S. K. SHARMA* AND MANJEET
Department of Agronomy
Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125004 (Haryana), India
*(e-mail: sksharma67@rediffmail.com)
(Received : 13 December 2022; Accepted : 18 September 2023)

SUMMARY

Field experiments were conducted at Dryland Agriculture Research Farm of CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar during Kharif season of 2020 and 2021 to study the effect of various foliar sprays on the production and profitability of pearl millet under dryland conditions. On the basis of pooled data, results revealed that foliar spray of urea @ 2% + 0.5% ZnSO₄ + 0.5% FeSO₄ + 1% KCl recorded significantly higher plant height (186.8 cm), number of effective tillers (3.1), length of earhead (25.0) and earhead girth (31.4) over control. However, foliar spray of urea @ 2% + 0.5% ZnSO₄ + 0.5% FeSO₄ and urea @ 2% + 0.5% ZnSO₄ + 0.5% FeSO₄ + 1% KCl remained at par with regard to plant height. Foliar spray of urea @ 2% + 0.5% ZnSO₄ + 0.5% FeSO₄ + 1% KCl also remained statistically at par with urea @ 2% + 0.5% ZnSO₄ + 0.5% FeSO₄, urea @ 2% + 0.5% ZnSO₄, water soluble complex fertilizer (19:19:19) @ 1% + 0.5% ZnSO₄ + 0.5% FeSO4 and water soluble complex fertilizer (19:19:19) @ 1% + 0.5% ZnSO₄ with respect to yield attributing parameters. Further, the data showed that foliar spray of urea @ 2% + 0.5% ZnSO₄ + 0.5% FeSO₄ increased grain and stover yield of pearl millet by 26.6 and 34.1 % compared to control (no spray of any material/water) with higher net returns (Rs. 21788 ha^-1) and BC ratio (2.13).

Key words: Dryland, economics, foliar spray, pearl millet, yield attributes, yield

231-235

RAHUL V. KALE* AND P. S. TAKAWALE
BAIF Development Research Foundation,
Central Research Station, Urulikanchan, Pune, Maharashtra-412202 (India)
*(e-mail: rahul.kale@baif.org.in)
(Received : 02 September 2023; Accepted : 28 September)

SUMMARY

Good quality green fodder production is very important in dairy farming. For the green fodder farmers grow B N hybrid, Maize, Sorghum, Cowpea, Lucerne etc. These are fodder crops require high irrigation water compared to Pearl millet. Fodder pearl millet is dual purpose crop which can be consumed as green fodder by livestock and grain by human. Pearl millet can be cultivated on light to medium soil with less amount of water. It is an ideal crop with high tillering ability, high dry matter production, high protein content (9-11 %) with excellent growth habit, high palatability and better nutritive value.. Among the different varieties tested variety namely 16ADV0055 was recorded significantly higher green fodder yield of 554.60q/ha followed by varieties BAIF Bajra-1 and Dev-1 with 521.80 and 519.68 q/ha respectively. In case of nitrogen levels 90kg Nitrogen/ha was found significantly superior over the 60kg and 30 kg nitrogen/ha. Significantly maximum green fodder yield of 467.93q/ha was recorded with application of 90kg N/ha followed by 60kg N/ha with green fodder yield of 431.72 q/ha. Significantly higher dry matter yield of 84.37q/ha was recorded by the variety 16ADV0055 which was found at par with Dev-1 and BAIF bajra-1 with value of 81.22 q/ha and 77.88 q/ha dry matter yield. Maximum dry matter yield of 71.62 q/ha was obtained with application of nitrogen @ 60 kg/ha which was found at par with application of nitrogen @90kg/ha. In case of crude protein yield, variety Dev1 was recorded significantly maximum CP yield of 8.63 with application of nitrogen @ 90 kg/ha which was found at par with variety 16 ADV0055 with 8.61 q/ha CP yield.

Key words: Forage pearl millet, Nitrogen level, green fodder yield, Dry matter yield and crude protein yield

236-238

RAHUL BANIK, NAVNIT KUMAR, GANGADHAR NANDA, BARSHA MANSINGH AND PRANJEET KALITA
Department of Agronomy, PG College of Agriculture, RPCAU, Pusa-848 125 (Bihar), India
Department of Agronomy, Sugarcane Research Institute, RPCAU, Pusa-848 125 (Bihar), India
*(e-mail: just.rahulbanik@gmail.com)
(Received : 12 August 2023; Accepted : 22 September 2023)

