Effect of Planting Methods and Seeding Rates on Yield and Yield Components of New Forage Sorghum Hybrid (Sakha 20)

Abstract

At the Kafer El Shiekh Governorate of the Agricultural Research Center in Egypt, a field experiment has been performed. To determine the best planting techniques and seeding rate for the growth characteristics and forage yield of a new sorghum hybrid (Sakha 20) through the summers of 2019 and 2020. Two planting methods have been followed (broadcasting on the top of the rows, hills on the top of the rows) with three rates of seeding (15, 20 and 25 kg fed-1). The outcomes indicated that planting in hills on the top of rows showed the highest significant increase in plant height, tiller number m-2, diameter of stem (cm), dry matter %, fresh leaf to stem ratio, dry leaf to stem ratio, and total yield of fresh and dry forage (ton fed-1) as compared with the other method of planting. In two successive seasons, increasing seed rates from 15 to 25 kg fed-1 resulted in a significant gradual increase in plant height and
tiller number m-2, as well as total fresh and dry forage yield (ton fed-1). Therefore, 25 kg fed-1 provided the greatest values of the above-mentioned characters. Diameter of stem (cm), dry matter %, and fresh and dry leaf / stem ratio percent significantly decreased in the two consecutive seasons as seed rates were increased from 15 to 25 kg fed-1. The interplay between planting methods and seeding rates had a significant impact on plant height, tiller number m-2, and total yield of fresh and dry forage (ton fed-1). The height values were obtained by the interaction between the planting method in hills on top of rows with the rate of seeding at 25 kg fed-1.