JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE AND PRACTICE
Integrity Research Journals
ISSN: 2536-7072
Model: Open Access/Peer Reviewed
DOI: 10.31248/JASP
Start Year: 2016
Email: jasp@integrityresjournals.org
Genetic variability for tolerance to low soil nitrogen in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) genotypes
https://doi.org/10.31248/JASP2025.542 | Article Number: 1E5E40EB2 | Vol.10 (5) - October 2025
Received Date: 12 August 2025 | Accepted Date: 12 September 2025 | Published Date: 30 October 2025
Authors: Rukaiya Aliyu Sami* , Louis Aaron Obonyilo and Daniel Afang Aba
Keywords: heritability, Sub-Saharan Africa., Genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV), high soil nitrogen, low soil nitrogen, phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV)
Sorghum is a significant cereal crop in sub-Saharan Africa, but its production is hindered by challenges stemming from poor soil fertility, particularly low nitrogen levels. Low soil nitrogen (N) availability is a major constraint to sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) productivity, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Eighty-one sorghum genotypes were screened across two locations: Samaru and Minjibir in 2022. A 9 x 9 lattice design with two replications was used for the experiment. Data collected on yield and agronomic traits were subjected to analysis of variance and analysed using R and SAS software. The results revealed substantial variations among the genotypes for traits such as plant height, leaf death, panicle weight, days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, lodging rating, desirability rating, and yield, both under optimal soil nitrogen levels and low soil nitrogen levels. Notably, there were significant genetic variances in all the traits except 100 seed weight. Yield had a phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) of 96.20% and a genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) of 44.86% at Samaru under low soil nitrogen. While at Minjibir yield had a PCV value of 92% and a GCV value of 53% under low soil nitrogen. The study reveals substantial genetic variation among sorghum genotypes under low soil nitrogen, with grain yield exhibiting high GCV and heritability values, indicating its reliability for selecting tolerant genotypes.
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