Evaluation of Different Forage Sorghum Cultivars [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] through an Assessment of Morphological, Quantitative & Qualitative Yield Traits

Eight forage sorghum cultivars (Sweet jumbo, Nectar, Chopper, Pacific BMR, Speed feed, KFS1, KFS2 and KFS3) were assessed to determine the most suitable traits carrying cultivar, through a randomized complete block design with four replications during 2003-2005. Ammonium phosphate (basd on P2O5) was applied at 115 Kg/ha and 183 Kg/ha of nitrogen (urea-based) at four application times. Six traits, namely green fodder, dry matter, protein yield, plant hieght, stem diameter and tiller number were assessed for each cut. Harvesting was conducted from a 7.8 m2 area. Three years’ data were analysed in a combined analysis and the means compared through Duncan Multi Rang Test (DMRT). Combined analysis of variance showed significant differences among cultivars, years, and cultivar × year interactions. A comparsion of means indicated that, Nectar and Chopper cvs. produced the highest vs. the lowest green fodder of 186.8 and 137.2 t/ha, respectively. They did not significantly differe from some other cultivars. As for dry matter yield, the cultivars Sweet jumbo, Nectar, KFS3 and KFS2 with mean yields of 39.21, 39.11, 37.54 & 37.41 t/ha, respectively ranked the top. Sweet jumbo produced the highest tiller number per plant (3.69) while Nectar yielded the highest protein (3.14 t/ha). The highest plant height (224.2 cm) and stem diameter (17.99 mm) belonged to Speed feed and KFS2, respectively. Among the cultivars, Chopper produced the lowest dry matter (32.95 t/ha), protein yield (2.62 t/ha), plant height (181.7 cm) and tiller number per plant (2.11), however the lowest stem diameter (12.33 mm), belonged to Speed feed.