Forage Sorghum Research Articles

Nitrogen fertilizer source, rate, placement, and application timing effect on sorghum (grain and forage) and corn grain yields

AbstractIdentifying the limiting nutrient, fertilizer source, rate, placement, additives, and timing of application are critical components of fertilizer management. The objective of this study was to quantify the impact of nitrogen (N) fertilizer source, rate, placement method, additives, application timing, and environment on yields of grain sorghum, forage sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench], and corn (for grain, Zea mays L.). Independent field experiments were conducted at 13 different environments in Kansas from 2008 through 2013 on grain sorghum, forage sorghum, and corn. Treatments were an incomplete factorial combination of four fertilizer placement methods, three fertilizer types, five fertilizer additives, three fertilizer application times, and six fertilizer rates that varied by location and across years. Results showed grain and forage sorghum yields responded to N fertilizer in environments that were not extremely dry (<136 mm) or wet (>651 mm). Corn responded to N fertilizer application only in high‐precipitation environments. For grain sorghum, where rate × placement × source × additive interaction was significant, broadcast application of urea (source) at high rates (67–134 kg N ha−1), with summer application timing, or with additive in winter (with environmentally smart nitrogen [ESN]) resulted in up to 43% greater yield compared with application of urea‐ammonium nitrate (UAN; source) and surface band (placement) at 67 kg ha−1 without additives. In the one site‐year where forage sorghum responded to fertilizer application, forage yields with preplant application of UAN at 56–140 kg ha−1 were 164% greater than the control. For corn, application of either urea or UAN fertilizer, UAN in coulter or surface band, with ESN blend, applied at planting, and at highest rates (160 kg ha−1) resulted in best yields compared with the alternatives and 110% greater yield compared with the unfertilized control. We concluded that fertilizer rate is an important management component as it consistently affected yield regardless of crop considered. Fertilizer placement and timing have crop‐specific importance as they were significant for only corn, but the main effect of additives (N stabilizers) was not significant for any of the crops. Environment and crop type influenced crop response to N fertilizer rate, timing, placement, and additives.

Identification of diverse forage sorghum genotypes based on cluster analysis

Identification of diverse forage sorghum genotypes based on cluster analysis

Screening suitable legumes for living mulches to support nitrogen dynamics and weed control in a durum wheat-forage sorghum crop sequence

Relay intercropping of service legumes (living mulch) is a valuable agroecological practice to support nutrient availability, yield and non-chemical weed control in a crops sequence, if suitable legumes are chosen. This study tested the suitability of eight legume living mulches for relay intercropping in durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) evaluating their effects on the subsequent forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) in a Mediterranean low-input cereal-based cropping system. Legumes include perennial (Medicago sativa, Medicago lupulina, Trifolium repens, Hedysarum coronarium), annual (Trifolium incarnatum, Trifolium resupinatum) and annual self-seeding (Trifolium subterraneum, Medicago polymorpha) species. A plot experiment repeating two times a wheat-sorghum crop sequence, was carried out in Central Italy to assess the effects of relay intercropping of legumes on agronomical and economic performance of the associated wheat and subsequent sorghum. The legumes were undersown in the already developed durum wheat in late winter. They were maintained after wheat harvest and used as green manure by biomass chopping and plowing in the following spring at sorghum sowing time. None of the intercropped legumes affected N uptake or grain protein content of the companion wheat with respect to the control (wheat sole crop). In the spring before sorghum sowing, N input from legume biomass residues was assessed and it sensibly changed according to legume species, ranging from 1.2 (T. incarnatum) to 182 kg ha−1 (H. coronarium). The legume treatments significantly affected the N uptake in the subsequent sorghum and it ranged from 20.2 to 172.6 kg ha−1. Without the use of additional external nitrogen input, average sorghum dry biomass production preceded by H. coronarium (13.3 t ha−1), T. repens (11.8 t ha−1), T. subterraneum (11.0 t ha−1) and M. sativa (9.3 t ha−1) was in line with the productive level under conventional conditions. Biomass residues of M. sativa significantly reduced the total weed biomass in sorghum by 65% compared with the control. In sorghum, preceding legumes such as T. resupinatum and T. incarnatum promoted dicotyledonous weed growth. Hedysarum coronarium and T. repens were the best legumes for relay intercropping in the low-input wheat-sorghum crop sequence under Mediterranean conditions of this study according to agronomic and economic evaluation. These legumes were able to increase soil nitrogen content allowing to significantly reduce external nitrogen fertilization while optimizing sorghum production. When gross income is calculated at cropping system level, most legumes provide a positive economic balance.

