Influence of Landscape Position on Sorghum Yield Response to Different Nutrient Sources and Soil Properties in the Semi-Arid Tropical Environment
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Date
2024
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Abstract
Understanding the response of crops to nutrient applications in undulating landscapes is imperative to improve nutrient use efficiency and crop yield. This study aimed to identify sorghum yield-limiting nutrients and characterize soil properties targeting landscape positions. The field experiments were conducted across 52 sites in four districts, covering three distinct landscape positions during the 2020 and 2022 cropping seasons. The treatments were All-blended, All- compound, All- individual, 150% of All- blended, All- blended-K, All- blended-S, All-blended-Zn, All -blended-B, recommended NP, 50% of All -blended, and control (no fertilizer). Treatment sequencing was randomized using a complete block design under foot slope (FS), mid-slope (MS), and hillslope (HS) positions. Results revealed that landscape position significantly affected the growth and yield of sorghum. Significantly higher yields were obtained from foot slopes than mid-slope and hillslope positions. Yield response to the application of nutrients significantly decreased with increasing slope. Overall, yield among all landscape positions was in the decreasing order of FS>MS>HS. The application of nutrients at different rates significantly improved sorghum total biomass and grain yield. Raising the all-blended treatment rate by 50% increased sorghum yield by 44% and 147% over the application of 50% of all nutrients and the unfertilized control treatment, respectively. Statistically significant yield differences were not observed among blended, compound, and separate applications of nutrients. The omission of K, S, Zn, and B did not show a significant variation in yield over the recommended NP fertilizer. The results of soil analysis results revealed that N and P are the most commonly deficient nutrients in sorghum-growing areas. The mean average volumetric soil moisture content ranged from 5.9-28.7% across landscape positions, with the highest at the foot slope and lowest at the hillslope position. Further research is suggested to determine economically optimum N and P rates across the three landscape positions.
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Blended fertilizers, Soil properties, Sorghum, Blended fertilizers