TENAW TEMESGEN*, BERNABAS AYENESHET AND YIHUN AMAN
Department of Animal science, Assosa University, Ethiopia
Department of Animal science, Woldia University, Ethiopia
Department of Animal production and Extension, University of Gondar, Ethiopia
*(e-mail : tenawtemesgen84@gmail.com)
(Received : 15 September 2021; Accepted : 29 September 2021)

SUMMARY

An environmental impact of livestock production has been given significant attention over the last few years. Besides increasing animal production and productivity, feeds are used to mitigate enteric methane production in the animal production sector. Enteric methane produced in the gastrointestinal tract of animals has direct effect on green house gas released from the livestock production. Enteric methane mitigation practices for animal production have been studied. Supplementation of roughage feed, concentrated feeds, addition of feed additives to animal feed are the major practice used to mitigate the enteric methane production from animal production sector. Decreasing roughage proportion with concentrate ration, while increasing the amount of crude fat (ether extract, EE) in dairy diet reduces enteric methane emissions. In the back knowledge, methane is mitigated through feeding animals diets with lipids due to its effectiveness in reducing CH₄, environmental safety, and animal health. Methane reducing strategies have their role to retention of energy in the animal body by dietary feed additives; plant extracts and chemical supplementation have been conducted to address their potential to reduce methanogenesis in the feed metabolism. Enteric methane emissions may be effectively reduced by manipulation of natural gastro-intestinal micro-floras and other micro-biota with various dietary supplementation and improved animal production efficiency.

Key words:Dietary manipulation, enteric methane, livestock sector

139-146

ARETH KIBARAZA, AXAY BHUKER,* AND VINEETA PANDEY
Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI), Tanzania
Department of Seed Science & Technology
CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125004 (Haryana), India
GLA University, Mathura, Chaumuhan- 281406 (Uttar Pradesh), India
*(e-mail : bhuker.axay@gmail.com)
(Received : 06 August 2021; Accepted : 22 September 2021)

SUMMARY

The study was conducted to assess the effect of priming on seed quality and storability of five maize hybrids viz., PMH-1, IIMRNH 2015-3, IIMRNH 2015-4, P3396 and Dekalb 9144 during 2018-19. The seeds were primed in tap water, KH₂PO₄ (2.0%), KNO₃ (1.0%) and GA₃ (50 ppm) for 17 hours at room temperature and then dried to original moisture content for 24 hours at 40°C temperature. The primed seed packed in two containers-polythene bags (700 gauge) and cloth bags were stored under ambient conditions and primed seeds were evaluated for various seed quality parameters viz., germination (%), seedling length, seedling dry weight and vigour indices at 3 months intervals. The results revealed that all the seed priming treatments (17 h priming by complete soaking) showed negative effect on seed quality parameters and unprimed seeds showed superiority by registering maximum germination (92.5%), Seedling length (30.9cm), Seedling dry weight (59.6g), vigour index-I (2866) and vigour index-II (5557) in polythene bags after nine months of storage. However, among the priming treatments, maximum germination (77.6%), vigour index-I (2237) and vigour index-II (4011) was recorded in seeds primed with KNO₃ @1.0 % while maximum seedling length (28.3cm) and seedling dry weight (51.0g) was observed in seeds primed with KH₂PO₄ @2.0%. Among the hybrids, maximum germination (88.9%), seedling length (30.3cm), seedlings dry weight (53.4g), vigour index–I (2693), vigour index-II (4764) were recorded in hybrid IIMRNH-2015-4 after nine month of storage which was at par with hybrid IIMRNH 2015-3 in almost all the seed quality parameters. In polythene bags, the germination was reduced from 97.6% to 92.5% while reduction in germination in cloth bags was 97.6 to 84.5% at the end of storage period (nine months). It is concluded from the study that priming of seeds is affected by temperature, priming duration, priming method, volume of priming agents etc, so it must be standardized, otherwise it may adversely affect the seed quality. Hybrid, IIMRNH-2015-4 was found more vigorous which can be used in further breeding programmes. For maintenance of seed quality in maize, the seed should be stored at optimum moisture level in vapour proof containers i.e. Polythene bags (>700 gauge).