Enhancing salt stress tolerance of forage sorghum by foliar application of ortho-silicic acid

Enhancing salt stress tolerance of forage sorghum by foliar application of ortho-silicic acid

Intercropping Forage Sorghum with Sunnhemp at Different Seeding Rates to Improve Forage Production

Forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is well established in the Texas High Plains as a drought-tolerant forage that often requires additional feed to provide adequate protein for livestock. Intercropping sunnhemp (Crotalaria juncea L.), a legume, with forage sorghum, may increase crude protein. However, the optimal intercrop seeding ratio of sunnhemp to sorghum to improve crude protein content and maintain sufficient biomass is unknown. A two-year field experiment was conducted near Canyon, TX, USA, in 2020 and 2021 using sunnhemp intercropped at three seeding rates (16.8, 33.6, and 50.4 kg ha−1) with forage sorghum at four seeding rates (0, 2.8, 5.6, and 11.2 kg ha−1) under drip irrigation. This study was conducted to (1) evaluate growth potential for sunnhemp in a semiarid environment, (2) find a seeding ratio that can maintain forage sorghum dry matter production and improve forage quality, and (3) determine if a midseason harvest can be supported and further improve quality of the forage produced. Midseason, full-season, regrowth biomass, and forage quality were evaluated. Results indicated that a sunnhemp–forage-sorghum intercrop produced dry matter comparable to forage sorghum when sufficient heat units were obtained in the growing season. Forage with higher nutritive value was produced when the intercrop was harvested twice.

Study of Correlation and Path Coefficient Analysis for Different Morphological Characters in Forage Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench)

This research was conducted to investigate the correlation and path coefficient analysis of thirty three genotypes for green fodder yield and its attributes of forage sorghum. The experimental material was planted in Completely Randomized Block Design (RBD)in three replication during Kharif in the year 2019-20 at Crop Research Centre, SVPUA&T, Modipuram, Meerut - 250110 (U.P.). The study of association and path analysis evaluation carried out using the ten green fodder yield traits, viz., days to 50% flowering, plant height, leaf length, leaf breadth, leaf area, stem girth, leaves per plant, leaf stem ratio, total soluble solids and green fodder yield per plant. There is significant and positive correlation with green fodder yield per plant was exhibited with stem girth, leaves per plant, leaf length, leaf breadth, leaf stem ratio and total soluble solids at genotypic and phenotypic level. While leaf area showed the maximal direct effect on green fodder yield per plant followed by stem girth, leaves per plant and leaf stem ratio. There for selection for these traits is advisable for improving the character of green fodder yield.

Effects of Silicon Alone and Combined with Organic Matter and Trichoderma harzianum on Sorghum Yield, Ions Accumulation and Soil Properties under Saline Irrigation

The action of silicon as a salt stress mitigator has been investigated in isolation, and its combined efficacy with other salt stress mitigators needs to be addressed. This work verified whether silicon, in combination with organic matter and Trichoderma harzianum, enhances the production of forage sorghum under saline irrigation and its effects on soil properties. The field experiment was conducted in Parnamirim (PE), a semiarid region of Brazil. Forage sorghum (Sorghum sudanense (Piper) Stapf) was irrigated with saline water (3.12 dS m−1) and subjected to the application of non-silicon, silicon alone, and silicon combined with Trichoderma and organic matter over three consecutive cuts (every three months after germination). Silicon applied in combination significantly increased the content of nutrient ions K+, P, Ca2+, and Mg2+ in sorghum leaves, stems, and panicles and increased P content in the soil by 170, 288, and 92% for the first, second, and third cuts, respectively. When silicon was applied in combination, sorghum’s dry and fresh matter (total yield for the three cuts) increased to 62.53 and 182.43 t ha−1, respectively. In summary, applying silicon (Si) combined with Trichoderma and organic matter promotes higher nutrient ion contents in soil and sorghum plants and a higher forage sorghum yield.