SUMMARY

A field trial was carried out at the forage maize research plot of TCA, Dholi Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar, during the Rabi season of 2022-23 to study the performance of different varieties under various nitrogen levels in terms of yield and quality of fodder maize. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with fifteen treatments in three replications. The treatments included three nitrogen levels (150, 180 and 210 kg ha-1) in main- plots and five varieties of maize (NK-7550, NK-7328, NK-7660, J-1006 and Shaktiman-5) in sub-plots. The observations from the experiment revealed that application of 210 kg N ha-1 resulted in the highest green fodder yield (85.0 t/ha), dry fodder yield (20.7 t/ha), which were comparable to those obtained with 180 kg N ha-1. J-1006 surpassed other varieties, producing the highest green fodder yield (89.8 t/ha) and dry fodder yield (21.1 t/ha). The use of 210 kg N ha^-1 led to increased levels of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) contents and their uptake. Furthermore, the crude protein content (8.61%) and crude protein yield (1.79 t/ha) were also at their peak when 210 kg N ha^-1 was applied, showing a significant improvement over the application of 150 and 180 kg N ha-1. J- 1006 showed higher nitrogen content (1.35%), crude protein content (8.46%) and crude protein yield (1.80 t/ha), which was comparable with NK-7660 and Shaktiman-5. Therefore, J-1006 variety with application of 210 kg N ha^-1 can be applied for getting maximum green fodder, dry matter and crude protein yield of Rabi forage maize.

Key words: Varieties, nitrogen levels, fodder maize, yield, quality

239-245

BHAWNA, NARESH KUMAR*, SUSHIL, SATPAL, SHALINI SHARMA AND RAJESH KATHWAL
Department of Agricultural Meteorology, CCS HAU, Hisar (Haryana), India
Department of Genetics & Plant Breeding (Forage Section), CCS HAU, Hisar (Haryana), India
Department of Biochemistry, Jamia Hamdard University, New Delhi, India
Regional Research Station (Horticulture), Buria, Yamunanagar, CCS HAU, Hisar (Haryana), India
*(e-mail: naren1080@yahoo.co.in)
(Received : 14 September; Accepted : 28 September)

SUMMARY

As the global demand for food continues to rise, optimizing pearl millet production becomes increasingly important. This research paper investigates the impact of different row orientations (NS and EW) on the growth and yield of pearl millet cultivars, namely HHB 299, HC 20 Composite, and HHB 67 Improved. The field experiment was carried out at the Research Farm of Department of Agricultural Meteorology of CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana located at a geographical position of 75°46` E longitude and 29°10` N latitude, at an elevation of 215.2 meters above sea level during the 2022 kharif season, with four replications each. The maximum value of LAI was higher in NS direction (5.83) as compared to EW direction (4.82). Dry matter accumulation at maturity was 107.11 and 101.21 g/plant in NS and east west direction, respectively. Highest dry matter was produced by HHB 299 among cultivars. Furthermore, HHB 299 also yielded the maximum grain production, with the NS sown crops outperforming the EW sown ones in terms of grain yield. The harvest index was at its peak in the NS sowing orientation, standing at 24.6%, while the EW sowing displayed a slightly lower harvest index of 23.3%.

Key words: Dry matter accumulation, LAI, pearl millet, row orientation, yield

246-249

VITTHAL K. KAUTHALE*, PRAMODKUMAR S. TAKAWALE AND RAHUL V. KALE
BAIF Development Research Foundation, Pune-412 202 (Maharashtra), India
*(e-mail : vitthal.kauthale@baif.org.in)
(Received : 04 September 2023; Accepted : 25 September 2023)

SUMMARY

Lucerne is one of the important legume fodder crop for dairy animal which is more palatable, digestible and have high protein content and commonly grown in central and southern part of India. On other hand the supply of quality seed was not adequate Development of new packages in view of increasing the green biomass productivity is necessary. But looking towards the availability of quality seed is the major constraint. So that the experiment was designed in such way that a farmer can get regular green fodder along with yearly seed production at own farm. A field experiment was conducted at BAIF, Central Research Station, Urulikanchan to study the influence of different sowing methods and cutting management on green fodder and seed yield of Lucerne. The experiment was laid in split plot design with two sowing methods and three cutting management treatments in three replications. Among the two different sowing methods, highest green fodder yield of 695.77q/ha/year was recorded in broadcasting method of sowing whereas in case of cutting management regular cutting for two & half years & leaving for seed production at the end of March month was recorded significantly maximum green fodder yield of 751.05 q/ha/year. The significant maximum seed yield of 1.65 q/ha was recorded by the line sowing method and regular cutting at 25 days intervals and leaving for seed production in the second week of March month every year. The highest net monetary returns of Rs.1,26,683/ha and the benefit-cost ratio of 3.26 was recorded in line sowing among two methods whereas it was Rs. 1,32,540/ha/year and 3.42 benefit cost ratio respectively in regular cutting at 25 days interval and leaving for seed production in the second week of March every year and this treatment combination was found to be more economical in terms of highest net monetary returns and benefit cost ratio.

Key words: Lucerne, Yearly seed production, sowing methods, economics

201-203