Light Interception, Leaf Area Index and Dry Matter Yield in Fodder Sorghum at Different Plant Populations

Fodder sorghum (M. P. Chari) was grown at varying populations to examine its influence on light interception, leaf area index and biomass production. DMY, CGR and IPAR depending on LAI reached maximum at LAI 5 of 150 000 plants ha−1 stand and thus yielded higher biomass. Therefore, physiological potential of fodder sorghum crop was found to be maximum at a population density of 150 000 plants ha−1. Further increases in population developed mutual shading and adversely affected the crop growth rate and dry matter accumulation. Significant linear relationships of dry matter yield with IPAR, plant population densities, LAI and CGR clearly indicate the interdependence of these characters.