Quality of mixed silages of sorghum, BRS Capiaçu grass, and cactus pear in a semiarid region of Brazil

ABSTRACT The study aimed to assess the impact of mixed silages of biomass sorghum and BRS Capiaçu with cactus pear on the fermentative profile and nutritional value. The silages included forage sorghum cv. Volumax, biomass sorghum cv. ‘BRS 716,’ BRS Capiaçu grass, a mix of 60% biomass sorghum ‘BRS 716’ with 40% Opuntia ficus indica Mill (‘Gigante’) cactus pear (based on fresh matter), and a mix of 60% BRS Capiaçu grass with 40% Opuntia ficus indica Mill (‘Gigante’) cactus pear (based on fresh matter). The experiment followed a randomized experimental design with five treatments and eight repetitions. The highest gas losses (P < 0.01) and lowest dry matter recovery (DMR; P < 0.01) were observed in the BRS Capiaçu grass and BRS Capiaçu grass with cactus pear silages. The lactic acid concentration in the biomass sorghum with cactus pear silage was 49.96% higher than in the Volumax sorghum silage . Volumax sorghum and ‘BRS 716’ biomass silages demonstrated higher DM contents (P < 0.01; mean 33.44%) compared to other silages. There was no significant difference (P = 0.24) among silages regarding the potentially degradable insoluble fraction of the DM, with a mean of 51.75%. The mixed silage of biomass sorghum with cactus pear exhibited lower losses and higher DMR.

PSXIV-12 Evaluation of an Ensiled, Self-Fed Diet for Backgrounding Beef Cattle

Abstract Self-feeding of ensiled forages consists in allowing the animals to feed from the silo face through a physical barrier. Energy, protein, and mineral supplements are offered separately in free-choice portable feeders. Compared with offering a total mixed ration, the self-feeding system could result in differences in ensiled forage and supplement intake and may increase animal performance variability. Ensiling a complete diet may contribute to overcome these drawbacks. This study compared the performance of calves that consumed an ensiled backgrounding diet from a silo-bag face (self-feeding, SF) with that of calves fed a diet mixed and delivered daily in a feed bunk (TMR). A single forage sweet sorghum crop was harvested and bagged to be used in the TMR treatment, or harvested and added a dry supplement (45% finely-ground corn grain, 50% extruded soybean meal, and 5% vitamin-mineral premix without ionophore) during bagging, using an adjustable-discharge hopper mounted above the bagger’s packing rotor, to be used in the SF treatment. Regardless of treatment, the diet consisted of 61% forage sorghum and 39% dry supplement (DM basis; 9.9 and 11.6% CP, 42.3 and 43.8% NDF, and 9.8 and 9.5% starch for TMR and SF diets, respectively). Bagged feeds were allowed to ensile for 50 d before experiment began. Two hundred fifty-two, non-implanted Angus calves (224 ± 4.6 kg) were blocked by body weight (BW) and coat color resulting in 6 blocks and 1 pen/block per treatment with 12 or 30 animals per TMR or SF pen, respectively; more animals were required in the SF pens to maintain feed fresh and reduce spoilage, though BW was measured on 12 calves. Pens assigned to SF treatment were each equipped with a silo bag blocked off with an iron fence. The TMR animals were fed ad libitum once a day. In SF pens, feed was carved from the silo-bag face manually twice daily using a pitchfork onto a pile on the fence’s bag side. Cattle were fed for 70 d and held off feed and water for 16 h to record initial (day 1) and final BW (day 70). Data were analyzed as a randomized complete block design. Rate of BW gain, DMI, and DMI relative to BW were greater (P &amp;lt; 0.01; Table 1) for SF calves compared with TMR, resulting in greater (P = 0.03) final BW but similar (P = 0.36) ADG:DMI. Coefficient of variation (CV) of final BW and ADG and the increase in CV of BW did not differ (P ≥ 0.93) between treatments. Similar feed efficiency and animal performance variability were achieved by feeding an ensiled ration offered in a self-feeding system or a traditional TMR. The former might represent a simple and feasible feeding alternative for small-size beef cattle operations.

