Executive Summary 1. Kharif Experiments 2 Grain Sorghum Experiments 3. Forage Sorghum Experiments 11

Transcription

1 Kharif 2016 Agronomy Report Contents Executive Summary 1 Kharif Experiments 2 Grain Sorghum Experiments 3 Forage Sorghum Experiments 11 Forage Sorghum Draft Paper 16 Contact Information 21 Kharif Sorghum Hybrid CSH 16 Indian Institute of Millets Research Tel Fax Rajendranagar HYDERABAD s.ravikumar@icag.gov.in

2 Pg. 01 Executive Summary Test Hybrid SPH 1778 at Dharwad Agronomy Kharif Expt AKOLA Test Hybrid SPH 1779 Executive Summary Kharif Grain Sorghum Highlights In Zone I (North) the mean yields indicate that SPV 2293 among the test sorghum varieties was the only one which recorded a 5% increase in grain yield over check CSV 17, while the other two cultivars SPV 2307 and SPV 2308 did not show any improvement. In Zone I (South) Grain yield of the test entries was lower than the checks CSV 17 and CSH 14, while the fodder yield of SPV 2293 was almost equivalent to CSH 14. The mean yield trends across Zone II (Central) indicate, that among the test hybrids SPH 1778 (4.22 tons) produced similar grain yield as the best check CSH 25 (4.28 tons/ha), while both the test varieties (SPV 2296=2.91 tons and 2307=2.97 tons) performance in terms of grain yield was similar to CSV 20 (2.89 tons/ha). The high productivity of improved sorghum genotypes is brought about by a high harvest index which could explain the extant of response to added fertilizer when grain yield was plotted as a function of harvest index. The range of harvest indices between 25 and 35% represent the sorghum varieties, while the range between 35 and 45% represent the sorghum hybrids. Integrated nutrient management with both farmyard manure and vermi compost were equally good in terms of organic source and in combination with seed treatment of Azospirillum and PSB produced equivalent yield of 100% inorganic source of fertilizer. During the first year of liquid bio fertilizer experimentation at Akola, the seed treatment with 2ml AZO plus 2 ml PSB proved to be better, with a grain yield advantage of 18% over powder form of biofertilizer. At Dharwad the response to 2ml of AZO and 4ml of PSB was better with a grain yield advantage of 10% over powder form of biofertilizer. Kharif Forage Sorghum Highlights The single cut test forage sorghum hybrids SPH 1752 significantly outperformed all other cultivars including the check CSH 13. The mean green fodder yield (50 tons ha -1 ) pooled over multi-locations indicates an increase of 22% over the check CSH 13 (41 tons ha -1 ). Among the multi cut test entries mean performance of SPH 1768 (63 tons ha -1 ) was better than all other hybrids. The increase in total green fodder yield over checks CSH 24MF and CSH 20MF was 10 and 22% respectively. There was an incremental response of test hybrid SPH 1768 to increasing level of fertilizer up to 125% RDF, in terms of both green and dry fodder yields across both the cuts. During the first year of experimentation the recently released multi cut forage cultivar SPV 2242 did not respond to increased plant to plant spacing, but it did respond to increasing level of fertilizer up to 125%% RDF.

3 Pg. 02 Kharif Experiments Kharif Experiments Grain Sorghum 1KA Grain sorghum (Zone I North) Digi, Udaipur, 2 1KB Grain sorghum (Zone I South) Coimbatore 1 1KC Grain sorghum (Zone-II) Akola, Dharwad, Indore, Parbhani, Surat, 5 2K. INM in kharif sorghum-chickpea sequence Indore, Parbhani 2 9K Response to liquid bio-fertilizer Dharwad, Akola 2 Forage Sorghum 1KE Forage sorghum (Single Cut) Deesa, Digi, Hisar, Pantnagar, Ludhiana, Udaipur 6 1KF Forage sorghum (Multi Cut) Hisar, Ludhiana, Pantnagar, Udaipur 3 6K Prioritization of production inputs Deesa, Digi, Hisar, Ludhiana, Pantnagar, 4 8K Multi cut SPV 2242 Spacing x Fertilizer level Coimbatore, Udaipur 2 Single Location 3K Improving NUE Digi 1 4K Prioritization of production inputs Digi 1 5K Sweet sorghum intercropping Pantnagar NIL Data 7K. Mechanization of sorghum Coimbatore 1 CSH Dharwad OCT 2016

