Abstract:
Two field experiments were conducted at farm unit of Kerala Livestock Development Board, Dhoni, Palakkad on a gravely clay-loam during May 1992 to May 1993. The objective of the experiments was to investigate the seed production potential of Guinea grass (panicum maximum jacq.) cv Riverdale under different management techniques. First experiment was laid out in randomized block design with fifteen combinations of three types of cutting management (c1-two seed harvest only, c2-one fodder cut and two subsequent seed harvest, C3-two fodder cut and one seed harvest) and five stages of seed harvest (10,15, 20 25 and 30 days after panicle emergence) replicated thrice. Second experiment was laid out in partially confounded factorial design with twenty seven combination of different levels of N, P and K (N0, N100, N200, P0, P40, P80, K0, K30, K60 kg/ha.). The data collected from the experiment were statistically analysed. The abstract of the study is presented below:
Highest seed yield 167 kg/ha. Was obtained from the Guinea grass cv Riversdale when transplanted at a spacing of 60x60 cm, fertilized with 100 kg N, 80kg P205 and 60kg K20 and left without cutting till flowering during the first season and one subsequent seed harvest in the second season. The crop residue received after seed harvest was poor in quality containing higher percentage of crude fibre. A livestock farmer cannot afford to feed his cattle with low quality fodder through out the year. If he can meet both requirement of his livestock and his own demand of seed and the surplus quantity of seed for sale that could be the best management. A cutting management with one fodder cut in the beginning of the season and subsequent seed harvest serves best the purpose with a seed yield of 127 kg/ha. The ideal stage of harvest of seed crop to obtain maximum seed yield is considered to be 10 to 15 days after panicle emergence. The seed yield decreases with delayed harvest (20, 25, 30 days after emergence of panicle). The problem aggravates during the dry seasons. The study showed that the seed quality was on par in all stages of harvest. N, P and K fertilizer application upto 200, 80, 60 kg/ha respectively was not effective in increasing either the fodder or seed yield probably due to the high inherent fertility status of the soil of experimental site.
