Grain Sorghum Productivity Response to Seeding Rates and Mineral Fertilizers in South and Southeast Kazakhstan

This study aimed to assess the impact of mineral fertilizer's doses, seeding rates, sowing dates, and cultivation technologies (conventional and no-till) on the yield of grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.).The research took place in 2024-2025 under moisture-deficit conditions of the Almaty and Kyzylorda regions, Kazakhstan.The mineral nutrition established became a determining factor in the formation of grain yield in sorghum.By applying mineral fertilizers at the rate of N100P60 in the Almaty Region, the grain yield reached 6.17 t/ha, while without fertilizers, it did not exceed 2.3-3.97t/ha, providing an increase of 2.2 t/ha.In the Kyzylorda Region, by applying mineral fertilizer (N120P60), the grain yield reached 4.18 t/ha, while without fertilizers, it only reached 1.81-2.75t/ha, providing an increase of 1.43 t/ha.The optimal seeding rate (180,000 plants/ha) showed the highest productivity, while the increased planting density (300,000 plants/ha) obtained a 0.3-0.6 t/ha decrease in grain yield.Sowing time also has a significant impact, and the maximum yield (3.92-4.18t/ha) occurred when sowing in the third 10-day period of May, depending on the nutrient levels.