4 Pg. 03 Grain Sorghum Experiments Grain yield advantage of sorghum hybrids over varieties was to an extant of 20% across Zone I (North) Grain Sorghum Experiments 1KA Genotype x Fertility (Zone I North) The grain sorghum varieties SPV 2293, 2307 and 2308 were evaluated for their potential performance and response to various levels of recommended dose of fertilizer RDF (75%, 100%, 125%RDF) at 2 centers (Digi and Udaipur) across Zone I (North). The check sorghum cultivars were CSV 17 and CSH 14. The results were statistically analyzed using a factorial RBD design. Among the test entries SPV 2293 performed better at both Digi and Udaipur with a mean grain yield of 2.95 tons per hectare Figure 1 Relative performance of SPV 2293, 2307 and 2308 in terms of grain yield across Zone I (North). The mean results (Fig 1) indicate that SPV 2293 among the test sorghum varieties was the only one which recorded a 5% increase in grain yield over check CSV 17, while the other two cultivars SPV 2307 and SPV 2308 did not show any considerable improvement. The grain yield difference between sorghum hybrid (CSH 14) and the varieties (mean) was nearly 20%. In terms of response to fertilizer application the three test entries produced about 3 tons of grain yield and 12 tons of fodder yield at the highest level of RDF (Fig 2). Figure 2 Relative performance at 125% RDF.

5 Pg. 04 Grain Sorghum Experiments Fodder yield depicted a gradient pattern across all fertilizer levels but grain yield did not improve beyond 100% RDF. All the three test entries produced greater fodder yield than both the checks. The relative increase in fodder yield was significant, which ranged from 35 to 42% over the check variety CSV 17 and to an extant of 5% over CSH 14 (Fig 3). Figure 3 Relative fodder yield of test entries across Zone I (North). An increasing trend across the levels of fertilizer was observed in fodder yield, but in terms of mean grain yield there was no greater response at the higher dose of 125% of RDF. Checks CSV 17 and CSH 14 produced higher grain yield than the test entries SPV 2293, 2307 and 2308 at Coimbatore in Zone I (South) 1KB Genotype x Fertility (Zone I South) The grain sorghum varieties SPV 2293, 2307 and 2308 were evaluated for their potential performance and response to various levels of recommended dose of fertilizer RDF (75%, 100%, 125%RDF) at Coimbatore in Zone I (South). The check sorghum cultivars were CSV 17 and CSH 14. The results were statistically analyzed using a factorial RBD design. Figure 4 Grain and fodder yield of SPV 2293, 2307 and 2308 in Zone I (South).

6 Pg. 05 Grain Sorghum Experiments Grain yield of the test entries was lower than the checks CSV 17 and CSH 14 (Fig 4), while the fodder yield of SPV 2293 was almost equivalent to CSH 14 at Coimbatore. Among the test entries SPV 2308 depicted an increasing trend in both grain and fodder yield with increase in fertilizer gradient from 75% to 125% RDF (Fig 5). Figure 5 Grain and fodder yield response of SPV 2308 across a fertilizer gradient. 1KC Genotype x Fertility (Zone II Central) Two grain sorghum hybrids SPH 1778, 1779 and two varieties SPV 2296, 2307 were evaluated for their potential performance and response to three levels of recommended dose of fertilizer RDF (75%, 100%, 125%RDF) at five centers (Akola, Dharwad, Indore, Parbhani and Surat) in Zone II (Central). The check sorghum cultivars were CSH 16, CSH 25 and CSV 20. The results were statistically analyzed using a factorial RBD design. Figure 6 Grain yield trend of 4 test entries across 5 centers in Zone II (Central).

