Academic Research Journal of Agricultural Science and Research
 

Academic Research Journal of Agricultural Science and Research 

Vol. 5(7), pp. 480-488. November, 2017.

ISSN: 2360-7874 

 DOI: 10.14662/ARJASR2017.077

Full Length Research

Response of Short Duration and Small Size Improved Sorghum Variety to Inter and Intra-row Spacing in Raya Azebo District, Northern Ethiopia

Berhane Sibhatu^*1, Gebremeskel Gebrekorkos¹, Kasaye Abera¹ and Hayelom Berhe²

¹Department of field crops, Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Mehoni Agricultural Research Center, P.O.Box, 71Maichew, Ethiopia.

²Natural Resources Management Research Process, Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Mehoni Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box,71 Maichew, Ethiopia

*Corresponding author: E-mail: berhane76@gmail.com;  phone: +251-914111020; P.O.Box: 71, Maichew, Ethiopia

Accepted 16 October 2017

This experiment was conducted at Fachagama, Tigray Region in 2015 and 2016 cropping seasons to determine optimum planting spacing for sorghum productivity under irrigation conditions. The experiment having factorial arrangement of three inter-row spacing levels (55 cm, 65 cm and 75 cm) and four intra-row levels ( 10 cm, 15 cm, 20 cm and 25 cm) was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. According to the current result, maturities of sorghum delayed at wider inter and intra-row spacing. Plant height decreased as intra-row spacing increased. Grain yield was significantly (P<0.05) influenced due to interaction effect of inter and intra-row spacing. Thus, maximum grain yield (4618.00 kg ha^-1) was obtained from planting spacing of 65 cm by 15 cm. Similarly, significantly high biomass yield (10481.00 kg ha^-1) from main effect of 65 cm inter-row spacing was produced. The economic analysis also showed that optimum net profit of birr 40238.36 and marginal rate of return (3494.41%) were obtained at inter and intra-row spacing of 65 cm and 15 cm. Generally, intermediate spacing gave remarkable yield while widely spaced plants produced low yields. This is, therefore, 65 cm inter-row spacing and 15 cm intra-row spacing can be recommended for short duration and small size improved sorghum varieties in Raya valley and other areas with similar agro-ecologies to sustain sorghum productivity.

Key words: Economic analysis, Inter-row spacing, Intra-row spacing, Sorghum, Variety, Yield, Yield components

How to cite this article: Sibhatu B, Gebrekorkos G, Abera K, Berhe H (2017). Response of Short Duration and Small Size Improved Sorghum Variety to Inter and Intra-row Spacing in Raya Azebo District, Northern Ethiopia. Acad. Res. J. Agri. Sci. Res. Vol. 5(7), pp. 480-488

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