Key words:Zea mays, priming, seed quality, hybrids, germination and storage

147-152

ARVINTH S., R. N. PATEL, R. A. GAMI* AND A. H. JOSHI
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, CPCA, S. D. Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar (Gujarat)
Potato Research Station, S.D. Agricultural University, Deesa-385 535 (Gujarat)
Sorghum Research Station, S.D. Agricultural University, Deesa-385 535 (Gujarat)
*(e-mail : ramangami@gmail.com)
(Received : 01 September 2021; Accepted : 27 September 2021)

SUMMARY

The present investigation was carried out to assess the genetic variability, character association and path analysis in twenty-two sorghum genotypes during kharif-2020 at Sorghum Research Station, Deesa. The magnitude of the phenotypic coefficient of variations was higher than the genotypic coefficient of variations denoting favourable environment influence to some extent for all the characters. GCV and PCV were higher for HCN content, green fodder yield per plant, dry fodder yield per plant, leaf: stem ratio, and stem girth. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as per cent of mean was manifested by HCN content, green fodder yield per plant, dry fodder yield per plant, leaf: stem ratio, stem girth, crude protein content, leaf width of blade and Brix content indicated the additive gene action and selection would be effective for these characters. The association study implies that the magnitude of genotypic correlation coefficients was higher than phenotypic correlation coefficients for all the characters studied. Green fodder yield per plant showed highly significant and favourable association with a number of leaves per plant, stem girth, leaf length of blade, leaf width of blade, dry fodder yield per plant at genotypic and phenotypic levels and Brix content was highly significantly correlated at the phenotypic level and significantly correlated at the genotypic level. Hence improvement in forage yield of sorghum can be done by simultaneous selection for these traits. Genotypic path analysis showed that the dry fodder yield per plant had a high positive direct effect on green fodder yield per plant, followed by days to 50 per cent flowering, leaf length of blade, number of leaves per plant and leaf width of blade.

Key words:GCV, PCV, heritability, correlation and path analysis

153-158

DIGVIJAY SINGH* AND ALKA CHOUDHARY
Animal Nutrition Group
National Dairy Development Board, Anand-388001 (Gujarat), India
*(e-mail : dsingh@nddb.coop)
(Received : 06 September 2021; Accepted : 28 September 2021)

SUMMARY

An experiment was carried out during two seasons i.e. Zaid 2018 and Kharif 2018 to estimate the potential of 15 popular maize cultivars PMC-6, Narmada Moti, GM-6, African Tall, NK-6850, NK-6668, S-6668+, DKC-9081, P-3396, P-3502, HQPM-4, HQPM-1 PMH-1, PHM-3 and IIMR-1502 at fodder demonstration unit (FDU) of National Dairy Development Board, Anand (Gujarat) for fodder yield, nutrients and silage quality. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design (RBD) with 15 treatments and replicated thrice. The maize crop was grown at 60 cm x 20 cm spacing following recommend agronomic practices in order to maximize biomass yield and fodder quality and harvested at milk to dough stage. Two season’s data were pooled for statistical analysis. National Check fodder maize composite African Tall (38.96 t/ha) statistically at par with PMC-6 (35.05 t/ha), S-6668+ (34.86 t/ha) and NK-6668 (34.10t/ha) recorded highest green fodder yield. African Tall (13.58 t/ha) also recorded highest dry matter yield, but was found statistically at par with PMH-1 (13.14 t/ha), NK-6668 (12.68 t/ha) and PMC-6 (12.53 t/ha) cultivars. Highest digestible dry matter yield was recorded for PMH-1 (7.98 t/ha) however, at par with African Tall (7.20 t/ha) and S-6668+ (7.19 t/ha) cultivars. Significantly higher crude protein yield was recorded in African Tall T (1.19 t/ha) that was found to be statistically at par with PMC-6 (1.06 t/ha), NK-6668 (1.01 t/ha) and S-6668+ (1.00 t/ha) cultivars. Quality parameters in maize silage viz. dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, acid insoluble ash, Brix and pH ranged from 34.20-44.41%, 7.26-9.33%, 0.62-2.77%, 5.30-7.86%, 8.51-11.22% and 3.81-4.45% respectively. PMH-1 (44.41%) recorded highest dry matter. Highest crude protein was observed in P-3396 (9.33%), followed by HQPM-1 (9.13 %), PHM-3 (8.64%) and HQPM-4 (8.61%) in hybrids. Significantly lower pH was recorded in PMC-6 (3.81) but statistically at par with NK-6850 (3.96), AT (3.99), S-6668+ (4.00), NM (4.02), PHM-3 (4.03), DKC-9081 (4.06). N, K, Total digestible nutrients and Total Ash content varied from varied from 1.21-1.49%, 0.92 to 1.44%, 47.90 to 73.76% and 4.25-7.79%, respectively in maize silage.

