Evaluation of Diverse Sorghum Genotypes under Varying Doses of Nitrogen Fertilizers in Semi-Arid Regions of Pakistan

Abstract

Pakistan ranks among the nation’s most vulnerable to the ongoing and anticipated impacts of climate change. Cropping in Pakistan is bearing various climate challenges like temperature extremes, drought, flood, heavy rains, hails, wind storms increase in Co₂, greenhouse gases and CFCs. Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is a predominant crop in arid regions. A field experiment involving six sorghum cultivars and three distinct nitrogen levels was conducted at the Faculty of Agriculture, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan during the Kharif season of 2017. The cultivars, nitrogen levels, and their interactions had a significant influence on plant height (cm), leaf area (cm²), crop growth rate (g m^-2 day^-1), panicle elongation (cm), number of grains per panicle, grain weight (g), biomass production (kg ha^-1), and economic yield (kg ha^-1). The sorghum genotype JS-263, with an NPK dose of 120:75:60 kg ha^-1, exhibited the highest grain yield and yield-related parameters. This high-yielding sorghum cultivar and optimal nitrogen level could be utilized for enhanced yield and productivity.