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Sudan Journal of Agricultural Research

Time and method of delayed urea application for irrigated sorghum in the Gezira



E. A. Elasha¹, Ibrahim N. Eldin¹ and Abbas Elsir¹


Abstract

The objective of this trial was to study the effect of time and method of urea application on sorghum “cultivar Feterita Wad Ahmed” growth and yield when urea delivery is delayed. The experiment was raised at the Gezira Research farm and repeated for three consecutive seasons, starting 2001-02. The design was an RCB with three replications. Seven treatment combinations of time, dose and methods of urea application were tested. They included 2N: at sowing side-dressed, after thinning broadcasted, after thinning side-dressed, after thinning spot applied, 1N after thinning + 1N at boot stage broadcasted, 1N after thinning + 1N at boot stage side-dressed and 1N after thinning + 1N at boot stage spot applied. The physical and chemical properties of the soil were defined. About ten growth parameters, namely days to 50% flowering, plant height, panicle length, plant population, grain number per panicle, 100 grain mass, grain yield, stover, biomass and harvest index were studied. No significant differences were observed between the various parameters; nevertheless, there was a consistent trend of increase in the grain mass, grain yield, stover, biomass and harvest index when urea was broadcasted in equal doses after thinning and at the boot stage. The economic analysis showed that the cost of application of urea in this treatment was less compared to that in other treatments and had a marginal rate of return up to 303%.



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Sudan Journal of Agricultural Research Vol. 6 (2006) PP. 21-25