7 Pg. 06 Grain Sorghum Experiments Sorghum hybrids at Dharwad center in Zone II recorded the highest grain yields in the range of 5 to 7 tons per ha., during the kharif 2016 season Across the five multi locations grain yields in the range of 5 to 7 tons were recorded at Dharwad center by the sorghum hybrids (Fig 6), while it ranged from 3 to 4 tons among the sorghum varieties. The mean performance trends across Zone II indicates, that among the test hybrids SPH 1778 (4.22 tons) produced similar grain yield as the best check CSH 25 (4.28 tons/ha). But both the test varieties (SPV 2296=2.91 tons and 2307=2.97 tons) performance in terms of grain yield was similar to CSV 20 (2.89 tons/ha). Sorghum hybrids significantly out yielded all the varieties by 1.0 ton and the difference was to an extant of 37%. CSH 25 at Dharwad produced 7 tons grain, while at Akola CSV 20 produced 18 tons of fodder yield per hectare Are more number of rainy days more important for rainfed sorghum as compared to total quantum? Figure 7 Fodder yield production of sorghum hybrids and varieties in Zone II (Central). Though there were significant difference in fodder yield (Fig 7) across all the five centers, the mean differences were non-significant and were in the range of 11 to 12.5 tons per ha, with CSV 20 check sorghum variety recording the highest fodder yield. Among the test varieties performance of SPV 2296 was better at Dharwad and Indore, while at other three centers Check CSV 20 performed better. Among the test hybrids SPH 1778 fodder yield performance was better at four centers, while SPH 1779 performed better at Akola. The high grain yields at Dharwad center could be attributed to the rainfall and rainy days distribution during the kharif 2016 season (Fig 8). Except for standard weeks 20, 28 and 40 when the rainfall exceeded 40mm, during rest of the season it ranged between 10 to 30mm, which was perfectly distributed during the crop growth period. Total rainfall

8 Pg. 07 Grain Sorghum Experiments received during the year was 568 mm which was spread over 55 rainy days. Rainfed sorghum cultivar potential can be achieved in environments that experience such stress free crop growing period, coupled with management that brings about an ideal genotype by environment by management interaction. Figure 8 Rainfall (mm) and rainy days distribution during K 2016 season at Dharwad. The high productivity of improved sorghum genotypes is brought about by a high harvest index which could explain the extant of response to added fertilizer when grain yield was plotted as a function of harvest index (Fig 9). The range of harvest indices between 25 and 35% represent the varieties, while the range between 35 and 45% represent the hybrids. Figure 9 Harvest index vs Grain yield regression of improved sorghum varieties and hybrids.

9 Pg. 08 Grain Sorghum Experiments Genotype by fertility level interaction was not significant and at a given level of fertilizer (125% RDF) both test and check hybrids produced similar grain (4 tons ha -1 ) and fodder (12 tons ha -1 ) yields (Fig 10). Figure 10 Relative performance of test and check hybrids at 125% of RDF across Zone II (Central). 2K INM in kharif sorghum Rabi chickpea sequence The integrated nutrient management (INM) experiment in a cropping sequence comprising Kharif Sorghum followed by Rabi Chickpea was initiated during with a combination of 4 organic sources and 4 levels of inorganic fertilizer (Recommended dose of Nitrogen-RDN), which was later modified during the year in to various proportions of organic plus inorganic fertilizer along with Azospirillum and Phosphorus Solubilizing Bacteria (PSB) seed treatments. The long term experiment consisted of nine treatments: T1-100% RDN through inorganic fertilizer (INORG FERT) T2-50% RDN through INORG FERT+50% RDN through FYM T3-50% RDN through INORG FERT +50% RDN through Vermi-compost T4-75% RDN through INORG FERT+25% RDN through FYM T5-75% RDN through INORG FERT+25% RDN through Vermi-compost T6-50% RDN through INORG FERT+25% RDN through FYM+25% RDN through Vermicompost T7-75% RDN through INORG FERT+25% RDN through FYM+ seed treatment with PSB+ Azospirillum T8-75% RDN through INORG FERT+25% RDN through Vermi-compost + seed treatment with PSB+ Azospirillum T9-75% RDN through inorganic fertilizer + seed treatment with PSB + Azospirillum

10 Pg. 09 Grain Sorghum Experiments The mean grain and fodder yield trends of kharif sorghum sown across two centers Parbhani and Indore indicate that all combinations of inorganic and organic fertilizer produced more than 3 tons of grain and 10 tons of fodder per hectare (Fig 11). Both farmyard manure and vermi-compost were equally good in terms of organic source and in combination with seed treatment of Azospirillum and PSB produced almost equivalent yield of inorganic source of fertilizer. Long term soil health sustenance is an important feature under fluctuating monsoonal season, hence improving the water holding capacity is as important as attaining higher grain and fodder yields in a rainfed environment. Figure 11 Integrated nutrient management options in Kharif Sorghum - Rabi Chickpea sequence. Since the grain mean yields pooled over multi-locations were not significant, recommendations from the long term trial will be made based on location specific results as summarized by individual centers. 7K Mechanization in grain sorghum The large plot trial at Coimbatore had 3 major operations including sowing, weeding and fodder harvesting that were mechanized. These set of operations were compared with the check treatment of manual operations as well as other three treatments where minus mechanized sowing, minus mechanized weeding and minus mechanized fodder harvesting were imposed. Figure 12 Mechanization in grain sorghum production and relative yields as well benefit cost ratio.

