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Subject: Agricultre ×

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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Yield and Quality Assessment of Fodder Maize - Legume Intercropping Systems with Zinc Fortification
    (SKUAST Kashmir, 2022) Mir Nazim Hamid; Alie Bashir Ahmad
    In the present investigation newly released fodder maize variety (SFM-1) was evaluated for yield and quality under sole and maize + legume intercropping systems and zinc fortification. Field experiments were conducted at Research Farm of ICAR-IGFRI, Regional Research Station, K D Farm, Rangreth, Srinagar, during kharif, 2020 and 2021. The two year experimental results revealed that sole maize recorded highest green (45.14 and 46.01 t ha-1) and dry (13.45 and 14.21 t ha-1) fodder yield followed by maize + soybean intercropped treatment. Soil (20 kg ZnSO4 ha-1) + foliar (ZnSO4 spray @ 0.5 % twice at 30 and 50 DAS) application of zinc significantly increased green fodder from 33.27 to 36.48 and 34.16 to 37.49 t ha-1 and dry fodder from 8.16 to 11.09 and 8.91 to 11.67 t ha-1 over control (no zinc) during 2020 and 2021 respectively. Intercropping increased crude protein contents by about 26.01 and 26.44 per cent in maize + cowpea and 21.71 and 21.74 per cent in maize + soybean systems, in 2020 and 2021, respectively, over sole maize treatment. Similarly higher crude protein yield was observed in maize + legume intercropped treatments over sole maize and sole legumes. Legumes and intercropped treatments resulted in higher dry matter intake, digestible dry matter, total digestible nutrients (TDN) and net energy. Relative feed value (RFV) indicated that the two legumes were categorized as premium quality fodders (RFV 124-150 %), intercropping of maize-legume resulted in good quality (RFV 103-124 %) and sole maize as fair quality (RFV 87-102 %). The silage made from maize and maize + legume (75:25) indicated a desirable quality (protein, pH and starch content) however sole legumes resulted in poor quality silage. Silage making also improved protein content and reduced fibre fractions compared to fodder samples. Zinc fertilization significantly improved all the fodder quality parameters. Intercropping improved soil organic carbon and carbon stock as compared to sole maize and sole legume systems. Zinc fertilization significantly increased soil zinc from the initial value (0.36 ppm) to 0.59 ppm. Highest average net returns ( 58299) and B: C ratio (1.62) were observed in the treatment combination of maize + zinc @ 20 kg ZnSO4 ha-1 as basal + foliar ZnSO4 spray @ 0.5 % twice at 30 and 50 DAS which was however closely followed by maize + soybean + zinc @ 20 kg ZnSO4 ha-1 as basal + foliar ZnSO4 spray @ 0.5 % twice at 30 and 50 DAS treatment combination with a B: C ratio of 1.61. Energy evaluation indicated that sole soybean recorded highest energy values. Maize + soybean and sole maize recorded similar energy efficiency and productivity. Zinc fertilization improved energy efficiency and productivity in all the cropping systems. The two year results indicated that application of zinc as ZnSO4 @ 20 kg as soil application + 0.5 % ZnSO4 spray twice at 30-35 and 50 DAS to maize + soybean intercropping (2:1) significantly enhanced fodder yield and quality and produced zinc fortified fodder.