Influence of intercrops and nutrients on growth and yield of BN hybrid grass

Abstract

Fodder management plays a vital role in livestock management. For better better biomass yield of the fodder crop optimum management of the available land and nutrients is essential. With that background a field experiment was conducted at Zonal Agriculture Research Station, UAS, GKVK, Bengaluru during 2020-21 to study the influence of intercrops and nutrients on growth and yield of BN hybrid grass. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with the factorial concept with three replications. The experiment was conducted with two levels of spacing (S1:60-240-60 cm and S2:90-180-90 cm), two levels of intercrops (C1: Fodder cowpea and C2: Mukuna or velvet bean) and three levels of nutrient management (N1: 25% BDLM N equivalent + 75% RDN, N2: 50% BDLM N equivalent + 50% RDN, N3: 75% BDLM N equivalent + 25% RDN, respectively). The experimental results indicated that spacing of 60-240-60 cm with intercropping of mukuna or velvet bean along with 25% biodigested liquid manure (BDLM) N equivalent + 75% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) resulted in the higher plant height, higher leaf: stem ratio, fresh and dryfodder yield and drymatter accumulation of BN hybrid as well as intercrops resulting higher BN hybrid fodder equivalent yield.