Character association and path coefficient analysis in rainy season sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) varieties at Samaru and Maigana Northern Guinea Savannah, Nigeria

Abstract

A two-year field trial was conducted during the 2013 and 2014 rainy seasons at Institute for Agricultural Research (I.A.R) Farm, Samaru and Experimental Site of Kaduna Agricultural Development Agency (KADA) located at Maigana, Soba Local Government Area. Treatments consist of two sorghum varieties and four rates each of cow dung (0, 5, 10 and 15 t ha^-1) and inorganic nitrogen (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg N ha^-1). Correlation and path analysis was attempted for seven growth and yield characters. Grain yield showed highly significant and positive correlation with all the parameters in both years, locations and combined years except number of panicles plot^-1 (0.028) at Maigana in the combined years of the experiment only. The variable that had the strongest positive direct effects on grain yield at both locations was grain weight panicle^-1 (0.417) at Samaru and (0.565) at Maigana in the combined years only. The effects of the other variables were not consistent in both years at two locations and combined. The highest total percentage contribution to yield at Samaru in 2013 was by panicle weight plant-1(152.06%) while in 2014 and combined seasons was by panicle length (57.79%) and grain weight panicle^-1 (37.784%) respectively. The highest total percent contribution to yield at Maigana in 2013 was by number of panicles plot^-1 (152.149%) while in 2014 and combined seasons was by panicle weight plant-1 (93.734%) and grain weight panicle^-1 (52.716%) respectively. The interrelationships among these variables might be used in preparing a breeding programme to take advantage of their contributions to yield and develop high yielding sorghum varieties of improved characteristics.