FODDER PRODUCTIVITY AND QUALITY OF NAPIER BAJRA HYBRID (PENNISETUM PURPUREUM × PENNISETUM GLAUCUM) AND SUMMER FODDER INTERCROPS WITH DIFFERENT SEED RATES
RASHPINDER SINGH, U. S. TIWANA AND MEENAKSHI GOYAL
Department of Agronomy
Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
*(e-mail : rashpinder-agr@pau.edu)
(Received : 1 February 2018; Accepted : 25 March 2018)
SUMMARY
The field experiment was conducted to standardize the seed rate of intercrops (cowpea, maize and Bajra) in Napier Bajra hybrid at Forage Research Farm, Departmentof Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana during kharif 2016. The experiment constituted of sixteen treatments 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 replicated thrice in randomized complete block design. Maximum plant height and tillers/ stump were recorded in sole Napier Bajra hybrid. Plant height in sole Napier Bajra hybrid was at par with intercropping of Napier Bajra hybrid with cowpea (25, 50 and 75% of recommended seed rate), maize (25 and 50% of recommended seed rate) and Bajra (25% of recommended seed rate). Whereas, the leaf stem ratio was maximum with 100% recommended seed rate of intercrops. Weed density was lowest in Napier Bajra hybrid + cowpea 100% while maximum weed density was noticed in sole Napier Bajra hybrid. Total green fodder productivity was maximum in Napier Bajra hybrid + cowpea 100% which was at par with cowpea (50 and 75% of recommended seed rate) and maize (25% of recommended seed rate). The higher crude protein and lower oxalate content was observed in intercropping of Napier Bajra hybrid and cowpea at all the seed rates. Higher value of competitive ratio and positive sign of the aggressivity for Napier Bajra indicated its dominant behaviour in intercropping system except with maize and Bajra at 100% of recommended seed rate. Benefit cost ratio was higher in all combinations of Napier Bajra hybrid + cowpea and Napier Bajra + maize/Bajra (25 and 50% of recommended seed rate).
Key words: Napier Bajra hybrid, intercrops, seed rate, quality, competitive ratio