Effect of Furrow- Rige Water Harvesting Technique and Chizelling on Yield and Yield Components of (Sorghum bicolor L.), North of Gadarif State, Sudan

Abstract

The appropriateness of the traditional wide level disc (WLD) practices for dryland farming, particularly under north Gadarif condition has been under dispute for many years. Field experimental work was conducted during the rainy season 2009/2010, at the University of Gadraif pilot farm. Furrow ridge in-situ water harvesting technique coupled with conservation tillage practices at three depths (20, 25and 30cm) using chisel plow was compared with WLD (control) for growth and yield of sorghum crop (Sorghum bicolor L.). The water harvesting technique recorded significantly higher values as compared to WLD with respect to some soil physical properties and agronomic parameters. During all stages of crop growing season (early, mid and late season), and at the three chiseling depths (20,25and 30cm) the soil moisture content in the early and late growing seasons were increased by 118.6% and 105.7% over WLD respectively. With respect to plant height, stem diameter and dry matter content they were increased by 76.44%, 88.95% and 42.3% over WLD. In as far as sorghum yield is concerned the furrow ridge in-situ water harvesting technique coupled with chisel plowing was in advantage of 128.1% and 112.3% over the traditional practice (WLD).