Effect of brewery spent grain on the growth and yield of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (l.) Moench)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma to investigate the effect of brewery spent grain on the growth and yield of sorghum. Treatment consisted of five rates of brewery spent grain (BSG) (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 t/ha). The experiment was a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. Sorghum variety (ABS 4540 AMZU) was used as a test crop. The parameters measured included: plant height, leaf area, number of leaves/plant at 3, 6 and 9 weeks after planting (WAP). Whole plant dry matter yield and grain weight were also determined. The results obtained showed that BSG treatments had significantly (P<0.05) higher plant height, leaf area and number of leaves than the control in all the weeks after planting, except for number of leaves at 3 WAP. At 3 and 6 WAP, the tallest plants (21.33 cm and 33.05 cm) were obtained from crops treated with 8 t/ha BSG while those treated with 6 t/ha BSG had the tallest plant (95.04 cm) at 9 WAP. 6 t/ha BSG recorded the highest leaf area at 3, 6 and 9 WAP. At 6 WAP, the highest number of leaves (9.00) was observed from plants which received the application of 6 t/ha BSG. However, control had the highest number of leaves (10.00) than BSG treatments. The highest grain yield (2.54 t/ha) and dry matter yield (3.80 g) were obtained from crops which received the application of 6 and 8 t/ha BSG, respectively.