Effects of Different Nitrogen Doses on Dry Matter Yield and Quality in Sweet Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor var. saccharatum (L.) Mohlenbr.) Varieties

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Erol Uyanık S., Budaklı Çarpıcı E.

TURKISH JOURNAL OF FIELD CROPS, vol.31, no.2, pp.1-9, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different nitrogen doses on the dry matter yield and forage quality of sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor var. saccharatum (L.) Mohlenbr.) varieties during the main cropping season. Field experiments were carried out in 2022 and 2023 at the trial fields of the Agricultural Application and Research Center of Bursa Uludag University Faculty of Agriculture, using a split-plot design in randomized complete blocks with 3 replications. Plant height, stem diameter, leaf ratio, stem ratio, dry matter yield, crude protein, acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) ratios were examined in this research. In the study, the highest dry matter yield was obtained from the Gulseker variety in both years, with average values ranging between 25.92–29.26 t ha⁻¹. The effect of nitrogen doses on dry matter yield varied across the years, and the highest yield (23.58 t ha⁻¹) in 2023 was obtained from the 160 kg ha⁻¹ nitrogen application. While the Uzun variety stood out for its crude protein ratio (6.87% and 7.38% in 2022 and 2023, respectively), the Gulseker and Erdurmus varieties had lower ADF and NDF ratios. The variety × nitrogen dose interaction was significant for dry matter yield and crude protein ratio. Consequently, for sweet sorghum production during the main cropping season in Bursa and similar ecological conditions, the Gulseker variety and a nitrogen dose of 160 kg ha⁻¹ are recommended as a suitable combination for productivity and sustainability.