Abstract
A field experiment was conducted during the rainy seasons of 1992 and 1993 to study the nutrient uptake pattern and quality of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Monech] genotypes as influenced by fertility levels under rainfed conditions at Pantnagar, Uttar Pradesh. The grain, stover and fresh fodder yields; N, P and K content in grain and stover; total uptake of N, P, and K; as well as crude protein (CP) production were improved with increasing levels of N-P fertilization. In general, hybrids outyielded the varieties and attained higher values of all characters at harvest. An application of N100P50 gave 41.8, 32.6, 26.8, 60.3, 61.1, 39.2, and 57.6% higher grain, stover and fresh fodder yield; total N, P and K uptake; and total CP production, respectively, than a N20P10 treatment. Among the genotypes, PJH-58 responded with the highest values for all characters, followed by PJH-55. The varieties CSV-13 and SPV-1025 did not differ significantly and gave lower values than hybrids during both years. The highest N, P, K and CP contents in grain as well as in stover were recorded from the N100P50 fertilizer application level which was similar to the N80P40 during both years. Hybrid PJH-58 and variety CSV-13 could, therefore, be grown for higher grain and fodder production with the application of 80 kg N and 40 kg P per hectare under rainfed conditions in the Tarai region of Uttar Pradesh.
