Open AccessEffect of nitrogen fertilization on growth, yield and ethanol production of sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L. Moench)
Author(s) -
M. H. Elnasikh,
Mulhima Sh. Ibrahium
Publication year - 2021
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1858-6198
DOI - 10.52981/oiuj.v11i2.1716
Subject(s) - sweet sorghum , stalk , randomized block design , sorghum , human fertilization , agronomy , nitrogen , sugar , biology , brix , horticulture , yield (engineering) , field experiment , fertilizer , chemistry , food science , materials science , organic chemistry , metallurgy
Field trials were carried out to test the effect of nitrogen fertilization on the growth, stalks and juice yield, sugar content and ethanol production of sweet sorghum. The experiments were carried out on winter 2013 in the Domonstration Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Khartoum, Shambat and Experimental Farm of the Soba Research Station for Reclamation of Saline and Sodic soils. The treatments comprised the addition of nitrogen fertilizer (urea) at three levels (0, 43 and 86 Kg N ha-1) and two sweet sorghum genotypes (Baladi and RSSS.11), arranged in randomized complete block design replicated 4 times. Results indicated that there were significant (P ≥ 0.05) differences between genotypes in stem diameter at Soba location, stalk height and leaves area at Shambat location, number of green leaves per plant, stalk juice and ethanol yield in both locations. With the genotype RSSS.11 generally superior over genotype Baladi. Nitrogen fertilization increased significantly (P ≥ 0.05) number of green leaves per plant and leaves area at Shambat location and plant height and juice and ethanol yield in both locations. With the Soba location recorded the highest values over Shambat location and 86 kg N ha-1 recorded the highest ethanol yield (255.6l h-1).