Key words:Maize, cultivars, fodder, yield, silage, quality, nutrients, uptake

159-166

R. K. ARYA*, SURESH KUMAR AND M. C. KAMBOJ
RDS Seed Farm, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125 004 (Haryana), India
CCS HAU Regional Research Station, Uchani, Karnal (Haryana), India
*(e-mail : rajesharya@hau.ernet.in)
(Received : 08 August 2021; Accepted : 22 September 2021)

SUMMARY

The field experiments were conducted under two different agro-climatic conditions of Haryana viz. humid conditions of Karnal and semi-arid conditions of Hisar during kharif 2015 to assess the performance of newly developed nine medium-late maturing hybrids of maize. The analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the hybrids for different characters. In humid conditions, X35D601 (14079 kg/ha) followed by Seed tech2324 (13467 kg/ha), PMH-3 (12893 kg/ha) and Bio9637 (12007 kg/ha) were top yielder and significantly superior over the other hybrids. In semi-arid conditions, CP 201 (4813 kg/ha) followed by Bio9681 (4766 kg/ha), PMH-3 (4515 kg/ha) and X35D601 (4073 kg/ha) were significantly superior over the other hybrids. Likewise, on the basis average over the locations, X35D601with an average yield 9076.0 kg/ha was at the top and followed by PMH-3 (8704 .0kg/ha), Seed tech2324 (8159.0 kg/ha) and CP 201 (7955.5 kg/ha). The grain yield mean performance was high in humid conditions (11337.0 kg/ha) as compared to in semi-arid conditions (3634.0 kg/ha). Higher grain yield in humid condition was observed due to more availability of soil moisture and nutrients. Moreover, the genotype Bio 9681 (DSI=0.389) was found drought tolerant and may be utilized in breeding program to develop high yielding drought tolerant genotypes.

Key words:Yield performance, extra-early maturity, maize, hybrids

167-171

SUCHITRA BALMIKI*, SEUJI BORA NEOG AND NAGENDRA SARMA BARUA
Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics
AICRP on Forage Crops
Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics
Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam-785013
*(e-mail : suchitrabalmiki66@gmail.com)
(Received : 12 September 2021; Accepted : 28 September 2021)

