Optimising sowing window for Sorghum bicolor L. and Panicum sumatrense L. in semiarid opics

Rain-dependant farming is prevalent in semiarid tropics and in Southern parts of India; farmers widely cultivate sorghum without scientific understanding of distribution as well probable receipt of rainfall. There is lack of knowledge about correct 'sowing window' which often leads to low yield and complete crop failure. The objective of this paper was to assess the quantum of rainfall received during the last 20 years and determine the probable on set and continuity of rainfall on weekly basis so as to raise a crop under rain-dependant situations. The field experiment was laid out in Factorial Randomized Block Design (FRBD) with 3 replications and data were statistically analysed in AGRES software. The treatments comprised of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L) (C-1) and little millet (Panicurn surnatrense L.) (C-2) as factor one (crops) and sowing window based on standard meteorological week (SMW) viz., sowing at 31 e SMW based on farmer's practice (M-1), Sowing at 33 rd SMW based on 50% rainfall probability with 100% recommended doses of fertilizers (M-2), Sowing at 38 t h SMW based on 75% rainfall probability with 100% recommended doses of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and potassium (M-3), Sowing window based on current weather forecast-35 th SMW (M-4), as factor two. The study indicated Sorghum (C-1) sowing on 38 th standard meteorological week (M-3) is ideal to get maximum yield under rainfed condition.