Variety x nitrogen fertilizer interaction on striga control, yield and yield related attributes of Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] under striga infestation conditions of Abergelle District, Northern Ethiopia

Fantaye, B.M. (2018) Variety x nitrogen fertilizer interaction on striga control, yield and yield related attributes of Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] under striga infestation conditions of Abergelle District, Northern Ethiopia. Journal of Advancements in Plant ScienceIntroduction, 1 (2). pp. 1-10.

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Abstract

Sorghum [Sorghum Bicolor (L.) Moench] is an important food crop in Ethiopia, and is ranked second for “injera” quality next to tef. However, the productivity of sorghum is limited by several biotic and abiotic constraints amongst striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth is the greatest specialized parasitic weed causing serious injury by depriving water, minerals and photosynthesis from the host. Striga hermonthica is becoming the major epidemic in most of sorghum growing areas in the country including Abergelle. Thus, a field experiment was conducted in 2013/14 cropping season to assess the interaction effect of variety by nitrogen fertilizer rates on striga control, yield and yield related attributes as well as to determine optimum nitrogen fertilizer rate to enhance the productivity of sorghum under natural striga infestation areas of Abergelle district, Northern Ethiopia. The treatment combination comprised of two striga resistant and early maturing sorghum varieties (Gobye and Abshir) and three nitrogen fertilizer levels (0, 50 and 100 kg N ha-1) in 2x3 factorial arrangement in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The analysis of variance result showed highly significant (P≤0.01) differences due to nitrogen, variety and variety by nitrogen interaction for number of striga count per plot. The lowest number of striga count per plot was obtained from the combination of Gobye+100 kg N ha-1, whereas, the highest number of striga count per plot was recorded from Abshir+0 kg N ha-1. Thus, Gobye exhibited resistance to striga hermonthica by supporting the lowest number of striga plants germination with increasing fertilizer levels from zero to 100 kg N ha-1. Besides, the analyzed result indicated that grain yield of sorghum was significantly influenced (P≤0.01) by variety x nitrogen interaction effect. The highest grain yield of sorghum (1743 kg ha-1) was obtained from the combination of Gobye+100 kg N ha-1 while the lowest grain yield (1086 kg ha-1) was recorded from Abshir+0 kg N ha-1. However, days to physiological maturity and growth traits like plant height and panicle length were not significantly affected by variety x nitrogen interaction effect. Moreover, the partial budget analysis revealed that the highest net benefit was recorded from the combination of Gobye+100 kg N ha-1. Therefore, farmers in the study area could control striga and enhance sorghum productivity through combination use of the early matured and striga resistant variety Gobye+100 kg N ha-1 under natural striga infestation.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Variety x Nitrogen Interaction; Sorghum; Striga hermonthica; Yield and yield related traits
Author Affiliation: Abergelle Agricultural Research Center, Tigray Agricultural Research Institute (TARI), Ethiopia
Subjects: Plant Production
Divisions: Sorghum
Depositing User: Mr T L Gautham
Date Deposited: 03 Jan 2019 05:37
Last Modified: 03 Jan 2019 05:37
URI: http://eprints.icrisat.ac.in/id/eprint/15737

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