Effect of Seed Rate on Yield and Quality of Fodder Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Monench) Genotypes

The experimental soil was clay in texture, slightly alkaline in reaction, medium in available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. The results revealed that seed rate of 45kg/ha recorded maximum dry matter accumulation at 40 DAS and at harvest. The percent increase in green and dry fodder yield of this seed rate over seed rate of 30 and 35 kg/ha were 14.21, 21.91 and 7.41, 11.02 respectively. Seed rate of 45kg/ha recorded significantly higher N and P uptake over 40, 35 and 30 seed rate/ha but N and P content did not influence significantly by increased seed rate. Seed rate of 45kg/ha recorded NFE content over rest of the seed rate but found at with 40kg/ha. The percent increase in green and dry fodder yield was of this variety CSV 28 and CSV 15 was 8.79, 10.94 and 9.80, 21.16 respectively. It was found statistically at par with CSV 23. Variety Partap Chari 1080 recorded significantly higher nitrogen content and its uptake, crude protein, mineral ash and ether extract over rest of the genotypes except genotypes’ CSV 23. On the other hand variety CSV 15 recorded maximum crude fiber content, TDN and NFE. Variety Pratap Chari 1080 recorded significantly higher uptake of crude protein, crude fiber, mineral ash, ether extract, NFE and TDN over variety CSV 23, CSV28 and CSV 15.