EFFECTS OF INTER AND INTRA ROW SPACING ON YIELD AND YIELD RELATED TRAITS OF SORGHUM [Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench] IN BABILE DISTRIC, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted inBabile District during the main cropping season of 2019 to evaluate the effect of plant spacing (inter- and intra-row spacing) on yield and yield related traits of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor(L.)Moench].Four inter-row spacing (65 cm,75 cm,80 cm and 90cm) and four intra-row spacing (15, 20, 25 and 30 cm ) were evaluated as treatments using a randomized complete block design with three replications. Yield and yield related parameterswere collected and analyzed.Results of the experiment showed that out of the parameters measured, The highest productive tillers per plant (4.3 (no)), and total number of tillers per plant (4.6 (no)), were observed from the interaction effect of 90 cm inter-row and 30 cm intra-row spacing respectively. The maximum Panicle weight (96.1g),was obtained from the interaction effect of 90 cm inter-row and 30 cm. intra row spacing.The highest grain yield (4,87kgh-1 ) and the highest above ground biomass weight (11,356 kgh-1 )were also obtained from the interaction of 65 cm inter-row with 15cm intra-row spacing respectively.The Maximum plant height (152.8 cm, 156 cm)was recorded from65 cm inter-row and15cm intra-row spacing respectively. Maximum and minimum number of initial stand count (76 no,37no)and final stand count(35.83no, 75 no) were obtained from 30 cm intra-row and 15 cm intra-row spacing respectively. Theeffects of plant spacing on 100 seed weight and panicle length were found non significantlyaffected.Generally, intermediate spacing resulted in remarkable yield while widely spaced plants produced low yields. Therefore, 65 cm inter-row and 15 cm intra-row spacing can be recommended for short duration or early maturing improved sorghum variety in Babile district, and other areas with similar agro-ecologies to sustain sorghum productivity. However, this tentative generalization should be validated by testing more spacing for more than one season and location to give a valid recommendation.