11 Pg. 10 Grain Sorghum Experiments Relative grain and fodder yields were not influenced by the absence of individual mechanized operation or in the completely mechanized treatment when compared to manual management. The advantage of the mechanized management was the improvement in net returns due to reduction in cost of cultivation as well as the resultant enhancement in benefit cost ratio as depicted in Fig 12. 9K Liquid bio-fertilizer seed treatment A new experiment was initiated during the 46 Annual Group Meeting at Udaipur to evaluate the relative efficiency of liquid and powder form of bio-fertilizer (Azospirillum -AZO and Phosphorus Solubilizing Bacteria PSB) on grain sorghum. Six treatments were short listed which are as follows: 1. Recommended package of practice (RPP) 2. Recommended dose of fertilizer plus seed treatment with powder form of AZO & PSB 3. Recommended dose of fertilizer plus seed treatment with 2ml AZO and 2ml PSB 4. Recommended dose of fertilizer plus seed treatment with 2ml AZO and 4ml PSB 5. Recommended dose of fertilizer plus seed treatment with 4ml AZO and 2ml PSB 6. Recommended dose of fertilizer plus seed treatment with 4ml AZO and 4ml PSB The design of experiment was RBD with four replications. The liquid bio-fertilizer was resourced from the production laboratory at UAS Dharwad. The same product was utilized at both the centers. The first year results indicate a positive influence of liquid form of bio-fertilizer over powder form in terms of sorghum grain yield. At Akola the response of 2ml AZO plus 2 ml PSB seed treatment proved to be better with a grain yield advantage of 18% over powder form of biofertilizer. At Dharwad the response to 2ml of AZO and 4ml of PSB was better with a grain yield advantage of 10% over powder form of bio-fertilizer. These results will be substantiated during the second year of experimentation at both the centers. Figure 13 Seed treatment with liquid bio-fertilizer has influence on sorghum grain yield at Akola and Dharwad.

12 Pg. 11 Forage Sorghum Experiments Forage Sorghum Experiments The forage sorghum single cut test hybrid SPH 1752 outperformed both in terms of green and dry fodder yield across all the four centres. 1KE Genotype x Fertility (Single Cut) The single cut forage sorghum hybrids SPH 1752, 1794 and 1797 were evaluated for their potential performance and response to various levels of recommended dose of fertilizer (75%, 100%, 125% RDF) at 4 centers (Deesa, Hisar, Ludhiana and Udaipur). The check forage sorghum cultivars were CSH 13 and CSV 21F. The results were statistically analyzed using a factorial RBD design. The green fodder yield increase over check CSH 13 was to an extant of 22% SPH 1752 showed a linear response to increasing level of fertilizer with a green fodder yield of 47 tons at the lower level to 59 tons ha -1 at the highest level. Figure 14 Relative performance of forage sorghum single cut hybrids and varieties during K The single cut test forage sorghum hybrids SPH 1752 significantly outperformed all other cultivars including the check CSH 13. The mean performance in terms of green fodder yield (50 tons ha -1 ) indicates an increase of 22% over the check (41 tons ha -1 ). Figure 15 SPH 1752 response to graded levels of recommended dose of fertilizer.

13 Pg. 12 Forage Sorghum Experiments Plant height is an important characteristic in single cut forage sorghum that is related to green fodder yield. The single cut forage sorghum hybrid SPH 1752 responded to increasing level of fertilizer (up to 125% RDF), both in terms of green and dry fodder yields (Fig 15). The green fodder increase ranged from 47 tons to 59 tons from the lowest to the highest level and the dry fodder yield increase ranged from 14 to 18 tons ha -1. A linear relation between plant height and green fodder yield in single cut forage sorghum had an R 2 value of SPH 1768 the multi cut forage hybrid recorded a total green fodder yield increase of 10 and 22% over checks CSH 24MF and CSH 20MF. Figure 16 Linear relation between plant height and green fodder yield in single cut forage sorghum. 1KF Genotype x Fertility (Multi Cut) The multi cut forage sorghum hybrids SPH 1768 and SPH 1770 were evaluated for their potential performance and response to three levels of recommended dose of fertilizer (75%, 100%, 125%RDF) at 3 centers (Hisar, Ludhiana and Udaipur). SPH 1768 has a linear response to increasing levels of fertilizer dose. Figure 17 Relative performance of multi cut forage hybrids during K 2016.

