Fodder productivity and quality of Napier Bajra hybrid (Pennisetum purpureum Pennisetum glaucum) and summer fodder intercrops with different seed rates
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Date
2018
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Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
Abstract
The present study entitled “Fodder productivity and quality of Napier Bajra hybrid (Pennisetum
purpureum Pennisetum glaucum) and summer fodder intercrops with different seed rates” was
carried out at Forage Research Farm, Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural
University, Ludhiana during Kharif 2016 on sandy loam soil. The soil of experiment site was low in
organic carbon (0.26%) and available nitrogen (218.4 kg ha-1), medium in available phosphorous (19.2
kg ha-1) and potassium (180.5 kg ha-1). The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block
design replicated thrice. The treatments consisted of Napier Bajra hybrid + Cowpea (25, 50, 75 and
100% of recommended seed rate), Napier Bajra hybrid + Bajra (25, 50, 75 and 100% of recommended
seed rate), Napier Bajra hybrid + Maize (25, 50, 75 and 100% of recommended seed rate) and the sole
crops of Napier Bajra hybrid, cowpea, maize and bajra. The sole Napier Bajra hybrid recorded
significantly higher number of tillers per stump and maximum plant height. The plant height in sole
Napier Bajra hybrid, was at par with intercropping of Napier Bajra hybrid and cowpea at 25, 50 and
75% of recommended seed rate, maize at 25 and 50% of recommended seed rate and bajra at 25% of
recommended seed rate. Leaf stem ratio was maximum with 100% recommended seed rate of all
intercrops. Lowest weed density was recorded in Napier Bajra hybrid + cowpea 100% mixture while
maximum weed density was noticed in sole Napier Bajra hybrid. Total green fodder productivity was
significantly higher in Napier Bajra hybrid + cowpea 100% but was at par with cowpea (at 50 and 75%
of recommended seed rate) and maize (at 25% of recommended seed rate). The quality and soil
parameters were improved with increased seed rate of cowpea in the intercropping system.
Significantly higher crude protein and lower oxalate content were observed in mixture of Napier Bajra
hybrid and cowpea. Significantly higher crude protein content was noticed in Napier Bajra hybrid +
cowpea 100% which was at par with cowpea (at 50 and 75% of recommended seed rate). In different
intercropping systems, Napier Bajra hybrid was dominant crop as indicated by its higher values of
relative crowding coefficient, competitive ratio and positive sign of the aggressivity except maize and
bajra at 100% of recommended seed rate. It indicates that Napier Bajra hybrid grown in association
with intercrops (cowpea, maize and bajra) utilized the resources more aggressively which exhibited the
dominated behaviour of the intercrops. Net returns were significantly higher in Napier Bajra hybrid +
cowpea 75% which was at par with Napier Bajra hybrid + cowpea 100%, Napier Bajra hybrid +
cowpea 50% and Napier Bajra hybrid + maize 25%. Benefit cost ratio was higher in all combinations
of Napier Bajra hybrid + cowpea and in intercropping of Napier Bajra hybrid with maize and bajra at
25 and 50% of recommended seed rate.
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