HERBAGE YIELD AND NUTRIENT COMPOSITION OF FODDER MAIZE BASED INTERCROPPING SYSTEM IN RAINFED SITUATION OF SOUTHERN TRANSITION ZONE (STZ)
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Date
2018-07-10
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University of Agricultural & Horticultural Sciences, Shivamogga
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted at Agricultural and Horticultural Research Station Bhavikere, UAHS, Shivamogga during kharif2017 to study the herbage yield and nutrient composition of fodder maize based intercropping in rainfed situation of southern transition zone. The texture of the soil is sandy loam having acidic pH (5.25) with low organic carbon (0.40 %)and available nitrogen (220.80 kg ha-1), phosphorous (33.90 kg ha-1) and potassium (163.60 kg ha-1) status. The test variety for maize was South African Tall. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with nine treatments replicated thrice. The treatment comprised of sole fodder maize, fodder maize based intercropping with different legumes (cowpea, horsegram, local fieldbean and guar) in 3:1 and 2:1 row ratios.Sole fodder maize recorded significantly higher growth parameter like plant height (285.60 cm), number of leaves (14.13) , leaf area (52.37 dm2 plant-1) and dry matter accumulation (236.34 g plant-1). The intercropping treatment fodder maize + cowpea (3:1) recorded significantly higher green fodder yield (76.15 t ha-1), dry fodder yield (25.34 t ha-1) along with maximum nutrients uptake (290.76, 53.70 and 296.32 NPK kg ha-1respectively). Further,quality parameters such as crude protein (9.81 and 14.51 %) ash content (10.09 %) ether extract (2.65 %) were found higher which is also recorded significantly lower crude fibre (20.13 and 19.58 %), neutral detergent fibre (75.97, 68.31 %) and acid detergent fibre (57.70, 41.36 %) was found in the above treatment. Higher net return (Rs.61,937 ha-1) was also registered in fodder maize + cowpea (3:1) intercropping whereas, higher benefit cost ratio (3.08) was obtained with intercrop of fodder maize with cowpea (2:1).
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