R. K. MUTTAPPANAVAR* AND B. G. SHEKARA
*Ph.D. Research Scholar, Dept. of Agronomy, UAS, GKVK, Bengaluru (Karnataka), India
Professor and Head, AICRP on Forage Crops Utilization, ZARS, V. C. Farm, Mandya (Karnataka), India
*(e-mail: roopakm6813@gmail.com)
(Received : 23 November 2022; Accepted : 20 December 2022)
SUMMARY
A filed experiment was carried out at Zonal Agricultural Research Station, Vishweshwaraiah Canal Farm, Mandya, Karnataka during 2020-21 and 2021-22 to identify the planting geometry,
nutrients requirement and its application in hedge lucerne for higher green forage yield and quality
under irrigated condition. The experiment consisted 18 treatment combinations viz., two planting
geometry as main plots, three nutrient levels as sub plots and three time of nutrient (N:P2O5:K2O kg/ha)
application as sub-sub plots and laid out in split-split plot design with three replication. The pooled data
revealed that, 45 cm row spacing recorded significantly higher green fodder, dry matter, crude protein
and total digestible crude protein yield (844.7, 167.2 33.4 and 31.7 q/ha/year, respectively). Among
nutrient levels, application of 50:100:50 :: N:P2O5:K2O kg/ha registered higher green fodder, dry matter, crude protein and total digestible crude protein yield (853.7, 169.1, 34.0 and 32.3 q/ha/year, respectively) and found on par with application of 37.5:75:37.5 :: N:P2O5:K2O kg/ha. The nutrient application in four splits recorded significantly higher green fodder, dry matter, crude protein and total digestible crude protein yield (840.8, 166.3, 33.3 and 31.6 q/ha/year, respectively) which was at par with three split applications on pooled basis.
Key words: Hedge lucerne, agro-techniques, growth and yield of fodder, fodder quality