Thakuira, K.deori, Chinmoy2023-10-062023-10-062018https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810198515A field experimentwas conducted from October, 2016 to December, 2017 at the Instructional – cum Research Farm of Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat to evaluate the performance of three perennial grasses under sole and intercropping systems adopting two planting methods.The treatments consisted of three sole croppings (Hybrid napier, Setaria and Guinea), and combinations of three intercroppings, (Hybrid napier + Setaria,Hybrid napier+Guinea and Setaria + Guinea) with two planting methods (Alternate row and Alternate row and column). Altogether 9 treatments were allotted in randomized block design with four replications. The soil of the experimental site was sandy - loam in texture with acidic in soil reaction (pH 5.11), medium in organic carbon (0.61%), available P2O5 (22.94 kg/ha) and available K2O (143.54 kg/ha) but low in available N (164.30 kg/ha). A uniform dose of 5t FYM/ha along with 40-40-20 kg N, P2O5, K2O/ha was applied as basal one day ahead of planting of perennial grasses. Subsequent application of nitrogen @ 30 kg/ha was done after each cutting of all the perennial grasses. Rooted slips of setaria and guinea except for hybrid napier @ three slips/pit and three budded stem cuttings in case of hybrid napier @ one cutting/pit were planted on 3 October, 2016 as per treatment by making pits of 6-8 cm diameter and 10-12 cm deep in well prepared land. All the sole and intercrops were harvested observing their growth. During the year of establishment (2016), only one cut was taken and four cuts were taken in 2017. The total rainfall received during the growing period of grasses in 2016 and 2017 was 138.5 mm and 2290.8 mm in 10 and 126 rainy days, respectively. The total green fodder yield of grasses was not significant when sole and other treatments were compared. However, the effect of sole cropping of all three grasses was found to be significant at all cuts and total of all cuts in 2017. Sole cropping of setaria recorded the highest green fodder yield over the other sole croppings. The effect of intercropping was significant only at third and fourth cuts of the year 2017. Intercropping, Setaria + Guinea recorded the highest green fodder yield over the other intercroppings. Though the effect of planting methods was not significant, slight increase in green fodder yield was noticed when alternate row and column method was followed in intercropping. The average green fodder yield of two years (5 cuts) showed that sole cropping of setaria and intercropping, Hybrid napier + Setaria in alternate row and column method produced the highest green fodder yield. The total dry matter yield failed to differ significantly when sole and other intercroppings were compared as a whole in both the years.In the year 2016 and at fourth cut in 2017, sole cropping of guinea recorded the highest dry matter yield. However, the total of all cuts during 2017, sole cropping of setaria produced the highest dry matter yield. The average data of two years when compared show that hybrid napier as sole cropping and intercropping,Setaria + Guinea in alternate row and column method recorded the highest dry matter yield. The crude protein content of grasses when compared individually, none of the treatments were found to be significant. However, intercropping, Hybrid napier + Setaria and Hybrid napier+Guineawith alternate row method recorded the highest crude protein content of hybrid napier. Similarly, intercropping, Setaria + Guinea in alternate row and column method recorded the highest crude protein content of setaria and sole planting of guinea recorded the highest crude protein content in both the years. The total crude protein yield had no any significant difference when both sole and other treatments as a whole were compared. Sole cropping of guinea recorded the highest crude protein yield during 2016 and sole cropping of setaria recorded the highest crude protein yield during 2017. The effect of intercroppings was not significant, however, intercropping, Hybrid napier+Guinearecorded the highest crude protein yield during 2016 and intercropping, Setaria + Guinea recorded the highest crude protein yield during 2017. The average data of two years showed that sole cropping of guinea and intercropping,Setaria+Guineain alternate row and column method recorded the highest crude protein yield. The average land equivalent ratio (LER) value of two years recorded highest in intercropping, Setaria + Guinea with alternate row and column method. The competition ratio (CR) values in the year of establishment when compared showed that guinea was more competitive, however during 2017, setaria was more competitive when intercropped with either hybrid napier or guinea in both the planting methods. The different sole and intercroppings of grasses as well as planting methods could not bring about any significant change in pH, organic carbon and available N, P2O5 and K2O contents in soil. The net profit and net profit per rupee invested were recorded highest with sole cropping of hybrid napier during 2016 and with setaria during 2017. Among intercropping, Hybrid napier + Setariarecorded the highest net profit and net profit per rupee invested during both the years and average over two years.Alternate row and column method (AR&C) also recorded higher net profit as well as net profit per rupee invested over the alternate row method (AR).EnglishThesis