SUMMARY

The current experiment was conducted in the Instructional-Cum-Research Farm, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam during Rabi 2018 to study the genetic variability and yield performance of fourteen rice bean genotypes grown in Randomized Block Design with two replications. The observations were recorded for twenty-six quantitative characters viz., plant height, primary branches per plant, secondary branches per plant, stem diameter, stem length, seed yield per plot, leaf length, leaf breadth, leaf area, leaf-stem ratio, 100 seed weight, pod length, pod breadth, seed length, seed breadth, seeds per pod, specific gravity of seeds, days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, green forage yield per plant, dry matter yield per plant, productive racemes per plant, pods per raceme, crude protein %, crude fibre % and ash %. The analysis of variance revealed that there was significant difference among all the genotypes for all the characters. The estimates of genotypic coefficient of variation and phenotypic coefficient of variation were observed to be high for stem length, leaf-stem ratio, productive racemes per plant and seed yield per plant. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as per cent of mean was observed for stem length, leaf area, 100 seed weight, pod length, seed breadth, leaf-stem ratio, productive racemes per plant and seed yield per plant indicating the preponderant influence of additive gene effects.

Key words:Rice bean, genetic variability, genotypic coefficient of variation, phenotypic coefficient of variation, heritability

172-179

SATPAL, B. GANGAIAH, N. KUMAR, S. DEVI, N. KHAROR, K. K. BHARDWAJ, P. KUMARI, B. L. SHARMA, NEELAM AND S. KUMAR
Forage Section, Department of Genetics & Plant Breeding, 4Department of Botany & Plant Physiology, 6Department of Soil Science and Department of Agronomy, CCS Haryana Agricultural University,
Hisar-125 004 (Haryana), India
ICAR – Indian Institute of Millets Research, Hyderabad-500 030 (Telangana), India
*(e-mail : satpal.fpj@gmail.com)
(Received : 10 July 2021; Accepted : 10 September 2021)

SUMMARY

Field experiment was made to assess the impact four graded levels of recommended fertilizer doses (RDF 0, 50, 100 and 150% with 75.0-13.2-24.9 kg N-P-K/ha as RDF) on fodder productivity, quality and economics of six single cut forage sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] genotypes (SPV 2584, SPV 2587, SPV 2593, CSV 21F, CSV 30F and SH 1519) at Hisar (Haryana), India during kharif season of 2020 using Split plot design with two replications. Results revealed that ‘SPV 2584’ ‘SPV 2593’ and ‘SH 1519’ with identical green and dry fodder yields i.e. 51.74 and 12.75 t/ha (mean) have excelled both checks CSV 21F and CSV 30F by 8 & 8 and 11 & 13 per cent, respectively and are promising from crude protein, digestible dry matter yield and net income wise also. Check cultivar “CSV 30F’ that fared very badly for both fodder quality and net income generation point of view; however, was most efficient from dry fodder yields/ kg N-P-K uptake. CSV 21F has lowest HCN content (54 µg/g) while SPV 2584, the highest (89.8 µg/g). High fodder producing genotypes (SPV 2584, SPV 2593 and SH 1519) are more depletive of soil nutrients. Among RDF levels, significant improvement was seen in leaf area index values only with 150% RDF application over RDF and thus RDF was best for realizing the fodder yield and also for economics. Fertilizers (RDF) have contributed to 20.2, 40.3 and 49.9% green, dry fodder yield and net income enhancements at the test site as compared to 0% RDF i.e. unfertilized control (42.26, 8.26 t/ha and 19,528). Inherent soil fertility (0% RDF) has contributed to 105.3-9.94-92.0 kg/ha N-P-K uptake of forage sorghum crop producing highest dry fodder/kg NPK uptake (78.4-831.0-89.8 kg fodder / kg N-P-K) and uptake got 2.08-2.88-1.89 times more with RDF use. Application of 150% RDF has not only reduced the soil NP uptake over RDF but also produced highest dry fodder/kg NPK application (61.8-458.0-78.1 kg fodder/kg N-P-K). HCN content increased from 60 to 96 µg/g as RDF increased from 0 to 150% RDF. It is concluded that single cut forage sorghum genotypes SPV 2584, SPV 2593 and SH 1519 are promising and application of 100% RDF (75.0-13.2-24.9 kg/ha N-P-K) was recommended for higher fodder yield, quality and income.

