AKHILA C. THAMPI* AND USHA C. THOMAS
Department of Agronomy, Kerala Agricultural University
AICRP on Forage Crops & Utilization, College of Agriculture, Vellayani,
Thiruvananthapuram – 695 522 (Kerala), India
*(e-mail: akhilacthampi@kvasu.ac.in)
(Received : 8 March 2023; Accepted : 29 June 2023)

SUMMARY

An experiment was conducted in Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram during the period from
May 2016 to April 2017 to assess the influence of six magnesium sulphate levels (0 (M₁), 40 (M₂), 60 (M₃), 80 (M₄), 100 (M₅) and 120 (M₆) kg MgSO₄ ha^-1) and two growing conditions (open (S₁) and coconut garden (S₂) ) on the yield and quality of Bajra Napier hybrid. The growth and yield of Bajra Napier hybrid was significantly higher in open condition compared to coconut garden. However, quality parameters viz. crude protein and crude fibre content were improved when Bajra Napier hybrid was grown under coconut garden. Higher yield of Bajra Napier hybrid was obtained in the open condition with a Mg dose of 80 kg MgSO₄ ha^-1 in addition to the POP recommendations of KAU (25 t ha^-1 FYM and 200:50:50 kg ha^-1 NPK). In coconut garden, the productivity can be enhanced by applying 100 kg MgSO₄ ha^-1 along with the POP recommendations of KAU. Magnesium fertilization improved the quality parameters in herbage. Highest crude protein content (9.33 %) was recorded in M₅ and it was on par with M₄ and M₆. Crude fibre content (35.46 %) was the lowest in M₆ and it was on par with M₄ and M₅.

Key words: BN hybrid, Magnesium sulphate, coconut garden, fodder yield, crude fibre, crude protein

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