Evaluation of yield and yield attribute performance of jowar (Sorghum bicolor) under different plant densities and nutrient management practices

Abstract

A field experiment was performed at College Farm, Agricultural College, Aswaroapet, Khammam, Telangana during maghi 2023- 2024. The experiment had been designed in split plot design with sixteen treatments, consisting of four plant densities viz., M1- 2.22 lakh plants ha-1 (30 x 15 cm), M2- 2.22 lakh plants ha-1 (45 x 10 cm), M3- 1.48 lakh plants ha-1 (45 x 15 cm) and M4- 1.66 lakh plants ha-1 (60 x 10 cm) as main plots and four nutrient management practices S1- Farmers practice (2.5 bag DAP i.e., 22.5 kg N ha-1 & 57.5 kg P2O5 ha-1), S2- 100% RDF (80:60:40), S3- 75% RDN + urea spray @ 2 ml lit-1 at 45 DAS + 100% PK and S4- 75% RDNP + Azotobacter + Phosphorous solubilizing bacteria + 100% K as sub plots which replicated thrice. The experimental field soil was sandy loam soils with a pH of 6.9 and EC of 0.1 dS m-1. The experimental soil was medium in organic carbon (0.5%), low in available nitrogen (204.6 kg ha-1), medium in available phosphorous (22.3 kg ha-1) and medium in available potassium (219 kg ha-1). Yield attributes and grain yield were significantly higher in plant densities of 1.48 lakh plants ha-1 (M3- 1798.1 kg ha-1) than 1.66 lakh plants ha-1 (M4- 1669.3 kg ha-1), 2.22 lakh plants ha-1 (M2- 1651.7 kg ha-1) and 2.22 lakh plants ha-1 (M2- 1602.7 kg ha-1). Yield attributes and grain yield were significantly higher in 75% RDNP + Azotobacter + Phosphorous solubilizing bacteria + 100% K (S4- 1896 kg ha-1) than 100% RDF (S2- 1876 kg ha-1), 75% RDN + urea spray @ 2 ml lit-1 at 45 DAS + 100% PK (S3- 1776 kg ha-1) and Farmers practice (S1- 1176 kg ha-1).