14 Pg. 13 Forage Sorghum Experiments The check forage sorghum hybrids were CSH 20MF and CSH 24MF, while the check forage sorghum variety was SSG The results were statistically analyzed using a factorial RBD design. The results indicate significant differences in total green fodder yield at all the three centers. The overall mean performance of SPH 1768 (63 tons ha -1 ) was better than all the multi cut hybrids. The increase in total green fodder yield over checks CSH 24MF and CSH 20MF was 10 and 22% respectively (Fig 17). Figure 18 SPH 1768 responded to increasing fertilizer level across both first and second cuts. The response of test hybrid SPH 1768 to increasing level of fertilizer is depicted in Fig 18 and across both the cuts the trend is incremental. The regenerative capacity of SSG 59-3 is significantly higher, which recorded a mean green fodder yield of 29 tons during the second cut as compared to the best hybrid SPH 1768 which produced 23 tons ha -1 (Fig 19). Figure 19 SSG 59-3 has high regenerative capacity which determines the second cut yields. Multi cut sorghum forage cultivars should be bred with a high regenerative capacity trait so as to improve the total forage yield performance across all cuts.

15 Pg. 14 Forage Sorghum Experiments 6K Production inputs prioritization (Single Cut) The primary objective of the experiment was to quantify the management component that had the greatest influence on single cut forage sorghum productivity, as compared to the full package of practices (POP). The combination of treatments were as follows: Control (improved cultivar minus all management components) Full Package OF Practices (POP) POP minus Recommended Dose of Fertilizers POP minus Weed Control POP minus Plant Protection POP minus Seed Treat POP minus Irrigation POP minus Imp Cultivar The results during the second year of experimentation once again substantiate that the sequence of important management component that had greater influence on green and dry fodder yields as well as the net returns was in the order of complete absence of all recommended practices, followed by fertilizer, weed and irrigation management components. Figure 20 Relative reduction in yields and net returns due to absence of an individual package of practice. The relative reduction as compared to full package of practices was 123%, 37%, 24% and 12% respectively (Fig 20). Forage sorghum that is grown as a single cut is influenced by complete absence of all package of practices. Fertilizer management followed by weed and irrigation management play an important role in exploiting the full potential of improved cultivars. Highest net returns of Rs. 61,000 can be achieved, when the improved cultivar and all the recommended package of practices are imposed, so as to target the cultivars full potential.

16 Pg. 15 Forage Sorghum Experiments 8K Optimal plant population (Multi Cut) The multi cut forage cultivar SPV 2242that was identified for release by the varietal release committee during 46 th workshop held at Udaipur had similar features of SSG 59-3 in terms of possessing the high regenerative capacity trait. The tiller production by multi cut forage cultivars is not only the result of environment by genotype interaction but also a function of crop management during the said season. An experiment was formulated to understand the influence of plant population and fertilizer management on this newly released cultivar. The treatments of three spacing and three fertilizer levels were laid out in a split plot design. The statistical analysis indicated that the main effects of spacing and fertilizer were significant but the interaction effect of spacing by fertilizer treatment was not significant. Figure 21 Influence of spacing and fertilizer on SPV 2242 a multi cut forage cultivar. The cultivar did respond to increasing level of fertilizer in terms of both green and dry fodder yields as well as a higher benefit cost ratio (Fig 21). The first year results indicate that closer spacing of 30cm x 10cm was ideal for higher production of both green and dry fodder yields. The benefit cost ratio was also high, indicating that higher plant population contributed to higher yields. There was an increase in the tiller number and stem girth (Fig 22), with greater plant to plant spacing, but this could not result in attaining higher yields. Fertility Level : F3 : 125% RDF M1 30 x 10 cm M3 30 x 20 cm M4 30 x 25 cm Figure 22. SPV 2242 tiller number and stem girth increase with wider spacing at 125% RDF.

