Asian Journal of Research in Biosciences

The rapid decline of natural resources, including nutrient resources, is a serious concern for the sustainable future of agriculture. Given rapid population growth and the predominance of rain-fed agriculture, improving crop yields through sustainable practices is imperative. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of three NPK (15-15-15) fertiliser micro-doses (0.0, 0.6, and 0.9 g/hole) on the productivity of four sorghum genotypes (Elwafir, Butana, Gurry, and Batania) under rain-fed conditions in South Kordofan, Sudan. Fertiliser micro-dosing has been identified as a cost-effective technology for addressing low soil fertility under resource-constrained conditions. An experiment was conducted under rain-fed conditions during the 2016/17 season at Abu Gebeha East, Southern Kordofan, Sudan. The aim of the study was to determine the effects of NPK (15-15-15) fertiliser micro-doses (0.9, 0.6, and 0.0 g/hole) on the yield of four sorghum genotypes (Elwafir, Butana, Gurry, and Batania). The treatments were arranged in a randomised complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. The results showed that the highest grain yield was obtained by the Gurry genotype (6.8 ton/ha), whereas Elwafir and Batania yielded 6.1 and 4.6 ton/ha, respectively. The 0.9 g NPK micro-dose gave the highest plant height (157.5 cm), number of seeds per panicle (2304.3), panicle weight (60.2 g), 100-seed weight, and grain yield (6.4 ton/ha) compared with the other doses. The results indicated that the 0.9 g micro-dose produced the highest grain yield among the treatments evaluated under rain-fed conditions in South Kordofan, Sudan. Furthermore, the study recommended the Gurry genotype and a 0.9 g NPK fertiliser micro-dose for sorghum growers in South Kordofan to attain the highest grain yield.