Optimizing fodder yield and quality through integrated organic nutrient amendments in multi-crop system

The increasing demand for organic fodder has highlighted the need for sustainable agricultural practices that optimize both yield and quality. However, research on integrated organic nutrient management in multi-crop systems remains limited, especially concerning its impact on forage productivity and nutritive value. This study aims to investigate the effects of integrated organic nutrient amendments on the yield and quality of multi-crop system. Conducted during the period 2018 to 2021 using a randomized complete block design, the experiment encompassed seven treatments, each replicated three times. These treatments comprised of different combination of farmyard manure (FYM), Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and foliar spray of panchagavya for maize (M), berseem (B), and cowpea (C) and a treatment with recommended dose of fertilizers. The treatment includes T1: 100% RDN through FYM (M) - No application (B) - No application (C); T2: 50% RDN through FYM + PGPR + 3% foliar spray of panchagavya (M) – PGPR + 3% foliar spray of panchagavya (B) – PGPR + 3% foliar spray of panchagavya (C); T3: 75% RDN through FYM + PGPR (M) - PGPR (B)- PGPR (C); T4: 100% RDN through FYM + PGPR (M) - PGPR (B) - PGPR (C); T5: 75% RDN through FYM + PGPR + 3% foliar spray of panchagavya (M) – PGPR + 3% foliar spray of panchagavya (B) – PGPR + 3% foliar spray of panchagavya (C); T6: 100% RDN through FYM + PGPR + 3% foliar spray of panchagavya (M) – PGPR + 3% foliar spray of panchagavya (B) – PGPR + 3% foliar spray of panchagavya (C), and T7: 100% RDF (M)- 100% RDF (B)- 100% RDF (C). Research findings revealed that the T6 treatment, involving T6: 100% RDN through FYM + PGPR + 3% foliar spray of panchagavya (M) – PGPR + 3% foliar spray of panchagavya (B) – PGPR + 3% foliar spray of panchagavya (C), yielded significant improvements in both green fodder of maize (35.4, 37.0, and 38.6 t ha-1), berseem (58.2, 60.0, and 60.6 t ha-1) and cowpea (25.7, 27.5, and 28.3 t ha-1) during 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21, respectively. Furthermore, T6 significantly enhanced forage quality, as evidenced by higher crude protein (6.4–14.8%), ether extract (19.2–40.1%), and total ash (6.5–22.1%) contents, coupled with reductions in fiber components. These findings highlight the effectiveness of integrated organic nutrient amendments in enhancing both yield and quality, offering a sustainable strategy to improve livestock feed and promote environmentally friendly agricultural practices

Impact of Cobalt Application Methods on Chickpea Yield, Nutrient Uptake and Status of Soil

A field experiment was conducted during rabi season of 2015-2016 at Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari to study the impact of cobalt application methods on chickpea yield, nutrient content and soil status. Four cobalt application methods with three levels of each were evaluated with one absolute control and one with seed priming of water were evaluated with randomized block design with three replications. Least level of seed treatment, soil application and foliar application of cobalt gave highest chickpea seed yield and decreased there after. As cobalt levels increased, NPK content and uptake are decreased linearly in all the methods except seed priming method, however cobalt content and uptake increased linearly by seed treatment and foliar application, on the contrary it decreased linearly by seed priming and soil application of cobalt. Soil application of cobalt at 50 g ha-1 recorded highest chickpea seed yield, residual NPK and Co and which can be useful for succeeding crop and this can be recommended from the cobalt nutrition point of view in plants and animals followed by seed priming at 1 ppm.</jats:p

Identification of Suitable Cobalt Application Method and Optimum Level for Enhancing of Chickpea Yield

