Effect of Integrated Nitrogen Management on growth and Fodder Yield of Sweet Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]

A field experiment was conducted during the kharif season 2018 at the Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, Naini Agricultural Institute, SHUATS, Prayagraj (U.P.) to study effect of integrated nitrogen management on growth and fodder yield of sweet sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] crop. The soil of the experimental field was sandy loam with organic carbon (0.45%) and a soil pH of 7.2. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design consisting of 13 treatments replicated thrice. Treatments consisted of control, 3 levels of inorganic sources of nitrogen viz., N1 (80 %), N2 (60%) and N3 (40%) and 4 organic sources of nitrogen viz., Poultry Manure, Vermicompost, Poultry Manure + Azospirilum (Seed Inoculation) and Vermicompost + Azospirilum (Seed Inoculation) with their levels viz., Poultry Manure (20 % N, 40 % N and 60 % N) and Vermicompost (20 % N, 40 % N and 60 % N). The result revealed that treatment T4-[80% RDN through inorganic source + 20% N through V.C + Azospirillum (Seed inoculation)] recorded significantly higher plant height (152.77 cm) at 75 DAS, dry weight (99.23 g) at 75 DAS, no. of leaves per plant (12.27) at 75 DAS, leaf area index (3.63) at 75 DAS and green fodder yield (41.33 t/ha) whereas crop growth rate (0.48) at 60-75 DAS was found significantly higher in treatment T10 (40% RDN through inorganic source + 60% N through vermicompost). However, relative growth rate at 60-75 DAS was found to be non-significant.