Productivity enhancement of rabi sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench) through cultivars, manuring and irrigation

A field experiment was conducted for two consecutive rabi seasons of 2021-22 and 2022-23 at ICAR-Indian Institute of Millet Research, Hyderabad to enhance the rabi grain sorghum productivity through cultivar selection, FYM manuring and irrigation. Results indicated that sorghum hybrid (CSH-39R) can boost grain, stover yields and net returns by 8.33, 5.68 and 8.97% over traditional variety ‘M-35-1’ (3.13 t, 6.60 t and ₹ 54,573). FYM application (10 t/ha) enhancing soil moisture holding and nutrient supply has improved the grain, stover yields and net returns by 18.1, 8.93 and 17.1% over no FYM application (2.98 t, 6.50 t and ₹ 51,455). Irrigation has improved grain, stover yields and net returns by 29.6, 17.1 and 21.6% over its rainfed crop (2.84 t, 6.25 t and ₹ 46,903). Interaction between cultivar and FYM indicates that CSH 39-R cultivation with 10 t /ha FYM application as the best from grain yield (3.65 t/ha) point of view. On mean basis, grain yield is highly correlated with the number of grains per ear head (r²=0.96) but has a weak correlation with test weight (r²=0.14). Nutrient (NPK) uptake by sorghum was significantly improved due to irrigation, hybrid and FYM application while Ca, Mg and S uptake was improved with irrigation and FYM addition. However, Fe, Zn and B uptake was not influenced by irrigation, cultivar and FYM application. The findings thus indicate that 10 t FYM, protective irrigation and hybrid cultivation can boost sorghum productivity.