PSX-27 The Impact of Feeding Young Nellore Bulls with a Low Concentrate Diet for Different Periods Followed By a High Concentrate Diet on Dry Matter Intake and Performance

Abstract In Brazil, it is common practice to feed young bulls a low-concentrate diet (LCD) after weaning, followed by a high-concentrate diet (HCD) during the finishing phase to optimize animal growth while reducing the cost of concentrated feed. By restricting the concentrate intake during the early phase, the animals can potentially adapt better to a high-energy diet during the finishing phase, leading to improved performance. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of different LCD feeding periods after weaning, followed by feeding a HCD, on dry matter intake (DMI), average daily gain (ADG), feed efficiency (G:F), and final body weight (BW) of young Nellore bulls. Thirty-two young Nellore bulls (average initial BW = 265 ± 5 kg; age = 7 ± 1 mo) were used in a completely randomized design into four groups (n = 8/group) and assigned to receive one of 4 treatments containing different periods of LCD. The LCD consisted of 800 g/kg of forage sorghum silage and 200 g/kg of concentrate, while the HCD contained 200 g/kg of corn silage and 800 g/kg of concentrate. The diets were formulated according to BR-CORTE (2016) to achieve ADG of 0.6 kg/day and 1.2 kg/day for the LCD and HCD, respectively. The experiment lasted 154 days (14 days for adaptation to the HCD). The LCD and HCD feeding periods respectively were 0 and 140 (T0), 28 and 112 (T28), 56 and 84 (T56), and 84 and 56 (T84) days. All animals were fed ad libitum in an electronic feeder (INTERGADO, Intergado Ltd., Contagem, MG, Brazil), and individual daily feed intake was recorded. The bulls were weighed at the beginning and the end of the LCD and HCD feeding periods after undergoing 16 h of fasting to measure BW and ADG of both periods. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC) assuming the significance level of 0.05. There was no evidence that different LCD feeding periods impacted DMI (P = 0.99), ADG (P = 0.59), or G:F (P = 0.48) during the LCD feeding period. The DMI during the HCD feeding period of T0 did not differ from the others, the T28 was not significantly different from the T84, and the T56 treatment was greater than T28 and T84 (P &amp;lt; 0.05). No significant difference was found between the treatments for ADG (P = 0.09) and G:F (P = 0.98) during the HCD feeding period. The T0 had the heaviest final BW, while there was no difference between the T28 and T56 groups, and the T84 group had the lightest final BW(P &amp;lt; 0.01). Given that the final BW was heavier for T0, it may be inferred that there are no benefits to using LCD feeding periods.

Cover crop residue quality regulates litter decomposition dynamics and soil carbon mineralization kinetics in semi-arid cropping systems

Cover crop residue addition provides several soil health benefits and serves as a precursor for storing soil organic carbon (SOC). However, information on residue decomposition dynamics and its contribution to soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling in arid and semi-arid environments is limited. This study evaluated cover crop residue decomposition in field conditions and C mineralization kinetics in laboratory conditions. For the field experiment, approximately 20 g of Austrian winter pea (Pisum sativum subsp. arvense L.), turnip (Brassica rapa subsp. rapa L.), and triticale (×Triticosecale Wittmack) cover crop residues were kept in litter bags and placed on the soil surface before subsequent forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) planting in ongoing cover crops study plots. Litter bags were collected every other week (12 destructive samplings) to evaluate the remaining dry matter and C and N contents. The decomposition data were plotted with first order kinetics and exponential models to describe the model fit. To study C mineralization kinetics, a 10-week incubation was set up in a laboratory with Austrian winter pea, turnip, and triticale cover crops and native grass, wheat, and sorghum residues. Carbon mineralization rates were evaluated with three statistical models (first order kinetics and single and double exponential). The exponential model best described the cover crop residue decomposition kinetics in the field. After 98 days, the residue decomposition was higher with Austrian winter pea (47 %), followed by turnip and triticale with ∼40 % biomass decomposition. Residue types and quality both affected the decomposition rates. The C mineralization rate correlated with initial N content (r = 0.87, P < 0.05), C: N ratio (r = −0.88, P < 0.05), and lignin: N (r = −0.87, P < 0.05). While the single exponential model explained field decomposition dynamics, the double exponential decay model best fitted the observed C mineralization trend among the three models. The decay models from our study can be applied to estimate the decomposition dynamics of other winter cover crop residues in similar agroecosystems. This study demonstrated that selecting suitable cover crops and mixtures is critical for maximizing soil C sequestration and N availability in subsequent crops in cover crop-integrated semi-arid cropping systems.

