Effect of splitting of nitrogen dose and cutting management on yield, quality and economics of fodder sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench)

A field experiment was conducted on clayey soil at the Instructional cum Research Farm of Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur (C.G), to study the “Effect of splitting of nitrogen dose and cutting management on yield, quality and economics of fodder sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench)” of variety CSH-43 MF, during the Kharif season of 2024. The experiment followed a factorial randomized block design, comprising of 16 treatment combinations of four nitrogen levels with its splitting at basal, 30 DAS, first and second cut, Four nitrogen levels are N₁:100 kg ha⁻¹ (40+20+20+20 kg ha⁻¹), N₂:120 kg ha⁻¹ (50+20+25+25 kg ha⁻¹), N₃:140 kg ha⁻¹ (50+30+30+30 kg ha⁻¹), and N₄:160 kg ha⁻¹ (60+30+35+35 kg ha⁻¹) and four different cutting managements of C₁: first cut at 50 DAS+ second cut at 80 DAS + third cut at 110 DAS; C₂: first cut at 50 DAS + second cut at 90 DAS + third cut at 130 DAS; C₃: first cut at 60 DAS + second cut at 90 DAS + third cut at 120 DAS; and C₄: first cut at 60 DAS + second cut at 100 DAS + third cut at 140 DAS, each replicated three times. Results revealed that application of 160 kg N ha⁻¹ in four splits recorded maximum green fodder yield (497 q ha⁻¹), dry fodder yield (29 q ha⁻¹), green fodder productivity (1.33 q ha⁻¹ day⁻¹), dry fodder productivity (0.23 q ha⁻¹ day⁻¹) and crude protein yield (2.91 q ha⁻¹). Cutting management with first cut at 60 DAS, second cut at 90 DAS, and third cut at 120 DAS resulted in the highest total green fodder yield (485 q ha⁻¹), dry fodder yield (29.7 q ha⁻¹), green fodder productivity (1.35 q ha⁻¹ day⁻¹), dry fodder productivity (0.24 q ha⁻¹ day⁻¹), and crude protein yield (2.88 q ha⁻¹). The highest net returns (₹87,209 ha⁻¹) and benefit-cost ratio (3.43) were obtained under the combination of 160 kg N ha⁻¹ with cutting at 60, 90, and 120 DAS. It can be concluded that for maximizing fodder yield and profitability in Chhattisgarh, application of 160 kg N ha⁻¹ in four splits with cutting at 60, 90, and 120 DAS is most effective.