Key words:Forage sorghum, single-cut, genotypes, fertilizer levels, fodder yield, HCN, crude protein and IVDMD

180-186

NAVEEN KUMAR, NITISH BANTA, ARVIND CHAHAL*, S. R. KANTWA AND SUKHCHAIN SINGH
Department of Agronomy, CSK HPKV, Palampur-176062 (Himachal Pradesh), India
Division of Agronomy, IGFRI Jhansi-284003 (Uttar Pradesh), India
*(e-mail : chahal.arvind92@gmail.com)
(Received : 31 March 2021; Accepted : 11 July 2021)

SUMMARY

The field experiment was conducted at CSK HPKV, Palampur from 2011-12 to 2013-14 (Rabi) for three consecutive years to study the effect of cutting management on dual purpose winter cereals. Oat crop produced 20.9 and 60.9 per cent more green fodder yield than barley and wheat, respectively with respective increase in dry fodder yield of 28.9 and 123.2 per cent. Crops harvested for fodder at 90 DAS produced higher green and dry herbage yields. No fodder cut resulted in reduction in grain yield of oat and wheat. Among crops grain yield of wheat was significantly better than oat and barley. Fodder cut at 70 DAS resulted in higher grain yield of the crops, whereas, fodder cut at 80 or 90 DAS reduced the grain yield of crops significantly. Wheat crop had better grain and straw yield and thereafter had significantly higher values of net returns and B:C ratio. The crude protein content in wheat fodder was at par with oat, whereas, crude protein yield of oat was at par with barley. Earlier harvesting of fodder at 70 DAS had better crude protein content and lower ADF and NDF contents, but further delay in fodder cut decreased the crude protein content and increased the ADF and NDF contents.

Key words:Oat green fodder equivalent yield, forage yield, crude protein, ADF and NDF

187-192

B. G. SHEKARA*, P. MAHADEVU, N. M. CHIKKARUGI AND N. MANASA
AICRP on Forage Crops and Utilization, Zonal Agricultural Research Station,
V. C. Farm, Mandya – 571 405, UAS, Bangalore, Karnataka
*(e-mail : bgshekar66@gmail.com)
(Received : 30 July 2021: Accepted : 25 September 2021)

SUMMARY

A field experiments was carried out at Zonal Agricultural Research Station, Vishweswaraiah Canal Farm, Mandya, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, under All India Coordinated Research Project on Forage Crops during kharif season of 2017 to study the response of pearl millet genotypes to nitrogen levels. The research results revealed that national check Giant Bajra recorded significantly higher green forage, dry matter, crude protein yield and total digestible crude protein yield (326.5 q, 75.4 q, 5.8 q and 4.9 q/ha, respectively). Application of nitrogen 90 kg/ha significantly recorded higher green forage, dry matter, crude protein yield and total digestible crude protein yield (367.7 q, 92.9 q, 6.1 q and 5.2 q/ha, respectively). The Agronomic efficiency of nitrogen was higher (192 kg green fodder kg^-1 of Nitrogen) with application of nitrogen 30 kg/ha. The net monetary returns (Rs 16,652/ha) and B : C ratio was higher (1.83) with application of nitrogen 90 kg/ha.

Key words:Pearl millet, green forage yield, dry matter yield, nitrogen use efficiency phenology, regeneration, sowing date

193-196

BALWINDER SINGH DHILLON* AND HARI RAM
Regional Research Station, Punjab Agricultural University, Ballowal Saunkhri, SBS Nagar- 144 521, Punjab
Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141004, Punjab
*(e-mail : dhillonbalwinder@pau.edu)
(Received: 10 September, 2021; Accepted 28 September, 2021)

