MPACT OF PLANTING METHODS ON BIOMASS PRODUCTION, CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND METHANE YIELD OF SORGHUM CULTIVARS

Abstract

Bio-fuels are considered to be cheap, sustainable and more environmentalfriendly. Management considerations including sowing method and suitable cultivar have considerable effect on the dry matter yield of plants which in turns influenced the bio-fuel yield. Field experiment was conducted during 2016 and 2017 17 to assesstheimpactof sowing methods and cultivars on biomass production, biomass composition and methane productionfrom sorghum bicolor. The ridge sowing performed better and resulted in taller plants with maximum diameter and leaves, dry matter and methane yield ha-1. Moreover, the sowing methods had non-significant effect on protein, sugar, ash, acid detergent fiber(ADF), neutral detergent fiber(NDF), and lignin contents and specific methane yield. In case of cultivars Jawar-2011 performed significantly better with maximum plant height, leaves, dry matter production, protein and ash concentration and methane ha-1as compared to other cultivars. In conclusion, ridge sowing and cultivar Jawar-2011 may be opted owing to high biomass productionfor increasing the methane yield ha