TY  - BOOK
AU  - SaliniRani V G 
AU  - Janardhanan S (Guide)
TI  - Evaluation and nutritional management of fodder crops in summer rice fallows
U1  - 630 
PY  - 2001///
CY  - Vellayani
PB  - Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture
N2  - 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. 


UR  - http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810104450
ER  -