Author(s):

PP Chaudhary, KH Patel, AP Italia, NH Garaniya and DD Patel

Abstract: A field experiment was conducted during 2017 to study the effect of soil application of S and Zn in combination with organics on yield and quality of fodder sorghum. There were twelve treatments comprising of three organics treatments [Control(M₁), FYM @10t ha^-1(O₂) and bio-compost @ 5t ha^-1(O₃)] combined with four S-Zn nutrient treatments [control(M₁), 20kg S ha^-1 (M₂), 5kg Zn ha^-1(M₃), and 20kg S ha^-1 + 5kg Zn ha^-1 (M₄)]. S and Zn were applied in the form of S granules and ZnSO₄ respectively. The experiment was laid out in factorial RBD with three replications. The recommended dose of N and P were applied uniformly to all the treatments. Green fodder yield (GFY) and dry fodder yield (DFY) of sorghum were significantly increased by the organics and S-Zn nutrient treatments. The per cent increased in GFY due to O₂ and O₃ over O₁ was 15.1 and 11.3 respectively. The treatments M₂ and M₄ increased the GFY by 15.4 and 17.5 per cent, respectively over M₁ (228.3 q ha^-1). Similar trend in DFY was noted by organics and S-Zn nutrient treatments. The interaction effect of O x M was found significant on GFY and DFY showed nutrient use efficiency of S and Zn was higher when they were applied along with FYM and bio compost. Quality parameters viz. crude protein content, crude fiber content and HCN content were studied. Application of organics O₂ and O₃, as well as S-Zn treatments favourably influenced quality parameters in comparison to their respective control. A synergistic interaction of O x M on crude protein content indicates improvement in quality of forage sorghum.

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