Performance of Sweet Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) Cultivars as a Source of Green Fodder Under Varying Levels of Nitrogen in Semi-arid Tropical India

The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of sweet sorghum cultivars as a source of green fodder under the varying nitrogen levels. Application of 120 kg N ha(-1) recorded significantly taller plants, more number of green leaves/plant, larger leaf length and breadth, higher leaf area than 80 kg N ha(-1). The fresh and dry fodder yield showed the significant variation with increase in nitrogen rates from 80 to 120 kg N ha(-1). Application of 120 kg N ha(-1) increased green and dry fodder yields by 8.86 and 12.1% over 80 kg N ha(-1), respectively. Among the cultivars, 'SSV 74' (62.89 t ha(-1)) being on a par with 'SSV 84' (58.46 t ha(-1)), 'CSH 22SS' (58.21 t ha(-1)), 'CSV 19SS' (57.62 t ha(-1)) and 'CSV 24SS' (57.01 t ha(-1)) produced significantly highest green fodder yield over rest of the cultivars. However, 'RSSV 167' (49.4 t ha(-1)) recorded markedly the lowest green fodder yield but noted on par with 'RSSV 104' (52.4 t ha(-1)). Application of 120 kg N ha(-1) markedly improved the net returns ((sic)26,138 ha(-1)) over 80 kg N ha(-1). Among cultivars, 'SSV 74' ((sic)30,145 ha(-1)) being on a par with 'SSV 84' ((sic)30,145 ha(-1)), 'CSH 22SS' ((sic)25,920 ha(-1)) and 'RSSV 167' ((sic)30,145 ha(-1)) recorded significantly higher net returns as compared to rest of the cultivars.