Effect of potassium and boron fertilization on forage and seed yield of berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum L.)
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Date
2019
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CCSHAU
Abstract
The field experiment entitled “Effect of potassium and boron fertilization on forage and
seed yield of berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum L.)” was conducted during the rabi season of 2017-
18 at the Forage Research Farm of Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar
with the objective to study the effect of potassium and boron fertilization on forage yield, seed
production, quality and economics of different treatments for berseem. Treatment combinations
comprised of four potassium levels i.e. 0, 20, 40 and 60 kg K2O ha-1 and four levels of boron i.e. 0, 2, 4
kg B ha-1 and 0.2% spray at initiation and 50% flowering. The experiment was laid out in split plot
design and replicated thrice. The soil of the experimental field was low in available nitrogen (141.7 kg
ha-1), medium in available phosphorus (16.2 kg ha-1), potassium (238.5 kg ha-1), in boron (0.85 ppm)
and slightly alkaline in reaction having pH 7.8.
The results indicated that the maximum total green fodder (444.2 q ha-1) and dry matter yield
(55.32 q ha-1) was obtained when berseem was fertilized with 40 kg K2O ha-1. Whereas, the seed yield
(3.43 q ha-1), straw yield and biological yield were significantly higher at 60 kg K2O ha-1 over control
but was statistically at par with 40 kg K2O ha-1. Total Crude protein yield was found highest with 60 kg
K2O ha-1 (10.29 q ha-1) and digestible dry matter at 40 kg K2O ha-1 (37.19 q ha-1). N, P, K and B
content and their uptake was significantly increased with graded doses of potassium from 0- 60 kg K2O
ha-1. Highest B:C was worked out with 40 kg K2O ha-1.
Incremental dose of applied boron resulted in a significant improvement in forage yield upto 2
kg B ha-1. Whereas, biological, seed and straw yield were increased significantly with foliar application
of 0.2% B at initiation and 50% flowering than other levels. Maximum content and uptake of N, P, K,
and B was recorded with 4 kg B ha-1 level. Maximum net returns were fetched with foliar application
of 0.2% B at initiation and 50% flowering with highest B: C of 1.68.
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