THE EFFECT OF RATE, TIME AND METHOD OF NITROGEN APPLICATION ON THE PERFORMANCE OF GRAIN SORGHUM (Sorghun b i c o l o r L. Moench) HYBRID SSH5 (SAMSORG 31)
THE EFFECT OF RATE, TIME AND METHOD OF NITROGEN APPLICATION ON THE PERFORMANCE OF GRAIN SORGHUM (Sorghun b i c o l o r L. Moench) HYBRID SSH5 (SAMSORG 31)
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Date
1987-09
Authors
TARFA, ISHAKU GARGA
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Abstract
A field experiment was conducted during the wet season of
1985 on the I n s t i t u t e for Agricultural Research Farm at Samaru,
Zaria, to study the effect of rate, time, and method of nitrogen
application on the performance of grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor
L. Moench) hybrid SSH5 (Samsorg 31) and to also evaluate the
nitrogen f e r t i l i z e r Use that would result in improvement of i t 's
performance•
Nitrogen f e r t i l i z a t i o n in sorghum significantly increased
plant height, stem diameter, number of internodes per plant and
t o t a l number of leaves per plant but reduced the number of days
to 50 per cent flowering. Yield parameters and yield components
that were increased by nitrogen application include grain yield,
stover yield, weight of grains per panicle, 1000-grain weight,
panicle length, number of primary branches in panicle, threshing
percentage, total dry matter production, grain protein yield,
and number of functional leaves at 14 and 16 weeks after; sowing
(WAS). However, nitrogen application had no significant effect
on number of plants per square metre, number of panicles per
square metre, weight per panicle, grain number per paniclen
total length of ear, grain; stover r a t i o , harvest index,
number of days to hard dough stage, number of days to grain
f i l l i n g , number of functional (green) leaves at 10, 1?, and 18
WAS, and t o t a l nitrogen and crude protein content of grains due
to the moderate i n i t i a l nitrogen status of the soil of the
experimental s i t e . Application of 120 kg N/ha resulted in
significantly higher yields than did the application of 30 kg N/ha
"but not that of 60 kg N/ha with respect to grain and stover
yields in sorghum.
Method of nitrogen application had no significant effecton
all plant growth parameters, yield and yield attributes
considered but the broadcast method of nitrogen application
appeared to be slightly superior to that of the groove method
of application. This may be attributed to uniform application
of fertilizer which resulted in efficient utilization of nitrogen
by the crop.
With timing of nitrogen application on sorghum, significant
effect was observed with respect to number of days to hard dough
stage, stover yield, panicle length, total length of ear, number
of primary branches in panicle, total dry matter production, and
panicle dry weight per plant at physiological maturity, but no
significant effect was observed on other growth, yield and yield
components considered in this study. Application of nitrogen
in two equal splits at three and eight weeks after Bowing was
however, beneficial in terms of grain yield.
For the attainment of high grain yield in serghum hybrid
SSH5, up to 60 kg N/ha should be broadcasted and split applied,
half dose at three weeks and remaining half at eight weeks
after sowing.
Description
A t h e s i s submitted to the Postgraduate School, Ahmadu Bello
University, Zaria, in p a r t i a l fulfillment of the requirement
for the Degree of Master of Science Agronomy.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRONOMY
FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA,
NIGERIA.
SEPTEMBER, 1987
Keywords
EFFECT,, RATE,, METHOD,, NITROGEN,, APPLICATION,, PERFORMANCE,, GRAIN,, SORGHUM,, (Sorghun b i c o l o r L. Moench),, HYBRID,, SSH5,, (SAMSORG 31).