SaliniRani V G
Evaluation and nutritional management of fodder crops in summer rice fallows - Vellayani Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture 2001
A field experiment was conducted at the Cropping Systems
Research Centre, Karamana, Thiruvananthapuram during February, 2000
•
- May, 2000 to evaluate the production potential and quality of different
fodder crops in summer rice fallows and to study the changes in physio-
chemical properties of soil due to fodder cropping and to work out the
economics of fodder production. The treatment consisted of combined
application of two levels of vermicompost (2.5 t ha' and 5 t ha") and
two levels of chemical fertilizers (50 per cent and 100 per cent POP
recommendation) on two cereal fodders (bajra and sorghum) and two
leguminous fodders (Sesbania rostrata and cowpea). The experiment
was laid out in split plot design with four replications.
Plant height, leaf area index and leaf: stem ratio differed
significantly with the application of different combinations of
vermicompost and chemical fertilizers. All these parameters were found
to be increasing with increasing levels of vermicompost and chemical
fertilizers.
Integrated application of vermicompost (5 t ha") and
chemical fertilizers (100 per cent POP recommendation) produced the
maximum value for all the growth parameters.
The green fodder yield and dry fodder yield of all the fodder crops
were favourably enhanced by vermicompost application. Application of
highest dose of vermicompost combined with the highest dose of
chemical fertilizers recorded the maximum fodder yield III all the four
fodder crops.
Crude protein content of fodder crops increased with incremental
.
doses of nutrients where as crude fibre content decreased with
incremental doses of vermicompost and chemical fertilizers.
Incremental doses of the vermicompost and chemical fertilizers
decreased the bulk density of soil where as water holding capacity
increased with higher doses of nutrients.
Available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium status of soil were
improved and showed an increasing trend with the increasing levels of
vermicompost and chemical fertilizers.
Green fodder yield was maximum III cowpea while dry fodder
yield was maximum in sorghum.
Cowpea plants recorded the highest crude protein content,
nitrogen content and potassium content followed by Sesbania rostrata.
Sorghum recorded the highest crude fibre content and cowpea recorded
the' lowest crude fibre content.
The uptake of nitrogen and phosphorus were maximum III
Sesbania rostrata whereas cowpea recorded the maximum potassium
uptake.
630 / SAL/EV
Evaluation and nutritional management of fodder crops in summer rice fallows - Vellayani Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture 2001
A field experiment was conducted at the Cropping Systems
Research Centre, Karamana, Thiruvananthapuram during February, 2000
•
- May, 2000 to evaluate the production potential and quality of different
fodder crops in summer rice fallows and to study the changes in physio-
chemical properties of soil due to fodder cropping and to work out the
economics of fodder production. The treatment consisted of combined
application of two levels of vermicompost (2.5 t ha' and 5 t ha") and
two levels of chemical fertilizers (50 per cent and 100 per cent POP
recommendation) on two cereal fodders (bajra and sorghum) and two
leguminous fodders (Sesbania rostrata and cowpea). The experiment
was laid out in split plot design with four replications.
Plant height, leaf area index and leaf: stem ratio differed
significantly with the application of different combinations of
vermicompost and chemical fertilizers. All these parameters were found
to be increasing with increasing levels of vermicompost and chemical
fertilizers.
Integrated application of vermicompost (5 t ha") and
chemical fertilizers (100 per cent POP recommendation) produced the
maximum value for all the growth parameters.
The green fodder yield and dry fodder yield of all the fodder crops
were favourably enhanced by vermicompost application. Application of
highest dose of vermicompost combined with the highest dose of
chemical fertilizers recorded the maximum fodder yield III all the four
fodder crops.
Crude protein content of fodder crops increased with incremental
.
doses of nutrients where as crude fibre content decreased with
incremental doses of vermicompost and chemical fertilizers.
Incremental doses of the vermicompost and chemical fertilizers
decreased the bulk density of soil where as water holding capacity
increased with higher doses of nutrients.
Available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium status of soil were
improved and showed an increasing trend with the increasing levels of
vermicompost and chemical fertilizers.
Green fodder yield was maximum III cowpea while dry fodder
yield was maximum in sorghum.
Cowpea plants recorded the highest crude protein content,
nitrogen content and potassium content followed by Sesbania rostrata.
Sorghum recorded the highest crude fibre content and cowpea recorded
the' lowest crude fibre content.
The uptake of nitrogen and phosphorus were maximum III
Sesbania rostrata whereas cowpea recorded the maximum potassium
uptake.
630 / SAL/EV