17 16 P a g e Forage Sorghum Draft Paper Forage Sorghum Draft Paper Improved regenerative capacity and high total productivity of CSV 33MF (SPV 2242) a multi-cut forage sorghum. All India Coordinated Research Project on Sorghum, Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR), Rajendranagar, Hyderabad ABSTRACT Multi-location field experiments are conducted by multi-disciplinary teams so as to assess the potential of newly bred forage sorghum lines for their yield potential, fertilizer response, pest tolerance ability, hydrocyanic acid as well protein content and digestibility. SPV 2242 a multicut forage line was evaluated across different centers in India over three years (2013 to 2015) in the Breeding trials and in the Agronomy trials for one year (2015). The check cultivars that were included in these trials were two hybrids CSH 20MF and CSH 24MF along with the variety SSG 59-3 and the local check specific to a given location. The multi-cut forage sorghum line developed using mutational breeding approach at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore center was evaluated across various centers of India for three years ( ). The total green fodder yield recorded across three cuts by SPV 2242 was 1042 quintals as compared to SSG 59-3 which yielded 877 quintals ha -1. The major significance of SPV 2242 in agronomy trials was its regeneration capacity reflected in the 2nd cut, in terms of both green and dry fodder yields. The increase in green fodder yield was to an extant of 31%, 21% and 12% over CSH 20MF, CSH 24MF and SSG 59-3 respectively. Similarly the dry fodder yield increase recorded by SPV 2242 was 32%, 28% and 13% over the respective checks. INTRODUCTION Key words: Forage sorghum, Green Fodder, Multi-cut and Regeneration The four year ( ) mean milk production worldwide is about 623 million tons, of which Indian contribution is about 90 million tons followed by USA s 85 million tons (FAO Statistics). Despite its first place in total milk production across the World, India has both the lowest productivity of 1.2 liters per day as well as the lowest cost of production of Rs per liter. Based on the AHS series 10 livestock census, India has about 1030 million cow and 820 million buffaloes. The top four states with high cow population include, Uttar Pradesh (185 million), Maharashtra (163), Rajasthan (108) and Bihar (107), while with reference to buffalo population Uttar Pradesh (230 million), Andhra Pradesh (106), Rajasthan (104) and Maharashtra (61) are the top four states in India. In terms of productivity (liters per year / per day per animal) the top four states include Punjab (1155/3.9 liters), Andhra Pradesh (927/3.2), Haryana (879/3.1) and Maharashtra (780/3.0). An estimate given in the 10th Five Year Plan document published by Government of India projects the demand for green (1170 m tons) and dry fodder (670 m tons) as compared to the supply of green (411) and dry fodder (488) indicating a deficit of 65% green fodder and 25% dry fodder by The major forage crops in terms of market volume (percent) during kharif

18 17 P a g e Forage Sorghum Draft Paper season include Sorghum-Sudan Grass (58%), Maize African Tall (17%), Forage Sorghum (16%), Bajra (3%), Cow Pea (3%) and other legumes (2%). During rabi season the major forage crops include Oats (45%), Berseem (37%) and Lucerne (18%). In India, forage sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is grown over 2.6 m ha, mainly in the states of western UP, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Delhi during Summer-Kharif season meeting approximately 65% of the fodder demand (Pandey and Roy, 2011). Forage sorghum hybrids are commonly grown in areas where rainfall is insufficient for corn (Zea mays (L.) production and can be utilized as green chop, silage, dry hay or fodder (Dhalberg et al., 2011). The All India Coordinated Sorghum Improvement Project (AICSIP) has the national mandate of improving sorghum biomass in forage sorghum/sweet sorghum, while grain productivity in grain sorghum across different sorghum types grown in India (Kumar et al., 2010). Pahuja et al., (2013) opined that breeding for multi-cut forage sorghum varieties that can outperform SSG 59-3 (a sweet Sudan grass released in 1974), has been the biggest challenge. Efforts were made to create variability in SSG 59-3 through mutagenesis using both physical and chemical mutagens. They could identify lines with improved fodder quality (low hydrocyanic acid, high protein and in vitro dry matter digestibility) that can further be used in the forage sorghum breeding program. A multi-cut forage sorghum SPV 2242 that was tested across multi-locations by the All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Sorghum has been identified by the Varietal Release Committee (VRC) during the workshop held at Udaipur in 2016 and hence forth will be known as CSV 33MF. The objective of this paper is to summarize the results of Initial/Advanced as well as Agronomy forage sorghum experiments conducted over years and across locations that included SPV 2242, as well as quantify the cultivar potential that has a very high regenerative capacity. MATERIALS AND METHODS The multi-cut forage experiment consisting of test entries contributed by different Forage Sorghum Breeders across the ALL INIDA COORDINATED RESEARCH PROJECT (AICRP) and as well as nationally/locally released cultivars are pooled to ascertain their production potential across multi-locations in India. The field experiment was laid out using a randomized complete block design (RBD) and replicated thrice. The multi-locations included Pantnagar, Ludhiana, Hisar, Jhansi, Meerut, Udaipur, Surat, Akola, Mandya and Coimbatore during the years 2013, 2014 and During the third year of experimentation i.e., kharif 2015 the test entry was also evaluated for its response to graded levels of fertilizer across four centers of Pantnagar, Ludiana, Hisar and Udaipur. Table 1. Combined analysis of multi-locations and level of significance for total green and dry fodder yield across three years of experimentation. Combined analysis over locations Total Green Fodder (q ha -1 ) Total Dry Fodder (q ha -1 ) Location Mean C.D. (5%) C.D. (1%) C.V. (%) F (Probability) 0.00** 0.05* 0.02* 0.00** ** - Significant at 1%, * - Significant at 5%

