EFFECT OF MULTI-CUT FORAGE SORGHUM GENOTYPES AND FERTILITY LEVELS ON NUTRIENT UPTAKE AND
SOIL NUTRIENT BALANCE
DURGESH KUMAR*AND P.C. CHAPLOT
Department of Agronomy
Rajasthan College of Agriculture,
Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture & Technology,
Udaipur, Rajasthan 313001
(email :*kumawat90durgesh@gmail.com,**pcchaplot@gmail.com)
(Recieved: 13 January 2015; Accepted:14May 2015)
SUMMARY
A field experiment was conducted during the zaid season of 2013 at Udaipur, Rajasthan on clay loam soil to assess the effect of fertility levels on multi-cut genotypes of forage sorghum. Among genotypes, fodder produced by genotype SPH 1697 accumulated significantly higher nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in both the cuttings as well as total compared to genotypes SPH 1698, CSH 20 MF, CSH 24 MF and SSG 59-3. The multi-cut genotypes resulted in negative nitrogen and positive phosphorus and potassium balance over initial status. The crop fertilized with 100 per cent RDF accumulated significantly higher quantum of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in fodder during both the cuttings thereby total over control and lower fertility levels. The nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium status of soil after crop harvest was significantly improved with the application of 75 and 100 per cent RDF. Further crop under the influence of 50, 75 and 100 per cent RDF reduced net nitrogen loss but increased net gain of phosphorus and potassium in soil over initial.
Key words:Fertility levels, nutrient uptake, soil nutrient balance, multi-cut sorghum