SUMMARY

Field experiments were conducted during 2015-16 and 2016-17 at the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, to study the effect of different sowing dates and fodder cutting stages along with nitrogen application on the phenological stages of barley. The experiment was laid out in split-plot design with three sowing dates (October 15, October 30 and November 15) in main plots and five cutting management [un-cut (control), cut at 50 days after sowing (DAS), cut at 60 DAS, cut at 50 DAS + additional 15 kg N/ha after the cut (N₁₅) and cut at 60 DAS + additional 15 kg N/ha after the cut (N₁₅)] in subplots, replicated four times. Results revealed that the late sown crop (i.e. November 15) sowing recorded a significantly higher number of days to emergence, tillering, jointing and regeneration. October 15 sowing took significantly higher days to booting, heading and physiological maturity. Fodder cut at 50 DAS regenerated significantly faster than cut at 60 DAS. The booting, heading and physiological maturity was delayed significantly by a delay in fodder harvest. Application of an additional dose of nitrogen (15 kg N/ha) after fodder cut (50 and 60 DAS) took significantly more days to maturity as compared to without N application. One fodder cut of barley taken at 50 DAS without any significantly grain yield reduction and it can be delayed up to 60 DAS to get more production of green fodder (40.5 to 41.8%) than that at 50 DAS.

Key words:Barley, cutting management, phenology, regeneration, sowing date

197-203

MOHAMMAD RAFI, NEELAM*, SATPAL, KAUTILYA CHAUDHARY, SURESH KUMAR AND SHWETA
Kabul Agriculture Directorate, Ministry of Agriculture, Afghanistan
Department of Agronomy, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar -125004 (Haryana), India
Forage Section, Department of Genetics & Plant Breeding, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125004 (Haryana), India
*(e-mail : berkesia.neelam@gmail.com)
(Received : 28 August 2021; Accepted : 27 September 2021)

SUMMARY

The field experiment was conducted at Agronomy Research Area, CCS HAU, Hisar (India) during the summer season of 2020. The two factor experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replication. The experiment consists 14 treatments formed by combination of two single-cut forage sorghum cultivars (HJ 541 & HJ 513) and seven different foliar spray involving S₁: No spray (control) S₂: water spray at 45-50 DAS, S₃: water spray at 25-30 DAS & 45-50 DAS, S₄: urea spray @ 2% at 45-50 DAS, S₅: urea spray @ 2% at 25-30 DAS & 45-50 DAS, S₆: NPK spray (18-18-18) @ 2% at 45-50 DAS, S₇: NPK spray (18-18-18) @ 2% at 25-30 DAS & 45-50 DAS. Among the varieties, HJ 541 recorded highest green fodder yield (GFY), dry fodder yield (DFY), crude protein (CP) content and In-vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of 407.52 q/ha, 99.61 q/ha, 8.90% and 51.64, respectively. Among the foliar nutrition, significantly higher GFY, DFY, CP content and IVDMD of 433.33 q/ha, 111.51 q/ha, 9.27% and 52.40 %, respectively, were recorded with NPK spray (18-18-18) @ 2% at 25-30 DAS & 45-50 DAS. It is concluded that use of single-cut forage sorghum variety, HJ 541 and application of NPK spray (18-18-18) @ 2% at 25-30 DAS & 45-50 DAS was recommended for higher green & dry fodder yield and better quality.

Key words:Single-cut sorghum, foliar nutrition, fodder yield, HCN, Crude protein and IVDMD

204-208

A. A. GIRI*, S. H. PATHAN AND S. V. DAMAME
Department of Agronomy
Mahatma Phule KrishiVidyapeeth, Rahuri-413 722
District Ahmednagar (Maharashtra), India
*(e-mail : giriashwini936@gmail.com)
(Received : 3 September 2021; Accepted : 28 September 2021)

