Optimizing Yield of Sorghum (Bio-Fortified cv. Parbhani Shakti) through Land Configuration and Integrated Nutrient Management

Abstract

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is an important cereal crop grown in semi-arid regions due to its drought and heat tolerance. In the Marathwada region of Maharashtra, improving land configuration and integrated nutrient management, including nano urea, can enhance kharif sorghum productivity under rainfed conditions. A field experiment was conducted during the kharif season of 2023–24 at the Sorghum Research Station, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani (19.2608° N latitude, 76.77° E longitude), to investigate the effects of land configuration and integrated nutrient management on yield attributes and yield of bio-fortified sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) cv. Parbhani Shakti. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with three replications. The main plot treatments comprised three land configurations, viz., Broad Bed and Furrow (BBF), flat bed and ridges and furrow, while five nutrient management treatments were assigned to subplots, The sub-plot treatments consisted of five fertilizer levels, namely f₁: control (no fertilizer), f₂: 100% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) (80:40:40 kg N:P₂O₅:k₂o ha⁻¹), f₃: 50% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) + nano urea spray at 30 and 45 days after sowing (das), f₄: 75% RDN + nano urea spray at 30 DAS and f₅: Recommended dose of phosphorus and potassium (RDP) + nano urea spray at 15, 30 and 45 DAS. The crop was sown on 17 July 2023 with a spacing of 45 × 15 cm. Results revealed that sorghum grown on BBF recorded significantly higher plant height, test weight, grain yield and stover yield compared to flat bed, with an average grain yield advantage of 12.33 per cent. Nutrient management treatments significantly influenced yield attributes and yield. Application of 100% RDF produced the highest grain and stover yield and increased grain yield by 63 per cent over control, 28.58 per cent over 50% RDN + nano urea (30 and 45 DAS) and 35.58 per cent over 75% RDN + nano urea (30 DAS). The interaction effect indicated that BBF combined with 100% RDF recorded maximum productivity. Thus, adoption of BBF land configuration along with 100% RDF is recommended for achieving higher productivity of kharif sorghum under Marathwada conditions.