Perubahan Status Energi Pada Proses Reproduksi Induk Domba Garut Yang Diberi Pakan Komplit Berbasis Hijauan Sorgum dan Indigofera

Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) is an indicator of the efficiency of protein use in metabolism which is correlated with energy adequacy status. This study aimed to analyze and measure differences in energy adequacy status of arrowroot ewes in the premating, pregnancy, and lactation phases that were fed a complete diet of sorghum indigofera. The method used experimentally with Completely Randomized Design (CRD). There were 2 feed treatments, namely field grass (RL) as control and complete feed based on forage sorghum indigofera with a composition of 50% sorghum silage + 40% indigofera hay + 10% fine bran (SI) and repeated 14 times. The data obtained were analyzed using a two sample t-test. The results showed that there was a decrease in BUN in both treatments in each phase, but overall the average BUN value did not show a significant difference (P&gt;0.05). Significant differences (P&lt;0.05) only occurred at the beginning of pregnancy, mid and late lactation with BUN values of 21.18±1.04; 13.25±0.60; 15.18±0.67 for RL and 18, respectively. ,61±1.10; 15.86±0.82; 12.43±0.56 for SI. So it can be concluded that complete feed based on sorghum indigofera has the same energy change status as field grass, and in SI it can be used as a substitute for field grass.

CONSTRUCTION OF A SCHEME FOR THE USE OF FODDER CROPS FOR THE DRY STEPPE ZONE OF KAZAKHSTAN

Pasture keeping of farm animals in the conditions of the dry steppe zone is a labor-intensive process. To provide stable animals with feed, we have developed the structure of a hay-pasture conveyor. This method is based on the use of forage crops, scientifically based selection of species composition, productivity level, direction of economic purpose. The developed composition uses mixtures of perennial herbs consisting of granary, esparcet and alfalfa, and also uses seeds of Sudanese grass, fodder sorghum. The main attention is drawn to the fact that the crops of Sudanese grass are mown in the "tubing - earing" phase. To obtain a good grass of the Sudanese grass, mowing was carried out at a height of 10-12 cm in the phase of throwing out the panicle. The sowing of fodder sorghum for green fodder was carried out in the second decade of May, since the warm period favorably affects the increase in vegetative mass. In the panicle phase, forage sorghum is recommended to be drained in October-November, and in warm winter conditions it is used as a winter pasture. At the end of the pasture season, the autumn cold comes. During this period, the animals return to the pens again, where feeding is carried out with harvested hay. The developed structure of the hay-pasture conveyor allows for a long time to receive pasture feed and increase the pasture period by 90-95 days due to the presence of annual and perennial grasses in the scheme. The haymaking and pasture conveyor is strongly influenced by weather and climatic conditions, under favorable conditions it is possible to obtain from a unit area from 113.7 to 125 c/ha of pasture grass green mass.

Determination of the Most Efficient Forage Sorghum Irrigation Scheduling Strategies in the U.S. Central High Plains Using the AquaCrop Model and Field Experiments

The current status of water resources in the U.S. Central High Plains necessitates adopting water conservation practices to move toward a sustainable agricultural economy. Identifying proper irrigation scheduling techniques is a conservative practice to maintain the sustainability of the agricultural systems. However, conducting field experiments is time and money consuming. Thus, the utilization of crop models, such as AquaCrop, could be a convenient alternative to field experiments. The FAO AquaCrop model was calibrated and validated for simulating forage sorghum yield response to various deficit irrigation conditions in a semi-arid region. Afterwards, the model was used to investigate the efficiency of the pre-season and in-season irrigation scheduling scenarios. In this study, the soil water status at the planting time was considered as the indicator of the pre-season irrigation level. Therefore, the pre-season irrigation scenarios were arranged as the replenishment of soil water deficiency at the time of planting at up to 30, 50, and 100% of the soil’s total available water for the first 60 cm of soil depth and the same replenishment levels for the entire crop root zone (150 cm soil depth). Then, AquaCrop long-term (37 years) simulations of forage sorghum biomass and irrigation water use efficiency reactions to three levels of maximum allowable depletion (MAD) (40, 55, and 70%) were compared to three fixed irrigation interval (4, 6, and 10 days) scenarios by considering six pre-season irrigation conditions (36 scenarios). The scenarios analysis found the 10-day irrigation interval and the MAD levels of 55% and 70% to be the most efficient irrigation scheduling strategies if combined with pre-season irrigation that brought the crop root zone (0–150 cm soil depth) to field capacity. Moreover, the 40% MAD application was the least efficient strategy. This study’s outputs can be a baseline for establishing forage sorghum irrigation scheduling in the U.S. Central High Plains. However, exploring the interactions of irrigation scheduling strategies with other irrigation and agronomic practices, such as salinity management and fertilizer application, is highly recommended.

