Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer
Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Vol. 13 No. sp1 (2026): Recent Advances in Agriculture

Influence of zinc application on biomass yield, nutrient uptake and economics of multicut fodder sorghum varieties

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.9976
Submitted
11 June 2025
Published
27-01-2026

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the kharif season of 2023 at the Research Farm, Division of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu, to evaluate the impact of zinc (Zn) fertilization on biomass yield, nutrient uptake and economic returns of multicut fodder sorghum varieties. The experimental soil was sandy clay loam, slightly alkaline in nature, low in organic carbon, nitrogen (N) and Zn, but medium in available phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). The experiment was laid out in a Factorial Randomized Block Design (FRBD) with 3 replications, comprising 2 sorghum varieties (SSG and CSV 33 MF) and 8 Zn treatments, viz., F1- Recommended Dose of Fertilizer (RDF), F2- RDF + soil application of zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) at 20 kg ha-1, F3- RDF + foliar application of ZnSO4 at 0.5 % at 40 Days After Sowing (DAS), F4- RDF + foliar application of ZnSO4 at 0.5 % at 80 DAS, F5- RDF + foliar application of ZnSO4 at 0.5 % at 40 DAS and 80 DAS, F6- RDF + soil application of ZnSO4 at 20 kg ha-1 + foliar application of ZnSO4 at 0.5 % at 40 DAS, F7- RDF + soil application of ZnSO4 at 20 kg ha-1 + foliar application of ZnSO4 at 0.5 % at 80 DAS and F8- RDF + soil application of ZnSO4 at 20 kg ha-1 + Foliar application of ZnSO4 at 0.5 % at 40 DAS and 80 DAS. A uniform basal dose of nitrogen: phosphorus pentoxide: potassium oxide (N:P2O5:K2O) at 60:40:20 kg ha-1 was applied across treatments. Results revealed that CSV 33 MF recorded significantly higher total green biomass yield, nutrient uptake and crude protein content across all harvests. However, the highest net returns and benefit-cost ratio were observed in the SSG variety. Among Zn treatments, the combined application of RDF + ZnSO4 at 20 kg ha-1 to soil and foliar sprays of 0.5 % ZnSO4 at 40 and 80 DAS (F8) significantly improved biomass yield and nutrient uptake parameters. F8 (RDF + soil application of ZnSO4 at 20 kg ha-1 + foliar application of ZnSO4 at 0.5 % at 40 DAS and 80 DAS) also showed superior economic performance. Based on the findings, CSV 33 MF in combination with RDF + ZnSO4 soil application and foliar sprays appears to be the most effective strategy for enhancing biomass yield, fodder quality and nutrient use. However, SSG with the same treatment maximized economic returns.

References

  1. Patel AM, Chavda NM, Patel PT. Productivity and quality of fodder sorghum as influenced by different genotypes and nitrogen levels. Forage Res. 2018;43(4):275-8.
  2. Sharma A, Singh P, Meena M. Fodder sorghum: A viable option for sustainable livestock production in arid and semi-arid regions. Forage Res. 2021;47(2):150-5.
  3. Gudadhe NN, Shinde MS, Patil RM. Effect of multicut fodder sorghum genotypes on green fodder yield and quality. J Pharmacogn Phytochem. 2019;8(1):1966-8.
  4. Praveen C, Srivastava AK, Sharma V. Response of multi-cut fodder sorghum to nitrogen and zinc levels. Int J Chem Stud. 2023;11(1):120-4.
  5. Alloway BJ. Zinc in soils and crop nutrition. 2nd ed. Brussels: International Zinc Association and IFA; 2008
  6. Cakmak I. Enrichment of cereal grains with zinc: Agronomic or genetic biofortification? Plant Soil. 2009;302(1-2):1-17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-007-9466-3
  7. Takkar PN, Walker CD. The distribution and correction of zinc deficiency. In: Robson AD, editor. Zinc in soils and plants. Dordrecht: Springer; 1993. p. 151-65 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0878-2_11
  8. Singh MV, Takkar PN, Natesan SKA. Micronutrient deficiencies: Global and national scenario. Indian J Fert. 2016;12(1):10-25.
  9. Kumar V, Meena MC, Singh MV. Soil and foliar zinc application improves fodder yield and quality of sorghum. Indian J Agron. 2020;65(1):45-9.
  10. Ramesh K, Dubey SK, Yadav RL. Role of foliar nutrition in improving crop productivity and sustainability. Indian J Fert. 2022;18(3):342-8.
  11. Jackson ML. Soil chemical analysis. New Delhi: Prentice Hall of India Pvt Ltd; 1973
  12. Lindsay WL, Norvell WA. Development of a DTPA soil test for zinc, iron, manganese and copper. Soil Sci Soc Am J. 1978;42(3):421-8. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1978.03615995004200030009x
  13. Association of Official Analytical Chemists. Official methods of analysis. Washington (DC); 1970.
  14. Cochran WG, Cox GM. Experimental designs. New York: John Wiley and Sons; 1957
  15. Tomar SS, Sharma SK, Singh D. Evaluation of multicut fodder sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) genotypes for yield and quality traits. Forage Res. 2014;40(2):123-7.
  16. Singh R, Kumar P, Yadav SK. Response of multicut fodder sorghum to fertility and irrigation management under semi-arid conditions. Indian J Agron. 2021;66(2):212-6.
  17. Tiwari A, Singh V, Pathak RK. Micronutrient management in fodder crops: A review. J Pharmacogn Phytochem. 2019;8(3):4843-6.
  18. Ramesh K, Singh M, Patel DP. Effect of foliar nutrition on growth and yield of forage crops: A review. Forage Res. 2016;41(3):150-6.
  19. Cakmak I. Enrichment of cereal grains with zinc: Agronomic or genetic biofortification? Plant Soil. 2008;302:1-17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-007-9466-3
  20. Havlin JL, Tisdale SL, Nelson WL, Beaton JD. Soil fertility and fertilizers. 8th ed. USA: Pearson Education; 2014
  21. Choudhary M, Yadav J, Meena NL. Influence of foliar application of micronutrients on yield and nutrient uptake in fodder crops. Vegetos. 2022;35(1):108-15.
  22. Cakmak I. Role of zinc in improving plant product quality. Plant Soil. 2010;337:241-58.
  23. Marschner H. Marschner's mineral nutrition of higher plants. 3rd ed. London: Academic Press; 2012
  24. Singh R, Yadav DS, Meena RS. Nutrient management in sorghum and its economic implications. Int J Chem Stud. 2019;7(1):2342-6.
  25. Pathak RK, Singh M, Yadav S. Integrated nutrient management in fodder crops - A review. Indian J Agron. 2020;65(4):536-42.
  26. Kumar A, Sharma VK, Patel RC. Profitability of fodder sorghum under different levels of zinc and nitrogen application. Forage Res. 2023;49(1):51-6.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.