An Asian Journal of Soil Science

B. T. Sheta ¹, N. K. Kalyanasundaram ¹, K. H. Patel ¹, D. B. Panchal ¹, J. C. Patel ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science, B.A. College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand (Gujarat), IN

Abstract

A field experiment on this crop (variety GFB 1) was conducted in R.B.D. with three replications during summer-monsoon seasons of 2003 and 2004 on different sites to study the influence of various levels of N, K and S. There were two levels of N viz.,100 and 150 kg ha^-1, three treatments of K viz., 0, 40 kg K₂O ha^-1 applied either entirely as basal and 50% as basal and remaining in two equal splits after first and second cuts and three levels of S viz., 0, 20 and 40 kg S ha^-1. There were three cuts in each year. Initial available N, K and S contents in soil were low, medium and marginal, respectively in their status. Yield of green forage, dry matter yields were increased by application of N, K and S. There was 31.8 per cent increase in green forage yield due to nitrogen (N₂) over that of N₁ (521.4 q ha^-1), 9.8 and 19.4 per cent increase for K₁ and K₂ over that of K₀ (550.7 q ha^-1) and 3.78 and 7.86 per cent increase for sulphur-S₁ and S₂ over that of S₀ (581.7 q ha^-1), respectively. Similarly the dry forage yield was also increased. The yield increase due to N, K and S treatment was supported by increase in growth parameters such as tillers per meter row length, number of internodes per plant and plant height. The beneficial effect due to K particularly that of K₂ may probably due to dominance of intensity factor in K supply mechanism.

Keywords

Green and Dry Matter Yield, Growth Parameters.

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K. H. Patel ¹, N. K. Kalyanasundaram ¹, B. T. Sheta ¹, D. B. Panchal ², J. C. Patel ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, B.A. College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand (Gujarat), IN
2 Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science, B.A. College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand (Gujarat), IN

Abstract

Eighteen treatments comprising of combination of three levels of FYM (0, (F₀), 10 (F₁) and 20 (F₂) t ha^-1) and six nutrient management treatments [control (M₀), Fe (M₁), Zn (M₂), S (M₃), Fe+Zn (M₄) and Fe+Zn+S (M₅)] were tested in factorial randomized block design with three replications in field experiments conducted during Kharif and summer seasons of 2003 and 2004. Fe, Zn and S were applied @ 10, 5 and 40 kg ha^-1 as FeSO₄, ZnSO₄ and gypsum, respectively. Initial available S, Fe and Zn contents in the soil were low. Yield of green forage and dry forage were increased by the treatments F₂ and F₁ (8.5 and 5.3 %, respectively) over treatment F₀. The treatments M₅ and M₄ significantly increased the green fodder yield by 13.0 and 8.5 per cent, respectively, over that of M₀ (731.5 q ha^-1). The study of quality parameters viz., crude protein content, neutral detergent fiber and sugar content revealed that application of FYM at F₁ and F₂ as well as Fe-Zn-S treatments favourably influenced the quality parameters in comparison to their respective control.

Keywords

Green Forage Yield, Dry Forage Yield, Quality Parameter Like Crude Protein Content, Neutral Detergent Fiber and Sugar Content.

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B. T. Sheta ¹, N. K. Kalyanasundaram ², K. C. Patel ²

Affiliations
1 DWSR, Anand Centre, B.A. College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand (Gujarat), IN
2 Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science, B.A. College of Agriculture, Anand Agriculture University, Anand (Gujarat), IN

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted on loamy sand soil of Anand (Gujarat) during 2003 and 2004 to study the effect of different levels of N, K and S on forage pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.]. There were two levels of N viz., 100(N₁) and 150(N₂) kg ha^-1, three treatments of K viz., 0 (K₀), 40 kg K₂O ha^-1 applied either entirely as basal (K₁) or 50% as basal and remaining in two equal splits after first and second cuts (K₂) and three levels of S viz., 0 (S₀), 20 (S₁) and 40 (S₂) kg S ha^-1. Application of higher N rate (150 kg N ha^-1) or K (40 kg K₂O ha^-1) or S (40 kg S ha^-1) increased crude protein content (CPC) and crude protein yield and decreased acid detergent fiber (ADF) or neutral detergent fiber (NDF) or both. Interaction effect of N×K showed that N₂K₁ and N₂K₂ reduced NDF content and improved the quality more than that of lower levels of N and K. The values were in acceptable range for good quality fodder. The nutrient ratios N:S (6.03 to 7.71), S:P (0.63 to 0.75), S:Zn (85.81 to 95.41) and Ca:P (1.47 to 1.60) of pearl millet were in the acceptable range and either favorably or neutrally influenced by N₂, K₁ or K₂ and S₂. Thus, the crude protein yield and quality of forage pearl millet were improved through N, K and S application.

Keywords

Crude Protein Content, Neutral Detergent Fiber, Nutrient Ratio.

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