Effect of phosphorus, lime and cutting interval on green fodder yield, nodulation and protein enrichment of Stylosanthes gracilis and nitrogen in soil

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at the Instructional Farm, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala during 1977-78 to study the effect of phosphorus levels, lime and cutting intervals on green fodder yield, protein enrichment and nodulation of Stylosanthes gracilis and nitrogen build up in the soil. The treatments constituted five levels of phosphorus viz., 0,40, 80, 120 and 160 kg P205/ha, two levels of lime viz., 0 and 500 kg CaO/ha and two intervals of cutting viz., 30 days and 45 days. The green fodder yield, protein content and protein yield were found to increase progressively upto 120 kg P205/ha. The combination of phosphorus and lime had significant influence in increasing the green fodder yield and protein content. Cutting interval of 45 days recorded more green fodder yield and the combination of 120 kg phosphorus per hectare with 30 days interval of cutting recorded the maximum protein content. Nodule number and weight were found to increase progressively upto 120kg P205/ha. but lime and cutting interval had no significant influence. An increase of 7.3% of total nitrogen content of soil with increase in the levels of phosphorus was observed. Phosphorus and lime together contributed for the increase in the available nitrogen.