19 18 P a g e Forage Sorghum Draft Paper The check cultivars included two hybrids CSH 20MF and CSH 24MF, while two varieties were SSG 59-3 and a Local Check. Harvest field observations including green and dry fodder yields across the multi-cuts (three cuts in IVHT/AVHT) while two cuts in the fertilizer x cultivar trial) and the laboratory analysis related to the fodder quality parameters were recorded. Analysis for three years and levels of significance for the dependable variables of green fodder yield (q ha-1), dry fodder yield (q ha-1) pooled over three cuts are provided in Table 1. Combined multilocation analysis for three years was done using SAS statistical package available on Indian NARS statistical computing portal RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Comparative cultivar performance Mean total green and dry fodder yield from three multi-cuts and different locations across India indicate the best performance of SPV 2242 across both check varieties (SSG 59-3 and Local check) as well as the hybrids (CSH 20MF and 24MF). The increase over SSG 59-3 was to an extant of 19 % in terms of green fodder, while it was 15% in terms of dry fodder yield (Fig 1). Similarly the increase over hybrids CSH 20MF and CSH 24MF was in the range of 10-12%. Figure 1. Green and dry fodder yield (q ha -1 ) of test entry SPV 2242 as compared to hybrid (CSH 20 and 24MF) and varietal checks (SSG 59-3, Local). Local check, 866 CSH 24MF, 932 SPV 2242, 1042 CSH 20MF, 937 SPV 2242, 281 SSG 59-3, 244 CSH 20MF, 256 CSH 24MF, 250 Local check, 232 SSG 59-3, 877 SPV 2242 SSG 59-3 CSH 20MF CSH 24MF Local check TODRFYLD TOGRFYLD The major contributing physiological factors to the total productivity of SPV 2242 was its ability to re-generate after the first cut. The observed green fodder data (Table 2), clearly depicts the high production potential of both 2nd (375 q ha-1) and 3rd cuts (287 q ha-1) in SPV 2242 as compared to all other check cultivars including the hybrids (CSH 20MF and CSH 24MF). The results were similar in terms of dry fodder yield as well. Response to fertility levels Mean green and dry fodder yield across different locations in India indicate a linear response to three different levels of fertilizer across both 1st and 2nd harvests (Table 3). The highest net returns and B:C ratio was recorded with the highest level of 125% of recommended dose of

20 19 P a g e Forage Sorghum Draft Paper fertilizer. The better performance of SPV 2242 over check variety (SSG 59-3) as well as the hybrid (CSH 24MF) was observed in the first cut. Table 2. Green and dry fodder yield of multi-cut forage sorghum cultivar SPV Green Fodder Yield (q ha -1 ) Dry Fodder Yield (q ha -1 ) I CUT II CUT III CUT I CUT II CUT III CUT SPV SSG CSH 20MF CSH 24MF Local check Table 3. Green and dry fodder yield of multi-cut forage sorghum cultivar SPV 2242 in response to graded fertility levels. Green Fodder (q ha -1 ) Dry Fodder (q ha -1 ) Net Returns B:C Ratio 1st Cut 2nd Cut 1st Cut 2nd Cut (Rs) F F F C.D. (5%) Ai-Aj F (Prob) SPV SSG CSH 20MF CSH 24MF C.D. (5%) Bi-Bj C.V. (%) F (Prob) F1 : 75% RDF; F2 : 100% RDF ; F3 : 125% RDF

