Effect of seed dressing on growth, quality and yield of kharif sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Monech)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to know the effect of seed dressing treatments on nutrient dynamics and uptake of kharif sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Monech) at, Research farm Dept. of Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry, VNMKV Agricultural University, Parbhani, Maharashtra during 2017. The experiment consists of nine treatments with three replications in randomized block design. The results revealed that seed dressing with RDF + Zn EDTA @ 3 g per kg of seed recorded significantly higher fresh weight (448.73 gm, 954.50 gm, 676.60 gm), plant height (70.70 cm, 144.26 cm, 144.26 cm), leaf area (538.12, 777.71, 773.90 sq. cm /plant), dry root density (2.68, 2.12, 1.96 g/cm3), dry matter (65.15 gm, 176.41 gm, 163.02 gm) at grand growth flowering and at harvest stage. Also seed dressing with RDF + Zn EDTA @ 3 g per kg of seed recorded significantly higher seed yield (20.22 q ha-1), fodder yield (53.03 q ha-1) and biological yield (73.25 q ha-1). In grain quality the results revealed that, the significantly higher test weight (3.91 gm 100 seeds-1) recorded seed dressing with Zn EDTA @ 3 g per kg of seed.