Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 17.7
Green fodder yield in ive cuttings of berseem (1st crop) on sandy loam soil.
Target P
conc. (mg/L)
P (kg/ha)
Yield (Mg/ha)
1st cut
2nd cut
3rd cut
4th cut
5th cut
Total
0.00
0
9.59 g
11.65 g
13.09 g
13.50 i
8.76 g
56.58 g
0.05
44
11.91 f
13.88 f
17.10 f
18.02 h
10.86 f
71.77 f
0.10
58
14.42 e
17.92 e
18.81 e
20.21 g
12.15 e
83.55 e
0.15
68
17.34 d
19.12 de
20.47 d
22.21 f
13.30 d
92.43 d
0.20
76
18.61 cd
19.95 bcd
21.88 cd
24.34 e
14.13 d
98.91 c
0.25
83
20.59 ab
21.42 abc
23.12 bc
26.12 d
15.17 c
106.42 b
0.30
89
21.19 a
21.74 a
24.59 ab
27.01 c
15.81bc
110.34 a
0.35
94
21.42 a
21.57 ab
25.52 a
27.89 ab
16.56 ab
112.97 a
0.40
99
20.55 ab
20.69 abcd
24.16 ab
28.30 a
16.92 a
110.61 a
0.50
108
19.73 bc
19.75 cd
23.38 bc
27.48 bc
16.48 ab
106.82 b
CV (%)
6.92
8.13
6.12
2.64
5.2
2.49
LSD
1.41
1.776
1.51
0.721
0.847
2.757
Means sharing same letters are statistically ≤5% level of probability.
CV, coefficient of variation; LSD, least significant difference between treatment means.
was greatest on clay loam soil followed by sandy clay
loam and sandy loam soils. Munir
et al
. (2004) and
Grant
et al
. (2001) stated that P fertilizer application was
needed to sustain early growth and P was critical for
obtaining higher yields.
improvement in the dry matter (%) of berseem crops.
The increase in dry matter content confirmed the
necessity for P application in P-deficient soil for obtaining
optimum yields.
P concentration in plants can be related to the P
extraction power of roots from soil and available soil P.
Normally; plants whose roots have more extensive
contact with soil are better extractors of P from soil and
feed well the above-ground parts of the plant. The key
function of P in plants is energy storage and transfer.
Energy obtained from photosynthesis is stored in phos-
phate compounds, which are used in subsequent growth
of the plants. Data regarding P concentration (%) aver-
ages for three soils are given in Table 17.9. Each
increment of P in soil solution progressively increased
the P content of the berseem. Alam and Shah (2002)
observed that increased rate of P application increased
both dry matter and P accumulation by plants.
17.3.4 Dry matter and p concentration of
berseem fodder
Dry matter content is an important component of a
crop that is used to determine its chemical composition
and nutritive value as a feed for livestock. The data
indicated that there was a gradual increase in dry
matter content up to the last treatment in all three
soils. The statistical analysis indicated that the maximum
average dry matter of 12.59% of berseem on sandy
clay loam soil was obtained at a soil solution P level of
0.50 mg/L, which was achieved with the application of
124 kg P/ha (Table 17.8), followed by clay loam soil
(12.49%) at the same soil solution P level, although
the rate (155 kg P/ha) of fertilizer P for clay loam soil
was much higher. In the case of sandy loam soil, the
maximum average dry matter content, i.e. 11.90%,
was obtained at the soil solution P level of 0.50 mg/L,
with the lowest rate of P (108 kg/ha) compared to the
other two soils. The three sites under study were
deficient in P, so its application improved the status of
P in the soil from deficient to optimal, which caused
17.3.5 Crude protein (%) in berseem fodder
Crude protein includes true protein and non-protein
nitrogen in the plant sample. Proteins are organic com-
pounds composed of amino acids. They are the major
components of vital organs and tissues, including mus-
cles, hair and skin, and also milk and enzymes. Protein
is required on a daily basis for maintenance, lactation,
growth and reproduction of animals. Proteins are
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