An agronomic practices for the improvement of sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) crop: A study at Gangetic plains of West Bengal

Sustainable bioenergy cropping systems require not only high yields but also efficient use of inputs. Sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is a multipurpose crop that has great potential as a bioethanol crop. To make an appreciable profit from cultivating sweet sorghum in gangetic plains of West Bengal, different agronomic practices would be developed in general and nutrient management in particular need to be standardized. The objective of this study is to determine the response of different N:P:K doses on sweet sorghum crop in this agro climatic region. The experiment was conducted at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Nimpith, South 24-Pgs, West Bengal in the year 2013-14. Randomized block design (RBD) was used for the experiment. The total number of treatment combinations was 18 (N3×P2×K3) replicated thrice and total number of plots become 54. Data was collected every 30 days interval starting from 40 Days after Sowing to 130 DAS. The maximum plant height of 191.18 cm was observed in N3P2K3 treatment at 130 DAS. The maximum Green Biomass of 25.26 t/ha was observed with N3P2K3 treatment at 100 DAS. The maximum sugar concentration of 10.25% was observed with N3P2K3 treatment at 100 DAS and highest sugar yield of 1816.50 kg/ha was observed with N3P2K3 at 100 DAS. Harvesting at 130 to 140 days after sowing might be suitable for sweet sorghum for this agro climatic zone of West Bengal with N3P2K3.