Effect of Substitution of Corn (&lt;em&gt;Zea mays&lt;/em&gt;) Fodder with Sorghum (&lt;em&gt;Sorghum bicolor&lt;/em&gt; var. Numbu) Fodder on Nutrient Digestibility and Daily Weight Gain of Beef Cattle

Purpose: Corn fodder is often used for fattening beef cattle, which compete for feeding other livestock. However, Sorghum fodder has a nutritional value equivalent to corn fodder. This study aims to determine the effect of substituting of corn fodder with sorghum fodder on the body weight gain of cattle and also the digestibility of nutrients.Research method: Nine local beef cattle with weights ranging from 139-239 kg were allocated in a completely randomized design with 3 treatments and 3 replications. The treatments given were: R0 = basal ration (30% corn fodder + 70% concentrate); R1 =15% corn fodder +15% sorghum fodder +70% concentrate; and R2 = 30% sorghum fodder + 70% concentrate. The data were analyzed using covariance analysis. Body weight gain; digestibility of dry matter, digestibility of organic matter, digestibility of crude protein, and digestibility of crude fibre were measured.Findings: Based on the analysis of covariance, the study showed that there was no significant difference (P&gt;0.05) between substituted sorghum fodder and ration consumption, body weight gain, ration conversion, and digestibility of feed substances (dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, and crude fibre) in beef cattle. The results showed that body weight gain ranged from 0.63-1.18 kg/head/day, feed conversion ratio ranged from 5.12-9.66, and digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, and crude fibre, 76.29%-79.10%; 79.16%-82.16%; 72.47%-76.13%; and 45.46%-46.70% respectively. This study revealed that Tebon corn can be completely (100%) substituted by fodder sorghum in beef cattle rations.Research limitations: This research was conducted at the farmer level, which causes the diversity of cattle used as experimental material to be quite high. Therefore, in analyzing the data, we used covariance analysis.Originality/Value: This research informs that the use of forage sorghum can replace corn fodder up to a limit of 100%.

Testing Nitrate Accumulation in Forage Sorghum

Testing Nitrate Accumulation in Forage Sorghum

Study of Genetic Diversity in Forage Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench

Analysis of genetic divergence through Mahalanobis D2 statistics exhibited considerable genetic diversity among genotypes. The thirty genotypes of forage sorghum were grouped into 6 clusters. The cluster II (14 genotypes) and cluster I (7 genotypes) having the maximum number of genotypes. This envisaged that the genotypes grouped within a particular cluster were more or less genetically similar to each other and apparent wide diversity was mainly due to the remaining genotypes distributed over rest of the other clusters. Percent contribution and expression of characters towards the genetic divergence play an important role in selecting the superior genotypes among diverse genotypes. Plant height had maximum contribution towards the genetic divergence followed by green fodder yield, leaf stem ratio and number of leaves per plant and remaining characters noted very low contribution percent towards the genetic divergence. Maximum intra cluster distance was recorded in cluster IV, indicating greater genetic divergence between the genotypes belonging to these clusters and crosses involving genotypes viz., CSV-15, CSV-17, Pant Chari-8, CSV-16 and Pant Chari-7 are suggested. Crosses in the above combinations are expected to provide enough genetic variability to select high green fodder yield and stable segregates in the segregating generations.

Estimation of Combining Ability, Gene Action and Components of Genetic Variation in Forage Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.)