SUMMARY

A field experiment was carried out at Post Graduate Instructional Farm, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, Dist. Ahmednagar (Maharashtra) during summer, 2018-19.The experiment was laid out in Factorial Randomized Block Design with eight treatments and four replications. The application of 125% RDN (75% RDN- through urea + 25% RDN –through Vermicompost) and second cutting management treatment (1st cut at 80 DAS and 2nd cut 60 days after 1st cut) recorded significantly maximum growth and yield attributes viz., plant height, number of leaves/plant, leaf : stem ratio, green forage yield (703.21,663.67 q/ha), dry matter yield(140,130.83 q/ha), crude protein yield (11.61,10.32 q/ha) and crude fiber yield (41.51, 39.24 q/ha), respectively. The extent of expression of a quality parameter IVDMD (62.13%) was recorded significantly highest with application of 125% RDN (75% RDN- through urea + 25% RDN -through Vermicompost) and first cutting management cut treatment (1st cut at 80 DAS and 2nd cut at 50 days after 1st cut) was recorded significantly highest IVDMD (61.84%). On the basis of economic studies application of 125% RDN (75% RDN- through urea + 25% RDN -through Vermicompost) INM fertilizer level with second cutting management treatment (1st cut at 80 DAS and 2nd cut at 60 days after 1st cut) was found most remunerative to obtain significantly the highest net monetary returns (Rs. 77691/ha and Rs. 72794/ha) and B : C ratio (2.85 and 2.81), respectively.

Key words:Sorghum, yield, quality, INM, cutting management

209-212

SEVA NAYAK DHEERAVATHU*, HANAMANT M. HALLI, THULASI BAI VADITHE, SAIDA NAIK VADITHE, KAJAL SINGH, NILAMANI DIKSHIT1, USHA T. N , TEJVEER SINGH, REETU AND RAHUL GAJGHATE
ICAR- Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh), India
Department of Microbiology, Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur (Andhra Pradesh), India
ANGRAU-Agricultural Research Station, Jangameswarapuram, Guntur (Andhra Pradesh), India
Zonal Agricultural and Horticultural Research Station, Keladi Shivappa Nayaka University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Shivamogga (Karnataka), India
*(e-mail : sevanayak2005@gmail.com)
(Received : 07 September 2021; Accepted : 27 September 2021)

SUMMARY

In the present investigation, four cowpea varieties viz., Kohinoor, BL-1, BL-2 and EC-4216 were tested for their relative salt tolerance to increasing levels of salinity in the combinations of salts which nearly exist in the natural salt affected soils in India. Seeds were germinated in petri dishes and were exposed to four salinity [4, 8, 12 and 16 EC (dS m-1)] levels. The germination percentage, shoot length, root length, fresh weight and dry weight of seedling were recorded. The main effects of salinity on varieties and the interaction effects among varieties were significant (p  0.05). At the highest salinity (16 dS/m) level, reduction in GP over control ranged from 14% for BL-2 to 74% for BL-1, SSL 77% for Kohinoor to 96% for BL-1, for SRL 59% for BL-1 to 83% for BL-2. GP showed significant correlation with SL, FW, DW, moderately significant correlation with SVI-I, II, III and highly significant correlation in SVI-IV. It was inferred that salinity stress significantly decrease germination and growth parameters of seedlings of four forage cowpea varieties; however variety BL-2 was found relatively tolerant to salinity than Kohinoor, EC-4216 and BL-1.

Key words:Salinity, cowpea, germination percentage, shoot length and seed vigour indices

213-221

D. S. AHLAWAT*, MEENA SEWHAG, NARESH SANGWAN AND NEERAJ PAWAR
CCSHAU Regional Research Station, Rohtak (Haryana), India
*(e-mail : ahlawatento@gmail.com)
(Received : 13 July 2021; Accepted : 15 September 2021)

