Effect of plant population and nitrogen on biomass and juice yield of sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor)

An experiment was conducted during rainy season (kharif) season of 1989 and 1990 to study the effect of plant population(80,000; 100,000 and 120,000 plants/ha) and level of nitrogen (0,50, 100 and 150 kg N/ha) on biomass and juice yields of sweet sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]. The experiment was laid out in split-plot design with 3 replications. significant increase in total dry biomass was observed due to higher plant population in both the pears. Plant population of 120,000 plants/ha gave higher dry biomass (12.82 tonnes/ha), fresh stalk yield (31.62 tonnes;ha), crushing (33.44%) and juice yield (10,640 kg/ha) during 1989 and 1990 on pooled data basis, Nitrogen application significantly increased total dry biomass, fresh stalk yield and juice yield.;Maximum total dry biomass (13.82 tonnes/ha), fresh stalk yield (32.87 tonnes/ha) and juice yield (10,964 kg/ha) were obtained when nitrogen was applied @ 150 kg N/ha. Neither plant population nor nitrogen could bring significant difference in brix reading of juice during both the seasons.