Enhancing Growth and Yield of Parching Sorghum through Organic Manure Application

Aims: The combination of various sources of organic manures along with liquid organic manures is important to maintain nutrient availability to crop and sustain higher level of soil fertility. The aim is to meet the nutrient demand of parching sorghum as per requirement at different stages through solid and liquid organic manures which can give greater productivity of crops.

Study Design: The experiment was laid in Randomized Complete Block Design with 9 treatments replicated thrice.

Place and Duration of Study: A field experiment was conducted at College of Agriculture, Vijayapur, during Rabi, 2020-21.

Methodology: The treatments were T1-Ghanajeevamrutha based on 100% RDN (recommended dose of Nitrogen) as basal dose, T2-Vermicompost based on 100% RDN as basal dose, T3- T1 + foliar application of 10% vermiwash at 20 & 45 DAS (days after sowing), T4- T1 + foliar application of 10% cow urine at 20 & 45 DAS, T5- T1 + foliar application of 25% jeevamrutha at 20 & 45 DAS, T6- T2 + foliar application of 10% vermiwash at 20 & 45 DAS, T7- T2 + foliar application of 10% cow urine at 20 & 45 DAS, T8- T2 + foliar application of 25% jeevamrutha at 20 & 45 DAS and T9- Organic RPP of parching sorghum with SMJ-1 variety of parching sorghum.

Results: The application of ghanajeevamrutha based on 100 per cent RDN as basal dose + foliar application of 25 per cent jeevamrutha at 20 and 45 days after sowing recorded significantly higher dry matter production (55.86 g plant-1), leaf area index (3.49), raw and roasted grain weight (39.49 g and 51.73 g respectively), raw and roasted grain yield (1063 kg ha-1 and 1505 kg ha-1 respectively) of parching sorghum (hurda) at harvest as compared to other treatments. In addition to improvement in the major plant nutrient uptake were recorded with incorporation of ghanajeevamrutha or vermicompost along with the liquid organic manure.

Conclusion: The application of ghanajeevamrutha based on 100 per cent RDN as basal dose coupled with foliar application of 25 per cent jeevamrutha at 20 and 45 days after sowing recorded significantly higher growth, yield, quality and plant nutrient uptake by parching sorghum.