Influence of withholding last irrigation and plant age on the quality and yield of sorghum forage

Sorghum is an important forage crop which has great importance due to its fodder quality. It is very important forage in summer for the animals. The proposed study was conducted to determine the effect of harvesting stages and withholding last irrigation on the quality and quantity of sorghum at the Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. The experiment composed of 3 treatments such as withholding last irrigation I1 (7 days before harvest), I2 (14 days before harvest), I3 (21 days before harvest) and 3 treatments such as plant age H1 (60 days after sowing), H2 (80 days after sowing), H3 (100 days after sowing). All other agronomic practices were kept uniform as recommended except the factors under study. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with split plot arrangement having three replications, keeping irrigation in main plots and harvesting stages in sub-plots. Net plot size was 7.0 m x 3.0 m. Fisher's analysis of variance technique was used for statistically interpretation of data by using least significant difference (LSD) test at 5% probability level. The maximum forage yield (69.7 t per ha) and dry matter yield (17.2 t per ha) were recorded in treatment H2 where crop was harvested 80 days after sowing and II where withholding last irrigation was applied 7 days before harvest. Whereas Quality parameters like crude protein (9.77%), total ash (9.38%) were maximum in treatment I1 (7 days before harvest) and plant age H1 (60 days after sowing) but crude fiber (39.55%) was maximum in withholding last irrigation I3 (21 days before harvest) and plant age H3 (100 days after sowing). This increase in yield was mainly due to greater plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves per plant, and leaf area per plant. The study concluded that sorghum forage harvested 80 days after sowi!1g along with withholding last irrigation applied 7 days before harvest performed better and gave maximum results under agro-ecological conditions of Faisalabad.