INFLUENCE OF CUTTING INTERVALS AND INTERCROPPING ON GROWTH, YIELD AND QUALITY OF BAJRA NAPIER HYBRID (Pennisetum purpureum x Pennisetum americanum)
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Date
2009
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ACHARYA N. G. RANGA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY, RAJENDRANAGAR, HYDERABAD
Abstract
An experiment entitled “Influence of cutting intervals and
intercropping on growth, yield and quality of Bajra Napier hybrid
(BN hybrid) (Pennisetum americanum X Pennisetum purpureum)” was
conducted at Student farm, College of Agriculture, Acharya N G Ranga
Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, during Rabi season of
2007-08. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three
replications. The treatments comprised of 5 cutting intervals as main plots (5,
6, 7, 8 and 9 weeks) and 4 intercrops (cowpea, berseem, lucerne and
clusterbean) as sub plots. The recommended dose of fertilizers to BN hybrid
(60: 60: 30 kg N, P2O5 and K2O ha-1) as basal and 30 kg N ha-1 after each cut
was applied. In addition, recommended dose of fertilizers requirement of
legume crops was added. The total rainfall received during the experimental
period was 99 mm in 6 rainy days. The mean maximum temperature ranged
from 27.9 to 35.1oC, whereas the mean minimum temperature varied from
10.7 to 20.1 oC.
Cutting interval of 9 weeks produced maximum plant height of BN
hybrid and was on par with 7 and 8 weeks cutting interval at both the cuts but,
number of tillers clump-1 were maximum at cutting interval of 8 weeks and
was on par with cutting interval of 7 weeks. Number of leaves and leaf stem
ratio of BN hybrid were not influenced by cutting intervals at both the cuts.
Green, dry, crude protein and equivalent yield of BN hybrid increased with
increase in cutting interval from 5 to 9 weeks reaching a maximum at 9 weeks
but, was on par with cutting interval of 8 weeks at I cut. Crude fibre content
of BN hybrid increased with cutting intervals from 5 to 9 weeks reaching a
maximum at 9 weeks.
Intercropping in BN hybrid with legume forage crops had significant
effect on BN hybrid. Maximum plant height and number of leaves clump-1 of
BN hybrid were obtained when berseem was grown as intercrop followed by
lucerne at I cut whereas at II cut, lucerne as intercrop produced maximum
plant height of BN hybrid. Intercropping treatments did not influence number
of tillers clump-1 and crude fibre percent of BN hybrid at both the cuts,
number of leaves clump-1 at I cut and leaf stem ratio at II cut. Maximum leaf
stem ratio of BN hybrid was found with lucerne intercropping which was on
par with intercropping with berseem and clusterbean at I cut. Maximum
green, dry, crude protein and equivalent fodder yield of BN hybrid were
obtained with cowpea intercropping but was on par with berseem
intercropping at all the cuts except at I cut where in dry fodder yield and
crude protein yield of BN hybrid was not influenced by intercropping
treatments.
Non significant interaction was obtained between cutting intervals and
intercropping on plant height, leaf stem ratio, equivalent yield of BN hybrid at
both the cuts, number of tillers clump-1, green, dry and crude protein yield of
BN hybrid at I cut. At II cut and at total, maximum green, dry and crude
protein yield of BN hybrid were recorded at cutting interval of 9 weeks with
cowpea intercropping and was on par with cutting interval of 7 weeks with
same intercrop and with berseem intercropping at cutting interval of 9 weeks.
Influence of cutting intervals and intercropping on intercrops revealed
that germination percentage of intercrops was higher at cutting interval of 5
weeks which was on par with cutting interval of 8 weeks and 9 weeks. Plant
height, number of branches, leaf stem ratio, green, dry fodder and crude
protein yield of intercrops at both the cuts and number of leaves plant-1 at II
cut did not influence by cutting interval of BN hybrid. Number of leaves
plant-1 of intercrops were significant at I cut and cutting interval of 7 weeks
favored higher number of leaves plant-1. Among intercrops, cowpea showed
higher germination percentage, plant height, number of branches and number
of leaves plant-1 and in turn resulted in higher green, dry fodder and crude
protein yield over other intercrops which was followed by lucerne. However,
the leaf stem ratio was higher with lucerne followed by clusterbean at I cut
and was on par with clusterbean at II cut. Non significant interaction was
observed between cutting intervals and intercropping on number of branches
plant-1, leaf stem ratio, green, dry fodder and crude protein yield of intercrops
at both the cuts and plant height and number of leaves plant-1 at I cut only.
Germination percentage of cowpea was maximum at cutting interval of 5
weeks which was on par with cutting interval of 9 weeks. At II cut, cowpea
recorded maximum plant height at cutting interval of 8 weeks which was on
par with 5, 6, 7 and 9 weeks cutting interval, whereas, number of leaves
plant-1 of cowpea were maximum at cutting interval of 5 weeks and was on
par with 6, 7 and 8 weeks cutting interval.
Total green, dry fodder and crude protein yield of BN hybrid
+intercrops were maximum at cutting interval of 9 weeks at both the cuts and
was on par with cutting interval of 8 weeks during I cut. Cowpea
intercropping significantly improved the green, dry and crude protein yield of
BN hybrid + cowpea over other combinations. The green, dry and crude
protein yield of BN hybrid + intercrops were at par when berseem and lucerne
was grown as intercrops. Clusterbean intercropping produced lowest yield of
green, dry fodder, crude protein yield at both the cuts. Significant interaction
was found at II cut in green, dry fodder and crude protein yield and in green
fodder yield of BN hybrid + intercrops at total. Green and dry fodder yield of
BN hybrid + intercrops was maximum at cutting interval of 9 weeks with
cowpea intercropping and was on par with cutting interval of 6 and 7 weeks
with same intercrop at II cut. Total green fodder yield of BN hybrid +
intercrops was maximum at cutting interval of 9 weeks with cowpea
intercropping but was on par with cutting interval of 7 weeks with same
intercrop. Crude protein yield of BN hybrid + intercrops was significantly
higher with cowpea intercropping at cutting interval of 6 weeks and was on
par with 7 and 9 weeks with same intercrops.
Significant negative correlation was found between mean and
minimum temperature and number of leaves plant-1 at I cut and with dry
fodder yield at II cut. Green fodder yield of BN hybrid positively correlated
with leaf stem ratio. Crude protein yield of BN hybrid was positively
correlated with green fodder yield and negatively correlated with leaf stem
ratio.
Cutting interval of 9 weeks resulted in higher gross return except in
clusterbean where in cutting interval of 8 weeks produced higher gross
returns. Cowpea intercropping yielded highest gross returns at all the cuts
followed by lucerne, berseem and clusterbean respectively. Total gross
returns BN hybrid + intercrops were higher at cutting interval of 9 weeks with
cowpea intercropping. Total net returns and benefit cost ratio of BN hybrid +
intercrops were higher at cutting interval of 9 and 7 weeks respectively with
cowpea intercropping.
Description
Keywords
INFLUENCE, CUTTING, INTERVALS, INTERCROPPING, GROWTH, YIELD, QUALITY, BAJRA, NAPIER, HYBRID, Pennisetum, purpureum, Pennisetum, americanum