Integrated Effect of Nitrogen Fertilizer and Vermicompost on Quantitative and Qualitative Traits of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) Under Water Stress Situation

BACKGROUND: Management of water deficit is a great factor to sustainable crop production, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. Vermicompost is an organic compound that is microbial active and rich in nutrients that results from the interaction of earthworms and microorganisms with organic matter decomposition. OBJECTIVES: This research was carried out to assess effect of different level of water deficit stress and combined effect of nitrogen fertilizer and vermicompost on Sorghum crop production and seed protein content. METHODS: Current study was conducted according split plot experiment based on randomized complete blocks design with four replications along 2017 year. The main factor included water deficit stress at three level (A1: 70, A2: 100 and A3: 130 mm Class A evaporation pan) and combined effect of nitrogen fertilizer and vermicompost at five level (B1: 100% Nitrogen; 100% pure nitrogen equivalent to 200 kg per hectare, B2: 75% Nitrogen+25% Vermicompost, B3: 50% Nitrogen+50% Vermicompost, B4: 25% Nitrogen+75% Vermicompost, B5: 100% Vermicompost) belonged to sub plot. RESULT: According result of analysis of variance effect of water deficit stress and combination nitrogen with vermicompost on all measured traits was significant but interaction effect of treatments only on seed and biologic yield was significant. Mean comparison result of different level of water deficit stress indicated that maximum plant height, race length, number of raceme per race, number of seed per race, 1000-seed weight and protein yield was noted for 70 mm evaporation pan class A and minimum of those belonged to 130 mm evaporation pan class A. Also as for Duncan classification made with respect to different level of combination nitrogen with vermicompost maximum and minimum amount of mentioned traits belonged to 75% nitrogen+25% vermicompost and 100% vermicompost treatment. CONCLUSION: Finally in order to achieve maximum quantitative and qualitative yield, cultivation of sorghum with apply 75% nitrogen+25% vermicompost treatment under 70 mm evaporation pan class A it can be advised at studied areas.