V. K. SINGH, P. S. TAKAWALE*, AND R. V. KALE
BAIF Development Research Foundation, BISLD Odisha-768 025
Central Research Station, BAIF Development Research Foundation,
Uruli Kanchan, Dist. Pune-412 202 (M.S.)
*(e-mail : pramodkumar.takawale@baif.org.in)
(Received : 12 May 2020; Accepted : 10 June 2020)
SUMMARY
Legume fodder plays an important role in dairy farming. Among the different legume fodder crops, forage cowpea is short duration crop having 16-18 percent crude protein content. Fodder cowpea can be grown in kharif as well as in summer season. Demand of fodder cowpea seed is increasing but the availability of quality seed is very low. The seed production of cowpea is a remunerative activity to the farmers. Being a legume crop, it requires more phosphorus for its growth and seed yield. Field experiments were conducted during late kharif season of two successive years i.e. 2016 and 2017 to find out the response of phosphorus fertiliser on seed production of three cowpea varieties. Among the three varieties, significantly higher seed yield of 1689 kg/ha was recorded by Bundel Lobia-1 which was followed by EC-4216 with seed yield of 1483 kg/ha. In case of two levels of phosphorus, significantly higher seed yield of 1435 kg/ha recorded by application of 90 kg phosphorus/ ha which was followed by dose of 60 kg phosphorus/ha. Maximum gross monetary return was observed for variety Bundel Lobia-1 with Rs. 136877/ha and application of 90 kg phosphorus /ha with Rs 116262/ha which was followed by variety EC-4216 and dose of 60 kg phosphorus /ha. Similar trends was observed for net monetary return and B:C ratio.
Key words:Forage cowpea, phosphorus, seed yield, economics