Grain proximate compositions of two sorghum (Sorghum bicolor Moench (L.) ) varieties as affected by Cow dung and inorganic Nitrogen Fertilizer in northern Guinea savanna ecological zone.

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Proximate compositions of two sorghum varieties were determined in 2019 and 2020. The grain used were harvested and stored for seven years under ambient temperature conditions. The field experiments were conducted at the Research Farm of the Institute for Agricultural Research, Samaru and Kaduna State Agricultural Project, Maigana to study the growth, yield and malting physical quality of two sorghum varieties as affected by cow dung and inorganic nitrogen fertilizer during the 2013 and 2014 rainy seasons. The treatments consisted of four rates of nitrogen fertilizer (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg Nha^-1) and cow dung (0, 5, 10 and 15 tonnes ha^-1) and two sorghum varieties (SAMSORG-17, and SAMSORG 44). Treatments were laid out in a split plot design and replicated three times with nitrogen and cow dung rates assigned in the main plot while the varieties were assigned in the sub–plots. The result showed that N-application was found to significantly affect the grain proximate concentrations by every increase of 30 kg ha^-1 in the rate up to the highest rate of 90 kg N ha^-1 in both years and locations. The application of cow dung significantly affected the grain proximate composition by every 5 t ha^-1 up to 15 t ha^-1, however the increase was not consistent among the parameters. Sorghum variety SAMSORGH 17 consistently gave higher mean values of the proximate compositions except carbohydrate in both years and locations.