Effect of Seedling Age on Growth and Yield at Transplanting of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench)

Direct seeding of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) has a problem of low yield including poor establishment. This poor establishment results from poor quality seed, poor seedbed preparation, seedling pests, poor sowing technique and high soil temperature. This study sought to establish the age at which sorghum seedlings can be transplanted with minimal effects on grain yield. Transplants were raised in 128 nursery tray pot. Five seedling ages were established by transplanting at 10 (T10), 15 (T15), 20 (T20), 25 (T25) and 30 (T30) days after planting (DAP). The treatment combinations were arranged in a randomized complete block design and replicated three times with an individual plot size of . Each plot had five ridges with a planting space of at one plants per stand. Results showed that seedling age on transplanting significantly affected growths and yields to sorghum after transplanting. Plant heights and diameters of transplants at T15 were longer than the other transplants. Conclusively, The advantages of this practice were better control of crop density and greater yields; either to fill gaps after emerging and thinning of crops or to compensate for a growth period that was too short for a complete crop cycle.