EFFECT OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS FERTILIZERS ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF SORGHUM

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted in the Abu-Alkassibe sheeb (Basrah Governorate), during the fall season of 2002, to study the effects of nitrogen fertilizer levels (0, 120, 160 and 240) kg N.ha-1 and phosphorus fertilizer levels (0, 40, 80) kg P.ha-1 on growth and yield of sorghum.Results indicated that increase of nitrogen fertilizer to 240 kg.ha-1 lead to significant increasing in plant height, stem diameter, leaf area index, green fodder yield, number of grain per head, weight of 1000 grain and grain yield. The level 80 kg. ha-1 of phosphorus fertilizer gave high plant height, stem diameter, leaf area index number of grain per head. The interaction between nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers were no significant.