Yield and yield attributes of sweet sorghum (<i>Sorghum bicolor</i> subspecies Saccharatum (L.) Moench. varieties as influenced by weed control treatments and plant population in the semi arid region of Nigeria

Abstract

Field trial was conducted during the 2012 and 2013 wet seasons at Institute for Agricultural Research,Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Farms at Kadawa and Minjibir, (11⁰ 39’N, 08⁰ 20’E) and Kano (12⁰ 08’ N, 08⁰ 40’ E)500m above sea level in the Semi arid ecological zone of Nigeria, to study the influence of weed control treatment and plant population on yield and yield attributes of sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.)Moench. sub-species. saccharatum) varieties. The treatments consisted of four levels of weed control treatment (one rate each of atrazine and primextra gold at 2.1 kg a.i/ha, hoe-weeded control at 3 and 6 weeks after sowing (WAS) and weedy check), three plant densities (53,333, 106,667, and 160,000 plants/ha), and two varieties(NTJ2 and Ex-Daura). The treatments were laid out in a split plot design with three replications. The combination of weed control treatment and the plant population were assigned to main plot while the two varieties to sub-plot. The study revealed that primextra gold at 2.1 kg a.i/haand two hoe-weeding at 3 and 6 WAS resulted in significantly longer panicle length, higher 1000-grain weight, stalk, grain, and brix yields in both seasons and locations.T he performance of this herbicide was comparable to hoeweeding in keeping the trial fields weed free and lower competition for nutrients at both location seasons. Weedy check reduced all yields and yield attributes. The 160,000 plants/ha significantly suppressed weed infestation and resulted in longer panicles, higher 1000-grain weight, stalk, grains and brix yields at the two the locations and seasons. NTJ2 performed better in term yield and yield attributes, with higher stalk yield at Kadawa and grain yield at Minjibir. Based on the result obtained from this , it can be concluded that the use of NTJ2 variety, with application of primextra gold at 2.1 kg a.i/ha, and 160,000 plant population and NTJ2 variety had resulted gave season long weed control, the highest stalk and grain yields at Kadawa and Minjibir.

Keywords: Grainand stalk yields, plant population, sweet sorghum and weed control