Effects of Integrated Nitrogen Fertilization and Weed Management on Growth and Grain Yield of Sorghum Hybrid CS-200

A field experiment was carried out from May 2020 to August 2020 to investigate the impacts of nitrogen (N) fertilization and weed management on enhancing sorghum productivity in Afghanistan. The study included three different weed management practices: W1 (Two hand weeding 25 and 45 days after sowing), W2 (Atrazine + one hand weeding 45 days after sowing) and W3 (Atrazine + Pendimethalin + one hand weeding 45 days after sowing) and four doses of N applications including: N1 (no N application), N2 (50 kg N ha-1), N3 (75 kg N ha-1), and N4 (100 kg N ha-1). The experiment utilized a split plot design with three replications. The findings revealed that two hand weeding performed at 25 and 45 days after sowing (DAS) was the most effective method for managing weeds in sorghum. The N4 treatment resulted in significantly improved growth parameters and yield characteristics, closely followed by N3, with both treatments showing similar results in most observations. The highest seed and Stover yields were also associated with the N4 treatment, followed by N3. Thus, it can be concluded that applying 100 kg N per hectare, combined with weed management techniques either through two hand weeding at 25 and 45 DAS or through chemical management using atrazine and pendimethalin along with one hand weeding at 45 DAS enhances sorghum productivity in the agro-ecological conditions of Takhar province, Afghanistan.