Optimization of Nitrogen and Zinc Fertilization for Enhancing Growth and Yield in Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) Varieties

Abstract:

A field experiment was conducted during the Kharif season of 2025 at the Research Farm, Department of Agriculture, Vivekananda Global University, Jaipur, Rajasthan. Sorghum is an important cereal crop cultivated in arid and semi-arid regions due to its drought tolerance, nutritional value, and adaptability to adverse climatic conditions. Efficient nutrient management, particularly nitrogen and zinc fertilization, plays a vital role in improving sorghum productivity and nutrient-use efficiency. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with nine treatments and three replications. Treatments comprised different levels of recommended fertilizer dose (RDF) combined with zinc sulphate (ZnSO₄) applied through soil and foliar methods. The sorghum variety CSV-15 was used for the study.

The results revealed that nutrient management significantly influenced growth and yield parameters of sorghum. The treatment T₉ (125% RDF + ZnSO₄ foliar application) recorded the maximum plant height at harvest (165.2 cm), highest grain yield (3912 kg ha⁻¹), biological yield (12,292 kg ha⁻¹), 100-grain weight (27.5 g), and harvest index (32.82%). Foliar application of zinc in combination with higher nitrogen levels proved more effective than soil application in enhancing nutrient uptake, vegetative growth, and yield attributes. The control treatment recorded the lowest values for most parameters. The study concluded that application of 125% RDF along with foliar ZnSO₄ significantly improved growth, productivity, and nutrient-use efficiency of sorghum under semi-arid conditions. Therefore, integrated nitrogen and foliar zinc management can be recommended for achieving higher sorghum yield and sustainable crop production in Rajasthan and similar agro-climatic regions.