YIELD AND YIELD CHARACTERS OF SORGHUM (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench )VARIETIES AS INFLUENCED BY IRRIGATION INTERVAL AND PLANT DENSITY AT KADAWA IN THE SUDAN SAVANNAH

Abstract

A two-years field experiment was conducted during 2008 and 2009 dry seasons at Irrigation ResearchStation Kadawa in the Sudan savannah to study the yield and yield characters of sorghum (Sorghumbicolor L. Moench) varieties as influenced by irrigation intervals and plant densities. The treatmentsconsisted of factorial combination of three sorghum varieties (KSV-4, KL-2 and NR 71168), three irrigationintervals (7, 14 and 21 days) and three plant densities (66,666, 53,333 and 44,444 ha-1). Splitplot design was used in the experiment and replicated three times with irrigation interval and varietyassigned to main plots and plant density allocated to the sub plots. The sub plots size was 4m x 3m(12m2), while the net plot was 6m2. Significantly longer panicles were found in KSV4 and KL-2 at 14days interval in 2008 and at 21 days interval in 2009. Higher grain weight per panicle was recorded inNR 71168 at 21 days irrigation interval in both years. NR 71168 variety out yielded other two varietiesin both years when irrigation interval was extended from 7 to 14 days. No significant response wasrecorded due to varying plant densities although, 66,666 gave higher grains output compared to otherplant densities studied. From this study it is concluded that NR 71168 variety at 14 days irrigation intervaland 66,666 ha-1 plant density under irrigation could be used at Kadawa in the Sudan savannahagro ecological zone of Nigeria.