Effect of Nutrients Omission on Growth, Yield and Economics of Rabi Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) in Vertisols under Rainfed Conditions

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Agricultural Research Station, Tandur, Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University during 2020-21 and 2021-22 to study the impact of nutrient omission on productivity and profitability of Rabi sorghum. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with 3 replications. Pooled data results indicated that   among the nutrient omissions treatments, significantly higher plant height (211.7 cm), days to 50% flowering (75 days), panicle length (17.9 cm), number of grains panicle-1 (946), grain yield (1234 kg ha-1), fodder yield (5788 kg ha-1), harvest index (18.17), net returns of Rs. 44,790 ha-1 and BC ratio of 2.68 were recorded in no omission treatments and it was on par with K omission followed by N omission and lowest with NPK omission (control) treatments. When compared to the no omission (NPK) treatment, the rabi sorghum grain yields were decreased by 2% with the K omission, 10% with N omission, 15% with P omission, 22% with PK omission, 23% with NK omission, 29% with NP omission and 39% with NPK omission.