ASHA LATHA, P(MAJOR)ANANDA RAO, KSUBRAHMANYESWARI, BSUMUKH, CHERUKURI2023-03-092023-03-092022-05https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810194995THESESHydroponic Fodder is a significant alternative to fodder production for the farmers with minimal land availability, with scarce rainfall and with better productive performance compared to conventional fodder production. An endeavor was made to assess the physical and chemical performance of different Hydroponic Fodder under low cost Hydroponic Fodder Production system established in Tippanagunta village and also to assess the probabilities of utilization of Hydroponic Fodder for the better productive performance of cattle under village conditions using the Hydroponic Fodder. Different seeds such as Maize, Barley, Bajra, Jowar, Horsegram, Cowpea, Lucerne and Pillipesara were used for this study. The shoot length(cm) on 8th day was highest in Maize (32.7) followed by Cowpea (26.7), Horsegram (26.11), Jowar (23.1), Barley (20.7), Pillipesara (16.5), Bajra (13.8), Lucerne (8.9). The shoot length of different Hydroponic Fodders on 8th day of growth was statistically significant (P0.01), The leaf area for Lucerne (0.182) and Pillipesara (0.172) on 5th day was not statistically significant at (P>0.01). The leaf area of different Hydroponic Fodders on 6th day of growth was statistically significant (P0.01). The leaf area for Lucerne (0.194) and Pillipesara (0.199) on 6th day was not statistically significant at (P>0.01).The leaf area of different Hydroponic Fodders on 7th day of growth was statistically significant (P0.01). The leaf area of different Hydroponic Fodders on 8th day of growth was statistically significant (P0.01). The number of leaves per plant in Hydroponic Maize Fodder on day 1, day 2, day 3, day 4, day 5, day 6, day 7, day were 0, 0, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3 and 3, respectively. The number of leaves per plant in Hydroponic Jowar Fodder on day 1, day 2, day 3, day 4, day 5, day 6, day 7, day were 0, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 3 and 3, respectively. The number of leaves per plant in Hydroponic Bajra Fodder on day 1, day 2, day 3, day 4, day 5, day 6, day 7, day were 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 and 1, respectively. The number of leaves per plant in Hydroponic Barley Fodder on day 1, day 2, day 3, day 4, day 5, day 6, day 7, day were 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1 and 1.The number of leaves per plant in Hydroponic Cowpea Fodder on day 1, day 2, day 3, day 4, day 5, day 6, day 7, day were 0, 0, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2 and 2, respectively. The number of leaves per plant in Hydroponic Lucerne Fodder on day 1, day 2, day 3, day 4, day 5, day 6, day 7, day were 0, 0, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2 and 2, respectively. The number of leaves per plant in Hydroponic Horsegram Fodder on day 1, day 2, day 3, day 4, day 5, day 6, day 7, day were 0, 0, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2 and 2, respectively. The number of leaves per plant in Hydroponic Pillipesara Fodder on day 1, day 2, day 3, day 4, day 5, day 6, day 7, day were 0, 0, 0, 2, 2, 2, 2 and 2, respectively. ` The highest biomass yield on 8th day was shown by Cowpea(8.2kg), followed by Pillipesara (7.92kg), Lucerne (7.0kg), Horsegram (6.76kg), Bajra (6.44kg), Maize (6.12kg), Jowar (5.65kg) and Barley(5.23kg). The biomass yield of different Hydroponic Fodders on 8th day of growth was statistically significant (P0.01), the biomass yield on 3rd day from Barley and Maize was not statistically significant at (P<0.01). The biomass yield on 2nd day was highest for Lucerne (4.47kg), Cowpea (4.41kg), Horsegram (3.58kg), Pillipesara (3.57kg), Bajra (3.48kg), Jowar (3.32kg), Barley(3.04kg) and Maize (2.48kg). The biomass yield of different Hydroponic Fodders on 2nd day of growth was statistically significant (P<0.01). The biomass yield on 2nd day from Horsegram and Pillipesara was not statistically significant at (P<0.01), the biomass yield on 2nd day from Bajra and Jowar was not statistically significant at (P<0.01). The biomass yield on 1st day was highest for Lucerne (4.47kg) followed by Cowpea (4.41kg), Horsegram (3.58kg), Pillipesara (3.57kg), Bajra (2.72kg), Jowar (2.62kg), Barley (2.3kg) and Maize (1.81kg). The biomass yield of different Hydroponic Fodders on 1st day of growth was statistically significant (P<0.01). The biomass yield on 1st day from Horsegram and Pillipessara was not statistically significant at (P<0.01), the biomass yield on 1st day from Bajra and Jowar was not statistically significant at (P<0.01). The sprout weight after germination was highest for Cowpea (3.56kg) followed by Lucerne (3.3kg), Pillipesara (2.72kg), Horsegram (2.71kg), Bajra (2kg), Jowar (1.86kg), Barley (1.61kg) and Maize (1.45kg) as shown in table 43. The biomass yield of different Hydroponic Fodders on 0th day of growth was statistically significant (P<0.01). The biomass yield on 0th day from Pillipesara and Horsegram was not statistically significant at (P<0.01), The biomass yield on 0th day from Bajra and Jowar was not statistically significant at (P<0.01), The biomass yield on 0th day from Barley and Maize was not statistically significant at (P<0.01). The proximate composition of Hydroponic Maize was DM 14.4%, OM 97.61%, CP 12.59%, CF 10.9%, EE 4.25%, TA 2.39%, NFE 69.87%, AIA 0.34%. The proximate composition of Hydroponic Bajra Fodder was DM 12.6%, OM 97.14%, CP 14.22%, CF 16.56%, EE 2.35%, TA 2.86%, NFE 64.01%, AIA 0.96%. The proximate composition of Hydroponic Barley Fodder was DM 14.12%, OM 95.59%, CP 15.04, CF 16.05%, EE 2.41%, TA 4.41%, NFE 62.09%, AIA 1.82%. The proximate composition of Hydroponic Jowar Fodder was DM 21.41%, OM 97.02%, CP 15.81%, CF 10.38%, EE 3.68%, TA 2.98%, NFE 67.15%, AIA 0.33% .The proximate composition of Hydroponic Lucerne Fodder was DM 9.34%, OM 94.82%, CP 43.89%, CF 18.08%, EE 1.70%, TA 5.18%, NFE 31.15%, AIA 0.53%. The proximate composition of Hydroponic Pillipesara Fodder was DM 7.15%, OM 90.36%, CP 31.2%, CF 23.09%, EE 1.45%, TA 9.63%, NFE 34.63%, AIA 1.31%. The proximate composition of Hydroponic Cowpea Fodder was DM 8.97%, OM 92.03%, CP 30.99%, CF 20.02%, EE 1.39%, TA 7.97%, NFE 39.63%, AIA 1.99%. The proximate composition of Hydroponic Horse gram Fodder was the percent DM 8.71%, OM 93.83%, CP 30.16%, CF 20.14%, EE 1.46%, TA 6.17%, NFE 42.07%, AIA 1.29%. The highest gross return (Rs) was obtained from Cowpea (48) followed by Pillipesara (47.4), Lucerne (42), Horsegram (40.2), Barley (38.4), Maize (36), Jowar (33.6), Bajra (33). The highest net return (Rs) was in Maize (16) followed by Barley (8.4), Bajra (-7), Horsegram (-10), Jowar (-21.4), Pillipesara (-32.4), Cowpea (-57), Lucerne (- 73). The highest benefit cost ratio was obtained in Maize (1.8) followed by Barley (1.28), Bajra (0.83), Horsegram (0.8), Jowar (0.61), Pillipesara (0.59), Cowpea (0.45), Lucerne (0.33) The least cost of production for 1 kg of seed (Rs) was seen in Maize (2.5) followed by Barley (3.9), Bajra (6.36), Horsegram (6.71), Jowar (8.93). Pillipesara (9.49), Cowpea (12.5), Lucerne (17.14). To study the effect of Hydroponic Fodder on milk yield and milk composition, 12 lactating Murrah Buffaloes were selected in Tippanagunta village and they were divided in to two equal groups of treatment and control and fed with Hydroponic and conventional green fodder for 90day trial period. There was an increase of 10.65% in milk yield (Treatment-7.08kg, Control-6.4kg) between treatment and control group and 7.38% increase in milk fat percentage (Treatment-6.98%, Control-6.5%). There was a 7% increase in SNF (Treatment-10.92%, Control-10.21%) between treatment and control group. 11.4% increase in FCM (Treatment-9.41%, Control-8.46%) from the animals fed with conventional fodder and Hydroponic green fodder and a 9.19% increase in total solids (Treatment-18.3, Control-16.76) . This increase can be attributed to the constant production of high quality Hydroponic Fodder without any stoppages due to environmental conditions. It could be concluded that Hydroponic green fodder can be used to improve the productive performance while maintaining a relatively manageable cost especially in areas where conventional fodder supply is not constant or when the farmer lives in an area with low rainfall and in a situation of low land ownershipEnglishThesis