MSc

The study entitled ‘Standardization of agrotechniques for fodder cowpea (Vigna
unguiculata) intercropped in coconut garden’ was conducted at Instructional Farm, College
of Agriculture, Vellayani during 2021-23. The objective of the experiment was
standardization of spacing and nutrient requirement for fodder cowpea intercropped in
coconut garden.
The field experiments were carried out in rabi 2022 (November – December) and
summer 2023 (March – April) laid out in randomized block design with three replications.
The treatments consisted of two factors, namely spacing (S) and nutrient levels (N). The
treatment combinations included four spacing [s1- 20 cm × 15 cm, s2- 30 cm × 15 cm, s3-
40 cm × 15 cm and s4- broadcasting) and three nutrient levels n1-75% POP (18.75: 45: 22.5
kg N: P2O5: K2O ha-1
), n2-100% POP (25: 60: 30 kg N: P2O5: K2O ha-1
), n3-125% POP
(31.25: 75: 37.5 kg N: P2O5: K2O ha-1
)]. The variety used for the study was Aiswarya. The
crop was raised as per KAU package of practices (POP) recommendations (KAU, 2016).
Among different spacings, s1 (20 cm × 15 cm) recorded the tallest plants at 30 DAS
and 45 DAS in summer. whereas, in rabi, s2 (30 cm × 15 cm) recorded taller plants at 45
DAS which was on par with s1. The treatment s3 (40 cm × 15 cm) at 30 DAS and 45 DAS
recorded more number branches per plant which was on par with s2 in both rabi and
summer. The more number of leaves per plant was recorded with s2 and was on par with s3
in both seasons at 15, 30 and 45 DAS. The treatment s1 recorded the highest leaf area index
(LAI) at 15 DAS whereas at 30 and 45 DAS s2 recorded the highest LAI in rabi and
summer. The highest leaf stem ratio was observed with s2 in rabi whereas in summer it
was on par with s3. The treatment s3 resulted in higher CGR at 15-30 DAS which was on
par with s2 whereas, crop growth rate (CGR) and relative growth rate (RGR) at 30-45 DAS
were recorded the highest in s2 in rabi and summer. The highest nodule number per plant
was observed with s3 in rabi while in summer it was comparable with s2. The treatment s3
recorded the highest fresh nodule weight in rabi and summer. The highest green fodder
yield per plant (94.39 g and 102.13 g), green fodder yield (13.01 t ha-1
and 14.93 t ha-1
),
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dry fodder yield per plant (15.26 g and 19.35 g) and dry fodder yield (2.70 t ha-1
and 2.18
t ha-1
), were recorded with s2 in rabi and summer respectively. Similarly, s2 recorded the
highest crude protein content (17.62%) in rabi whereas, in summer (18.29 %) it was on par
with s3. The treatment s1 resulted in the lowest crude fiber in rabi while in summer it was
comparable with s2. The treatment s2 resulted in the highest N content in rabi and it was
comparable with s3 in summer. The treatment s2 resulted in the highest N P K uptake while
K uptake was on par with s3 in rabi and summer. The treatment s3 resulted in higher
available soil N however it was on par with s2 in both seasons. The treatment s1 recorded
the highest available soil P K and available soil K was on par with s4 in summer.
Among different nutrient levels, treatment n3 (125% POP) recorded the tallest
plants with the highest number of branches per plant at 30 DAS and 45 DAS in rabi and
summer. The same treatment recorded the highest number of leaves per plant and leaf area
index at 15, 30 and 45 DAS in rabi and summer. Similarly, n3 recorded the highest leaf
stem ratio at 45 DAS, CGR at 15-30 DAS and 30-45 DAS in both seasons whereas CGR
at both stages was on par with n2 (100% POP) in rabi. Treatment n3 also recorded the
highest RGR at 15-30 DAS in rabi and 30-45 DAS in summer. Treatment n2 (100% POP)
recorded the highest nodule number and fresh nodule weight per plant in rabi and summer
and fresh nodule weight per plant and was on par with n3 in Rabi. The treatment n3 resulted
in the highest green fodder yield per plant (93.18 and 98.81g) and dry fodder yield per plant
(15.81 and 19.75), green fodder yield (12.52 and 14.27 t ha-1
), dry fodder yield (2.21 and
2.71 t ha-1
), crude protein content (16.56 and 17.99 %) and the lowest crude fiber content
in plant (20.43 and 19.33 %) in rabi and summer respectively. Similarly, n3 recorded the
highest N P K content and N P K uptake in both seasons while P and K contents were on
par with n2 in summer. Available soil N was found to be the highest in n2 in rabi and it was
on par with n3 in summer. Available soil P and K were found to be the highest in both
seasons in n3 whereas in summer available soil K was on par with n2.
Among treatment combinations, s1n3 recorded taller plants at 45 DAS which was
comparable with s2n3 in rabi and summer.. In the treatment combinations, s3n3 recorded
higher number of branches per plant which was on par with s2n3 (40 cm × 15 cm with 125%
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POP) at 30 and 45 DAS in both rabi and summer. The number of leaves per plant was
higher in s2n3 at 15, 30 and 45 DAS which was found on par with s3n3 in both seasons. The
treatment combination, s1n3 recorded the highest LAI at 15 DAS in whereas, s2n3 recorded
the highest LAI at both 30 DAS and 45 DAS in both seasons and it was on par with s1n3 at
30 DAS in summer. The treatment combination s3n3 recorded higher CGR at 15-30 DAS
which was on par with s2n3 in rabi and summer, while at 30-45 DAS the highest CGR was
recorded with s2n3.The highest green fodder yield (15.94 t ha-1
and 18.07 t ha-1
), dry fodder
yield (2.73 t ha-1
and 3.43 t ha-1
) and crude protein content (21.25 % and 22.42 %) were
recorded in s2n3 in both seasons. Similarly, s2n3 recorded the highest N content and uptake
in both rabi and summer and the highest P uptake only in rabi. s1n3 recorded the highest
available soil P in both rabi and summer.
The treatment s2 (30 cm × 15 cm) resulted in the highest gross returns (₹ 39,043 ha1
and ₹ 44,787 ha-1
), net returns (₹15,355 ha-1
and ₹ 20,099 ha-1
) and B: C ratio (1.64 and
1.80) in rabi and summer, respectively. Similarly, the highest gross returns (₹ 37,555 ha-1
and ₹42,798 ha-1
), net returns (₹12,620 ha-1
and ₹ 16,863 ha-1
) and B: C ratio (1.50 and
1.65) were recorded with the treatment n3 (125% POP) in rabi and summer respectively.
The treatment combination of s2n3 (30 cm × 15 cm with125% POP) resulted in the highest
gross returns (₹ 47,820 ha-1
and ₹ 54,220 ha-1
), net returns (₹ 22,435 ha-1
and ₹ 27,835 ha1
) and B: C ratio (1.88 and 2.05) in rabi and summer respectively.
Based on the study, it could be concluded that spacing of 30 cm x 15 cm along with
the nutrient recommendation of 31.25:75:37.5 kg N: P2O5: K2O ha-1
(125% POP) as basal
dose could be recommended for getting the highest fodder yield, crude protein content and
profit in fodder cowpea intercropped in coconut garde