SUMMARY

Field experiments were conducted during kharif season of 2019 and 2020 at Research farm of CCSHAU Regional Research Station, Rohtak. The objective of the experiment was to evaluate the performance of forage sorghum under different establishment methods and doses of fertilization. The soil of the experimental field was sandy loam in texture, neutral in reaction, low in organic carbon and available nitrogen, medium in available phosphorus and high in available potassium. The experiment was laid out in Split plot design with four establishment methods viz. S₁: Happy seeder + full wheat residue, S₂: Zero Tillage with 50 % wheat residue, S₃: Conventional Tillage + sowing with drill and S4: Conventional Tillage + seed broadcasting (Rotavator) in main plot and three fertilizer doses viz. F₁: 100 % RDF (75 kg N/ha + 15 kg P₂O₅/ha), F₂: 125 % RDF and F₃: 150% RDF replicated thrice. Overall results depicted that in the year 2019 among different establishment methods significantly higher green fodder yield was obtained with conventional tillage + sowing with seed drill sowing method as compared to Happy seeder + full wheat residue and Zero Tillage with 50 % wheat residue sowing method and at par with treatment Conventional tillage + seed broadcasting followed by rotavator sowing method. Similar trend in 2019 was observed in case of dry fodder yield. In the year 2020 sorghum sown with happy seeder + full wheat residue yielded 475.97 q / ha green fodder yield which was 7.51 % and 6.07 % higher than conventional tillage + seed broadcasting and zero tillage with 50 % residue (wheat stubbles) sowing method, respectively. Sorghum sown with happy seeder + full wheat residue yielded 131.73 q / ha dry fodder yield in 2020 which was 7.98 % , 6.89 % and 5.41 % higher than conventional tillage + seed broadcasting, zero tillage with 50 % residue (wheat stubbles) and conventional tillage + sowing with seed drill sowing method, respectively. In 2019 application of 150 % recommended dose of fertilizer in sorghum recorded significantly higher green fodder and dry fodder yield than 125 % RDF and RDF. In the year 2020 application of 150 % RDF being at par with 125 % RDF recorded significantly higher dry fodder and green fodder yield than RDF.

Key words:Conventional tillage, forage sorghum, happy seeder, RDF and zero tillage

222-226

MOHAMMAD NABI*, SATPAL, NEELAM, K. K. BHARDWAJ AND N. KHAROR
Directorate of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, Province – Paktia, Ministry of Agriculture, Afghanistan
Department of Genetics & Plant Breeding (Forage Section), Department of Agronomy,
Department of Soil Science, 5Department of Biochemistry
CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125 004 (Haryana), India
*(e-mail : nabi.habibkhail@gmail.com)
(Received : 5 August 2021; Accepted : 22 September 2021)

SUMMARY

A field experiment was conducted at Forage Section Research Farm, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar (Haryana), India during the summer season of 2020 to assess the influence of organic and inorganic sources of nitrogen application on yield and economics of single cut forage sorghum during summer season. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with nine treatments (inorganic, organic and integrated nitrogen sources) and replicated thrice. Among the different nitrogen sources viz. organic, inorganic or combination of both, T₂ [100% RDN (Recommended Dose of Nitrogen) through inorganic source (Urea)] resulted in significantly higher growth at harvest i.e. plant height (282.47 cm) and dry matter accumulation/plant (106.73 g) and interns higher yields i.e. green fodder yield (45.64 t ha^-1) and dry matter yield (11.98 t ha^-1); higher quality parameters i.e. crude protein yield (1.07 t ha^-1), digestible dry matter yield (6.20 t ha^-1) of single cut forage sorghum over rest of treatments except T₃ (75% RDN through inorganic source + 25% N through FYM) and T₄ (75% RDN through inorganic source + 25% N through vermicompost). The green fodder, dry matter, crude protein and digestible dry matter yield with 100% RDN through urea was 3.05, 6.58, 9.18 & 4.90 and 1.65, 3.90, 8.39 & 4.73 per cent higher over 75% RDN through inorganic source+25% N through FYM and 75% RDN through inorganic source+25% N through vermicompost, respectively. The maximum net returns (Rs. 19895/ha) and B: C (1.54) were fetched with T₂ followed by T₃ (Rs. 16570/ha and 1.43, respectively) and T₄ (Rs. 11593/ha and 1.26, respectively).

Key words:Forage sorghum, single-cut, FYM, vermicompost, fodder yield and economics

227-232