Improving of sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench var. saccharatum) productivity and quality through nitrogen and potassium management

Abstract

Sweet sorghum, which is one of the bioethanol sources, has been increasing in importance in recent years. It is used in the production of bioethanol due to the high content of sugar in it. This study were carried out at Ege University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Field Crops, Izmir/Turkey on the experimental fields, two-factor coincidence plots were carried out in the form of a three-repeated potting experiment according to the trial pattern during the summer growth seasons of 2013 and 2014. Effects of different nitrogen (0, 50, 100, 150, 200 N ha-1) and potassium (0, 50, 100, 150 kg K2O ha-1) levels of on ethanol yield of sweet sorghum were investigated, in the experiment. In the study, some traits were investigated such as plant height, dry matter yield, silage pH, crude protein content. The results of the experiment revealed significant effect of different N and K levels on growth, yield and some silage quality parameters. Increasing N and K levels increased plant height, dry matter yield, crude protein content and silage pH compared to the control (N0-K0) treatment. It is concluded that sweet sorghum crop performed better in N150-K100 level and hence recommended for further studies to authenticate higher forage yield and quality in the agroclimatic conditions of Izmir.