the study’s characteristics, but only in the second cut. The treatment with a cutting height of 20 cm showed the highest mean for plant height, stem diameter, leaf number, and leaf area, with values of (244.6 cm, 1.627 cm, 12.82, 3974 cm2) respectively. The interaction between the two study factors also had a significant effect in the second cut, with the combination of 3 tons S ha-1 and 20 cm cutting height showing the highest mean for plant height and stem diameter, reaching (286.8 cm, 2.213 cm) respectively.