Seed production of potential stylosanthes gracilis

Abstract

Factorial experiment in Randomised Block Design with three replications was conducted in the College of Agriculture, Vellayani to study the effect of levels and methods of phosphorus application and number of cuts of green fodder taken, on the seed production potential of Stylosanthes gracilis. The phosphorus treatments were 40, 80 and 120 kg P2O5/ha as soil applications, 40 kg P2O5/ha as soil application + 40 kgP2O5/ha foliar and 80 kg P2O5/ha soil application+ 40 kg P2O5/ha foliar. The cutting treatments were two, three or four cuts. Increasing the level of soil applied phosphorus significantly increased height, spread, leaf stem ratio, nodular weight and number, greenmatter and drymatter yields in each cut and the cumulative greenmatter and drymatter yields.