Response of fodder sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) to sewage sludge treatment and irrigation intervals in a dryland condition

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted in the Experimental Research Farm of Omdurman Islamic University, Sudan to determine short-term effect of irrigation intervals (7 and 10 days) and sun-dried or composted sewage sludge, recommended mineral fertilizer on straw dry matter yield (SDMY) and N, P and K content of fodder sorghum and soil properties. In the 7 and 10 days irrigation intervals, composted, sun-dried sludge and mineral fertilizer have significantly increased SDMY over the control by 51, 98, 67 and 78, 19, 33%, respectively. Apparent N use efficiency (ANUE) in composted and sun dried plots irrigated at either 7 or 10 days was 9 - 36 and 16 - 74%, respectively. Reducing the irrigation interval has significantly increased salinity by 13%. Increasing irrigation interval has decreased bulk density by 5%. It could be concluded that, application of composted sludge is a useful practice for improvement of soil properties and consequent yield increase.