EFFECTS OF VARIOUS LEVELS OF PLANT POPULATION ON DRY MATTER YIELD QUALITY AND PLASTICITY OF SIX VARIETIES OF PENNISETUM PEDICELLATUM TRIN, GRASS
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Date
1980
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AAU, Anand
Abstract
Pennisetum pedicellatum, Trin, locally known as Deenanath grass, is an important forage crop in many States of India, The present investigation was undertaken with a view to determine suitable variety and it's plant population density for maximum dry matter yield and crude protein per unit area of soil and also to study the plasticity response of the varieties towards varying plant population densities. A field experiment was conducted at the Gujarat Agricultural University, Anand Campus, Anand during kharif 1978. Twentyfour treatments involving combinations of six varieties (Pusa-1, PP-3, Pusa-6, JP-12, T-15 and PS-38) in main plots and four plant population densities (55,555; 83,333; 1,11,111 and 2,22,222 plants/ha) in sub plots were laid out in a split plot design with four replications. A basal dose of 30 kg N + 50 kg PgO5 and 20 kg K2O per hectare was uniformly applied in the form of urea, single superphosphate and murate of potash respectively in all the plots. The sowing by way of dibbling method was carried out in the second week of July and the cutting was carried out in the first week of October, 1978, Observations on plant canopy height, tillers per plant, leaf length and dry matter yield per plant were recorded, Yields of dry matter and crude protein production per hectare were also recorded. Significant response was found in the characters viz, plant canopy height, tillers/plant, leaf length, dry matter yield per plant and dry matter and crude protein production per hectare. The results of the varieties and plant population densities were found significantly superior as compared to controls. From the findings of the investigation, it may be concluded that var. Pusa-1 was found the most suitable and gave the maximum dry matter yield as well as crude protein per hectare. As regards the plant population densities, 2,22,222 plants/ha yielded the highest. It had given significantly higher yield of dry matter. As regards the effect of interactions, the combination of var. Pusa-1 and plant population density 2,22,222 plants/ha gave the maximum dry matter and crude protein per hectare. The varieties showed significant response to the various levels of plant population density by way of plastic modifications in the characters i.e. plant canopy height, trillers per plant and leaf length.
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PLANT PHYSIOLOGY, AGRICULTURE, A STUDY