Effects of farmyard manure and zinc application on yield and quality of kharif fodder sorghum

A field study was conducted during the kharif season of 2024 at the Main Forage Research Station, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat, to assess the effects of farmyard manure (FYM) and zinc application on the yield and quality of kharif fodder sorghum. The experiment comprised twelve treatment combinations involving two FYM levels (0 and 10 t/ha) and six zinc treatments: Z1 (0 kg Zn/ha), Z2 (12.5 kg Zn/ha), Z3 (25 kg Zn/ha), Z4 (12.5 kg Zn/ha followed by zinc-solubilising bacteria (ZnSB) soil application), Z5 (12.5 kg Zn/ha followed by 0.05 % Zn foliar application) and Z6 (12.5 kg Zn/ha followed by ZnSB soil application and 0.05 % Zn foliar application). The experiment was conducted in a factorial randomised block design (FRBD) with three replications. Application of 10 t FYM/ha significantly increased green fodder yield (421.50 q/ha), dry matter yield (128.93 q/ha), crude protein yield (11.94 q/ha), plant zinc content (29.91 mg/kg) and zinc uptake (41.07 g/ha), along with post-harvest available soil zinc (2.96 mg/kg) and ZnSB count, compared with the control. Among zinc treatments, Z6 produced higher green fodder yield (376.33 q/ha), dry matter yield (123.36 q/ha), crude protein yield (11.59 q/ha) and zinc content (29.64 mg/kg), while Z5 and Z6 recorded higher post-harvest available zinc (2.75 and 2.84 mg/kg respectively) and zinc uptake (41.99 g/ha) respectively. The FYM × zinc interaction was significant. F2Z5 produced higher dry matter (180.73 q/ha) and crude protein yield (18.61 q/ha), whereas F2Z6 recorded higher zinc uptake (64.03 g/ha) and post-harvest available zinc (3.40 mg/kg).