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ThesisItem Open Access Fodder production technology under light and moisture stress situations(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2014) Anita, M R; KAU; Lakshmi, SThe field experiment of the project entitled “Fodder production technology under light and moisture stress situations” was undertaken at the Instructional Farm, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram, during January 2012 to March 2014. The main objectives of the project were to identify drought tolerant varieties of fodder cowpea and their performance evaluation in varying proportions of grass legume mixtures under open and shaded conditions. The project comprised of two investigations. The Investigation-I entitled “Drought tolerance studies in fodder cowpea under open and shaded situations” was conducted during the summer season (January to March) of 2012. The Investigation-II on “Evaluation of grass-fodder cowpea mixtures under open and shaded situations” was conducted for two years from March 2012 to 2013 and from March 2013 to March 2014. In Investigation-I, five fodder cowpea varieties (V1-UPC-618, V2-UPC-622, V3-Bundel Lobia-1, V4-COFC-8 and V5-CO-5) were evaluated for their drought tolerance under four soil moisture stress levels (M1 - pre sowing irrigation + life saving irrigation; M2 - pre sowing irrigation + irrigation at IW/CPE ratio of 0.4; M3 - pre sowing irrigation + irrigation at IW/CPE ratio of 0.6 and M4 - pre sowing irrigation + irrigation at IW/CPE ratio of 0.8). The investigation was conducted as two separate experiments one in open and other in shade. Both the experiments were laid out in split plot design with four replication. Based on the results of this investigation, two drought tolerant fodder cowpea varieties were selected each under open and shaded situation, for conducting Investigation-II. The fodder cowpea varieties COFC-8 (V4) and UPC-622 (V2) which recorded significantly higher green fodder yield (24.21 t ha-1 & 21.36 t ha-1, respectively), crude protein yield (0.79 t ha-1 & 0.66 t ha-1, respectively) and net returns of Rs 44880 ha-1 and Rs 36011 ha-1, respectively were selected for open condition. The fodder cowpea varieties COFC-8 (V4) and UPC-618 (V1) which recorded significantly higher green fodder yield (11.50 t ha-1 and 11.00 t ha-1 respectively), crude protein yield of 0.41 t ha-1 & 0.34 t ha-1 respectively and net returns of Rs 13498 ha-1 and Rs 11873 ha-1 respectively were selected for shaded situation. Investigation-II on the evaluation of grass-fodder cowpea mixtures were also conducted as two separate experiments, one in open and the other in shade. The experiments were laid out in RBD with three replications, comprising of two grasses [G1-Hybrid napier (Suguna), G2-Guinea grass (Harithasree), two best fodder cowpea varieties from the first investigation (V1-COFC-8(open and shade), V2-UPC-622 (open), UPC-618 (shade) and three grass legume row ratios (R1-1:1, R2 -1:2, R3 -1:3). The results indicated the superiority of the grass legume mixture of hybrid napier cv. Suguna and with both the fodder cowpea varieties in the grass legume row ratio of 1:2 with respect to green fodder yield, crude protein yield and net returns. Based on the results, it can be concluded that hybrid napier cv. Suguna intercropped with fodder cowpea varieties COFC-8 and UPC-622 in open condition and with COFC-8 and UPC-618 in partial shade (30 per cent) in the row ratio of 1:2 is the best for obtaining maximum yield, quality and net returns.ThesisItem Open Access Shade response of guinea grass (Panicum maximum J.) under varying levels of potash(Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2002) Anita, M R; KAU; Lakshmi, SA field experiment was conducted at the Instructional Farm, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala State to find out the potash requirements for guinea grass (Panicum maximum J.) varieties under varying shade levels. The influence of shade levels and potassium on growth parameters, fodder yield, quality of produce, uptake of nutrients, chemical properties of soil and economics was investigated. Three levels of shade (0,25,50 %), three levels of potassium (50, 100, 150 kg ha') and two varieties (Hamil and Haritha) were combined to from eighteen treatment combinations. The experiment was laid out in split-split plot design with three replications. Results of the experiment revealed that lower levels of shade as well as higher levels of potassium had significant positive influence on improving the fodder production potential of guinea grass. Among the varieties, Hamil registered higher yield potential compared to Haritha. Lower levels of shade and higher doses of potassium significantly increased the growth parameters namely, number of tillers leaf: stem ratio, leaf area index and root volume. Lower levels of shade and higher doses of potassium registered maximum green fodder yield in first, second and last harvests. However, in third and fourth cuts, 25 percent shade level registered maximum green fodder yield. Among the varieties, Hamil registered higher green fodder yield in all harvests. Similar results were obtained in the case of dry fodder yield also. Quaality parameters of the forage significantly improved as shade progresses. Maximum crude protein content was realized at lower level of potassium. Among the varieties, Haritha registered higher crude protein and chlorophyll contents. The nutrient uptake showed a significant increase with lower levels of shade. Application of potassium significantly increased the uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Hamil registered higher N, P, K uptake in-all harvests. There was a significant reduction of potassium status of the soil with increase in shade levels. Application of potassium significantly increased the phosphorus and potassium status of the soil after the experiment. The optimum potassium dose for guinea grass was found to increase with increase in shade intensity. Lower levels of shade with higher dose of potassium registered highest net returns and benefit cost ratio. But economic yield was obtained in shade intensity up to 50 percent.