EVALUATION OF FODDER PRODUCTION AND NUTRITIONAL QUALITIES OF SOME SORGHUM (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) GENOTYPES UNDER RAIN-FED AND IRRIGATION IN NORTH KORDOFON STATE

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted for two successive rainy seasons (2014/15 and 2015/16) and for two successive irrigated winter seasons (2014/15 and 2015/16) in sandy soil at experimental Farm, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, University of Kordofan, Elobeid. The aim of this study was to evaluate 10 forage Sorghum genotypes under rain-fed and to investigate the effect of these 10 genotypes and watering interval (7 and 10 days) under irrigation on growth, yield and quality of forage sorghum. A randomized complete block arrangement with three replications was used in rainy experiment and split-plot design with three replications was used in the irrigated experiment. The water intervals were assigned as main plots, while genotypes assigned as sub-plots. Characters studied included vegetative attributes (plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves per plant, number of tillers per plant, number of leaves per tiller and leaf area index (L.A.I.). Phonological attributes (Number of days to 50% flowering) and yield attributes (fresh and dry forage yield (g/plant) and (ton/ha), leaf to stem ratio,), and percentage of dry weight) and quality parameters (dry matter percentage, ash%, crude protein%, ether extractable fats (E.E), Crude fiber %). The results showed that the hybrid Pioneer and local performed better with regard to growth traits moreover, local genotype Nabig and hybrid Pioneer produced highest fresh forage yield (26.5 and 21.3) and dry weight (ton/ha) and high percentage of dry weight. Local genotypes Aish-Baladi and Gassabi reached days to 50 % flowering earlier than other genotypes. The results of irrigated experiment (winter season) showed that, genotypes, irrigation intervals and their interaction generally had slightly differences in most of the studied parameters. Irrigation every 7 days produced better in growth and yield compared to irrigation every 10 days. The cultivar Pioneer had the highest fresh forage (9.7 and 11.3 ton/ha), and dry weight (ton/ha), highest Leaf to stem ratio (LSR), and Leaf area index (LAI). Differences in crude protein percentage were highly significant (P ≥ 0.05).Genotype Taqqat.9A had the IV highest values (12.0 and 13.2 %) during rainy season, whereas hybrid Pioneer obtained the highest values of (11.6 and 11.4 %) under irrigation. The lowest fiber content was obtained by genotypes Gassabi during both conditions. Genotypes showed significant differences for ash, and ether extractable fats percentage.