Yield and profitability of sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench cv. saccharatum) varieties as influenced by varying NPK rates in Northern Guinea agroecological zone of Nigeria

Abstract

Field trials were conducted to determine the response of sweet sorghum varieties to varying NPK fertilizer rates during 2018 rainy season at the Research Farm of Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru and the Research Farm of College of Agriculture and Animal Science, Division of Agricultural Colleges (DAC) Mando, both located in the Northern Guinea Savannah ecological zone of Nigeria. The treatments consisted of four NPK fertilizer rates (0:0:0, 30:15:15, 60:30:30, and 90:45:45) and three sweet sorghum varieties (NTJ-2, SW-Bungudu and SW-Daura) which were laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) replicated three times. Results indicated that NPK rates significantly increased the yield and the agronomic traits studied. The highest significant yields were -1 -1recorded with the application of 90:45:45 kg NPK ha followed by 60:30:30 kg NPK ha . The varieties -1significantly differed in all the parameters studied at both locations. The highest grain yield (1.4 t ha and -1 -1 -11.39 t ha ) and stalk yield (20.21 t ha and 18.48 t ha ) at both locations were obtained in varieties NJT-2 and SW-Bungudu, respectively. Significant interaction exists between NPK rate and variety on stalk and grain yields. Economic analysis of gross yields (Stalk + Grain) revealed that application of NPK fertilizer 1as low as 30:15:15 kg ha- to all the three varieties was viable as no loss was incurred but variety SW-1 Bungudu with the application of 90:45:45 kg NPK ha was the most profitable sweet sorghum production at both locations. Thus, farmers in the Guinea savanna will get better returns on the money invested using such combination.