Relative impact of in-situ moisture conservation practices on growth parameter, root development and yield attributes of sorghum varieties under rainfed condition

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy season (kharif) of at Soil Conservation and water Management Farm, C.S. Azad University of agriculture and technology Kanpur to find out the relative impact of in- situ moisture conservation practices and fertility levels on sorghum varieties under rainfed condition. Various in-situ moisture conservation practices brought about enhancement in almost all growth parameters of sorghum crop namely, plant height, plant girth, plant canopy, root development, yield (grain and stover), yield attributes, The highest improvement was recorded under the treatment i.e. farmer practice + ridging and furrowing + mulching and improvement was found in the order of farmer practice + ridging + furrowing + mulching > farmer practice + mulching > farmer practice + ridging and furrowing > farmer practice + dhaincha mulching. The highest mean grain yield (32.67 q ha-1), stover yield (109.48 q ha-1) was recorded under farmer practice + ridging and furrowing + mulching in- situ moisture conservation practices. Similarly maximum mean yield (30.39 q ha-1), stover yield (102.02 q ha-1), was observed in N80 P40 K 40 fertility level. And higher mean grain yield (28.66 q ha-1), stover yield (100.42 q ha-1) was calculated in variety, Varsha.