ZONATION OF RABI SORGHUM ( Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) AREA OF MAHARASHTRA ON THE BASIS OF POTENTIAL YIELD

Abstract

Cluster analysis for rabi sorghum grain yield of similar pattern of years in 22 out of 34 districts of Maharashtra was carried out from the yield levels of 25 years from 1980 to 2004 by following Ward’s minimum variance method. Three clusters were identified. The most consistent production level was represented by cluster-2 for 14 out of 25 years. A total of three zones were identified through the cluster-2 representing mean yield levels of Zone 1 as low i.e., less than 550 kg ha -1, Zone 2 as medium with yield ranging from 550 to 1000kg ha-1 and Zone 3 as high with yield more than 1000 kg ha-1. A dendrogram was prepared and coherent yield zones were identified. The map depicts the districts Ahmednagar, Pune and Solapur in Zone 1A, and Bhandara,Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Nagpur and Wardha in Zone 1B. Contiguous blocks of districts comprising of Dhule,Nashik, Aurangabad, Bid and Buldana are termed as Zone 2A, two districts Satara and Sangli as Zone 2B. The districts under Maratwada region, Jalna, Parbhani, Nanded, Latur and Osmanabad are demarcated as Zone 2C. The most potential zone was 3A with yield >1000 kg ha-1 consisted of two districts Jalgaon and Kolhapur.