PERFORMANCE OF BERSEEM (TRIFOLIUM ALEXANDRINUM L.) GENOTYPES AT DIFFERENT PHOSPHORUS LEVELS
UMA DEVI AND SATPAL*
Department of Agronomy & Forage Section, Dept. of Genetics & Plant Breeding
CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125 004 (Haryana), India
* (e-mail : satpal.fpj@gmail.com)
(Received : 20 February 2019; Accepted : 26 March 2019)
SUMMARY
A field experiment was conducted at Forage Research Farm, Dept. of Genetics and Plant breeding, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar (Haryana) during winter season (rabi) of 2017-18 to study the response of different phosphorus levels on the yield and quality of berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) genotypes. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with five promising berseem genotypes (JB-05-9, PC-82, Wardan, Mescavi and Bundel Berseem-2) in main plot and three phosphorus levels in sub plot (60, 80 and 100 kg P2O5/ha) and replicated thrice. Maximum number of tillers/ft2 was recorded in Wardan which was at par with all entries except Bundel Berseem-2. Highest total green fodder and dry matter yield (687 and 93 q/ha, respectively) were recorded in variety JB-05-9 which was at par with all berseem varieties except Bundel Berseem-2. Maximum B: C ratio (1.37) was also observed in JB-05-9 followed by Wardan. Among different levels of phosphorus, highest green
fodder yield, dry matter yield, average number of tillers/ft2 and plant height were recorded with the application of 100 kg P2O5/ha which were found at par with 80 kg P2O5/ha but significantly superior to 60 kg P2O5/ha. Highest crude protein content (21.96%) was also estimated with 100 kg P2O5/ha which was significantly superior over the lower levels of phosphorus (60 and 80 kg P2O5/ha). Similar trend was also observed in crude protein yield. B: C ratio was found to be highest (1.38) with 100 kg P2O5/ha followed by 80 kg P2O5/ha.
Key words: Berseem, green fodder yield, dry matter, phosphorus level, crude protein content