Aims: To Study the combining ability effects and evaluate the genetics of the parents for fodder yield and its component traits in sorghum.&#x0D; Study Design: Randomized block design.&#x0D; Place and Duration of Study: The seeds of F1 hybrids were produced during summer 2022 at Center for Millets Research, S. D. Agricultural University, Deesa.&#x0D; Methodology: Six parental genotypes were used in the experiment, which produced 15 half-diallel crosses in sorghum.&#x0D; Results: The analysis of variance for combining-ability (CA) studies revealed that mean sum of squares due to general combining ability (GCA) were important for most of the characters except the leaf length of blade. Based on the gca effect, the parents CSV 46, IS 3338 and Malwan were good general combiners for green and dry fodder yield per plant. The unit slope of regression line and non- significant t2 value asserted the validity of the additive-dominance model for total plant height, number of leaf per plant, stem diameter, leaf length of blade, leaf width of blade, dry fodder yield per plant and crude protein content in dry fodder. The value of H1 was superior to H2 for most of the characters representing that gene distribution frequency in the parent genotypes was asymmetry and that was supported by the ratio of H2/4H1 (i.e., less than 0.25). The KD/KR components value was greater than one among most of the traits except for number of leaf per plant and crude protein content in dry fodder showed that parents had more dominant genes compared to recessive genes frequency.&#x0D; Conclusion: The ratio of σ2gca/σ2sca being more than unity, which suggested greater role of additive genetic variance in the inheritance of these traits. The genetic components of variance and graphical analysis revealed that different type of gene action were involved for forage yield and components traits in sorghum.

Effect of deficit saline irrigation, tillage and rice straw mulch in wheat‐sorghum cropping system on yield and nutritive value of rainfed forage sorghum in salt‐affected soils

AbstractSoil and groundwater salinity associated with limited rainfall are the challenges for checking salinity build‐up in semi‐arid regions. This field experiment was conducted to test the impact of deficit saline irrigation (DSI) (in winter) with mulching and tillage on salinity build‐up, yield and nutritive value of rainfed‐forage sorghum. Tillage (reduced, conventional and zero), saline water (8.0 dS m−1) irrigation (100%, 80% and 60% of water requirement [WR] in wheat) and mulch were allocated following split factorial layout. DSI with mulching produced at par wheat and sorghum yield compared with 100WR irrigation with harvested rainwater. Mulching improved wheat grain yield and the soil water content by ~13% throughout the cropping season. Forage sorghum yield was increased by DSI and mulching in the previous season compared with irrigation with 100WR saline water. Reduced tillage declined the neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL) with an increase in cell soluble constituents. DSI and mulching also increased the digestible nutrient, crude protein (CP), ash and reduced ADF of sorghum. Soil salinity showed a negative correlation with CP, positive correlation with ADF, ADL and cellulose. Therefore, it is recommended that DSI and reduced tillage with mulching can be a reliable option for productive use of saline soils and water by cropping system intensification. These results also showed the potential for achieving 2030 agenda for sustainable development goals as well as targets of land degradation neutrality in salt‐affected soils by savings irrigation, doubling cropping intensity and preventing salinity build‐up.

Evaluation of forage qualities of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) under varying jeevamrit formulations and their spraying interval

An experiment was conducted at ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom to generate precise information about different jeevamrit formulation and their spraying interval on forage quality of fodder sorghum during summer season of 2022. The treatments consisted of three jeevamrit formulations viz. jeevamrit-1 (5 kg cow dung + 2.5 litre cow urine), jeevamrit-2 (10 kg cow dung + 5 litre cow urine) and jeevamrit-3 (15 kg cow dung + 7.5 litre cow urine); and three spraying intervals viz. spraying at every one week’s interval, spraying at every two week’s interval and spraying at every three week’s interval. The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design with three replications. The results showed that among the different jeevamrit formulations, jeevamrit-3and among the different spraying intervals, spraying at every one week’s interval recorded maximum total dry matter yield, crude protein, ether extract, TDN content, dry matter intake, relative feed quality, net energy for lactation, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content in forage sorghum. However, among the different jeevamrit formulations, jeevamrit-2 and jeevamrit-3; and among the different spraying intervals, spraying of jeevamirt at every one week and every two week’s interval recorded at par values of all the nutritive parameters in fodder sorghum.