21 20 P a g e Forage Sorghum Draft Paper The major significance of SPV 2242 was once again the regeneration capacity reflected in the 2nd cut, in terms of both green and dry fodder yields. The increase in green fodder yield was to an extant of 31%, 21% and 12% over CSH 20MF, CSH 24MF and SSG 59-3 respectively. Similarly the dry fodder yield increase recorded in SPV 2242 was 32%, 28% and 13% over the respective checks. CONCLUSION Multi-location field experiments are conducted by multi-disciplinary teams so as to assess the potential of newly bred forage sorghum lines for their yield potential, fertilizer response, pest tolerance ability, hydrocyanic acid as well protein content and digestibility. SPV 2242 a multicut forage line was evaluated across different centers in India over three years (2013 to 2015). The detailed analyses of variance was carried out across different locations over three years in breeding trials and over one year in agronomy trial. The results from breeding trials indicate the high production potential of the forage entry both in terms of green and dry fodder yields. The increase over SSG 59-3 was to an extant of 19 % in terms of green fodder, while it was 15% in terms of dry fodder yield. The major significance of SPV 2242 in agronomy trials was its regeneration capacity reflected in the 2nd cut, in terms of both green and dry fodder yields. The increase in green fodder yield was to an extant of 31%, 21% and 12% over CSH 20MF, CSH 24MF and SSG 59-3 respectively. Similarly the dry fodder yield increase recorded in SPV 2242 was 32%, 28% and 13% over the respective checks. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS These experiments were conducted at the State Agricultural University (SAU) centres as a part of the All India Coordinated Research Project on Sorghum (AICRPS) and the Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR), Hyderabad. IIMR acknowledges Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) for funding these long term networks. REFERENCES Dahlberg J, Berenji J, Sikora V and Latković D (2011). Assessing sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench] germplasm for new traits: food, fuels & unique uses. Maydica, 56: Pahuja, S.K., Aruna, C., Shrotria, P.K., Kaur, S., Ranwah, B.R. and Patil, J.V. (2013) Inducing variability in multi-cut forage sorghum through mutagenesis, Plant Genetic Resources, 11(2), pp doi: /S Pandey, K. C. and A. K. Roy. (2011). Forage Crops Varieties. IGFRI, Jhansi, India. Kumar, SR., AV Ramanjaneyulu and A Krishna (2010). A decadal analysis of improved sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) cultivar response to fertilizer application in rainy season and a hypothetical grain production model. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 80:

22 21 P a g e Contact Information Contact Information NAME: DR U S TIWANA DESIGNATION: & FORAGE INCHARGE NAME: DR KRANTI KUMAR DESIGNATION: NAME: DR ARVIND VERMA DESIGNATION: Center: LUDHIANA Mob: forageincharge@pau.ed.in NAME: BB KUSHWAHA Center: PANTNAGAR Mob: pantnagar@millets.res.in NAME: SATPAL DESIGNATION: ASSISTANT Center: UDAIPUR Mob: arnd_verma@rediffmail.com NAME : DR.SEEMA NEMADE Center: INDORE Mob: kushwaha606@gmail.com NAME: SAINI LALITA ASSISTANT RESEARCH SCIENTIST Center: CCSHAU HISAR Mob: satpal.fpj@gmail.com NAME : DR SOLUNKE Center : AKOLA Mob: akola@millets.res.in NAME: DR.R.KALPANA ASSISTANT PROFESSOR (AGRONOMY) Center: SURAT Mob: lalitasaini9990@gmail.com Center : PARBHANI Mob: parbhani@millets.res.in Center: COIMBATORE Mob: kalpana@tnau.ac.in

23 22 P a g e Contact Information NAME : D. V. S. KUBSAD PRINCIPAL SCIENTIST (AGRONOMY) & HEAD NAME : DR. KAMBLE SK NAME: DR. S. K. JAIN ASSISTANT RESEARCH SCIENTIST (PBG) Center : Dharwad, Mob: vskubsad@rediffmail.com NAME : DR. DK GUPTA DESIGNATION: Center : RAHURI Mob: kamblesunil62@gmail.com NAME: DR. SATISH P. Center: DEESA Mob: skjain@sdau.edu.in NAME : DR. K MADHUSUDAN Center : DIGGI Mob: dinesh.arss.diggi@sknau.ac.in Center : TANDUR Mob: satishpindi@gmail.com Center : CHAMARAJANAGAR Mob: madhusudan_seeds@rediffmail.com NAME: DR. RADHIKA PRABHAKARAN SORGHUM BREEDER NAME : DR.Y.RADHAKRISHNA NAME : DR. DH PATIL Center: NARI, PHALTAN Mob: gprradhika2009@gmail.com Center : BAPATLA Mob: yrk.gtl@gmail.com Center : KALBURAGI Mob: dhpatil_uas@rediffmail.com