Agronomic Evaluation of Fodder Sorghum Varieties under Different Dates of Sowing

A field study conducted during the summer season of 2018 at S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, to evaluate the sowing time and varieties on growth, yield and quality of fodder sorghum. The results revealed that plant height, dry matter production, leaf area, stem diameter, leaf stem ratio significantly decreased with delay in sowing from I FN of January to II FN of February at all stages of plant growth. Significantly higher crude protein and ash contents were observed with the crop sown during I fortnight of January. Late sowing of the crop during II fortnight of February recorded higher crude fibre. Among various varieties tested, higher growth parameters, green and dry fodder yields were recorded with CSV 32 F than rest of varieties. CSV 32 F has recorded highest crude protein and ash content, while the higher crude fibre content was recorded with CSV 21 F. The highest gross returns, net returns and benefit-cost ratio were obtained when the crop is sown during I FN of January which was significantly superior to other times of sowing. Among tested varieties, CSV 32 F variety recorded significantly higher returns.