Effects of Irrigation Intervals and Sowing Methods on Fresh and Dry Matter Yield of Two Fodder Sorghum Cultivars

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the period from November (2010) to early January, (2012), in two consecutive seasons, in the demonstration Farm of the College of Animal Production, Sudan University of Science and Technology, at Kuku, to study the performance of two Sorghum Cultivars (Sorghum bicolor) "Abu 70" and (Sorghum Sudanense) "Garawia" on a saline soil under four irrigation intervals 7-10-14-21 days, on two different land preparation methods (ridged and flat). Irrigation water supply was from domestic water supply net work. The treatments were arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD), with four replications, the data were subjected to statistical analysis using, MSTAT, Computer program. The main parameters measured were fresh and dry matter yields were taken 70 days after sowing. The crop factor (kc) was taken using CROP WAT Program .based on Penman Monteith equation for Khartoum area. The results showed higher dry matter yields for shorter intervals 7, 10 days, with significant differences. The shorter irrigation intervals showed higher yields for the different soil preparation methods, with significant differences. The interaction between the two crops, the interaction between intervals and soil preparation method followed the same pattern. All growth parameters for the two crops and under the two soil preparation methods gave significant differences in favor of the shorter irrigation intervals.