EFFECT OF MATURITY STAGE AND FERTILIZER ON YIELD AND GRAIN QUALITY OFSORGHUM (SORGHUM-BICOLOR)

A field experiment conducted on the deep Vertisol during 1988 and 1989 at Bhopal indicated that 'CSH 5' sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench ] may be harvested between 112 and 121 days after sowing for getting t he marinum yield. The optimum moisture content of grain at harvest was 11-17%. The milling, quality, germination, viability and storability also touched the optimum level during this period. Nitrogen fertilizat ion @ 80 kg/ha significantly improved the grain, straw and protein yie lds, and also germination and seedling vigour. However, grain quality deteriorated at storage due to 120 kg N/ha.