A field experiment was conducted during rabi season of 2015-2016 at Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari to identify suitable cobalt application method and optimum level for enhancing chickpea yield. There were four cobalt application methods and three levels of cobalt each i.e. seed priming at 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 ppm, seed treatment at 1, 2 and 3 g kg-1 seed, soil application at 50, 100 and 150 g ha-1, foliar application at 0.01, 0.025 and 0.05% and one control with water priming and one without seed treatment were evaluated in randomized block design with three replications. In general least level of all methods has recorded highest growth and yield of chickpea. As cobalt levels increased, growth and yield of chickpea was decreased linearly in all methods. Soil application of 50 g CoCl2 ha-1 produced highest seed yield hence this treatment can be recommended for higher seed yield and can be useful for succeeding crop.</jats:p

Influence of stage of harvesting and zinc application on yield and zinc uptake in cluster bean [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) TAUB]

The field experiment entitled, “Influence of stage of harvesting and zinc application on yield and zinc uptake in cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.)” was conducted during Kharif 2016 at Forage Research Farm, Agronomy Section, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications. The main plot treatments comprised of four stages of harvesting [50, 60, 70 and 80 DAS] and under sub plot treatments four levels of Zinc application (Control, 10 kg ZnSO4, 20 kg ZnSO4 and 0.5 % Zinc spray at 30 DAS) were taken. The soil of the experimental field was sandy clay loam in texture with neutral pH, low in available nitrogen and zinc, medium in available phosphorus and higher in available potassium. The growth parameters viz. plant height, leaf length, number of leaves, stem girth and leaf: stem ratio were significantly higher at 80 DAS over other harvesting stages. In sub plot treatments application of zinc through zinc sulphate @ 20 kgha-1 significantly improved all growth parameters except stem girth over other treatments. Positive interaction effect was recorded between Stage of harvesting and zinc application for stem girth and plant height. Highest plant height was recorded under treatment combination of 80 DAS and zinc application @ 20 kg ha-1over other harvesting date and zinc level combinations. A significant increase in green fodder yield (GFY) and dry matter yield (DMY) was obtainedup to harvest at 80 DAS and zinc application @ 20 kg ha-1whereas significantly highest OM content was recorded at 50 DAS (Day after sowing). Maximum zinc uptake was noticed at 80 DAS stage and application rate of 20 kg ZnSO4ha-1 among other treatments.</jats:p

Effect of Organic and Inorganic Nutrient Sources on Growth, Yield, Nutrient Uptake and Economics of Fodder Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.]

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the varying organic and inorganic nutrient sources on fodder cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] in the kharif of 2017 at ICAR- NDRI, Karnal. The result revealed that application of 100% RDF (N,P,K) along with biofertilizers (rhizobium, PSB, potassium and zinc solubilizer bacteria) (T6) gave significantly (P less than 0.05) higher in plant height (204.6 cm), primary branches (6.1), root length (24.47 cm), green matter yield (334.5 q ha-1), CGR (8.13 g m-2 day-1), RGR (4.68 g g-1 day-1), K content (1.45%) in plant, P uptake (23.01 kg ha-1) and K uptake (86.04 kg ha-1) and available Zn status (0.465 ppm) in soil, after harvesting of the crop. However, N content (2.93%) in plant, N uptake (172.51 kg ha-1) and Zn uptake (192.03 g ha-1) was maximum with the application of 66.67% RDF along with biofertilizers consortium (T7). Application of 100% RDF along with PSB (T3) recorded highest number of nodule (33), P content in plant (0.389%) and available P status (24.76 g ha-1) in soil, after harvest. Further studies that, available N status (208.03 kg h-1), K status (221.27 kg ha-1) in soil, after harvest and Zn content (33.31 ppm) in plant were significantly higher with these treatments like T8 -15 N, 60 P2O5, 40 K2O kg ha-1 along with rhizobium, T4 -100% RDF along with K solubilizer and T11 -FYM 5 t ha -1 with biofertilizers, respectively. In context of the economics of fodder cowpea production, highest gross return (Rs. 53525 ha-1) was obtained from T6 while maximum net return (Rs. 31351 ha-1) and benefit-cost ratio (1.45) were worked out maximum with the treatment T7. </jats:p