Fodder productivity and economics of berseem cultivation as influenced by varieties,row spacing and nutrient levels in transitional tract of peninsular India

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during rabi seasons of 2020-21 and 2021-22 under irrigated conditions on redsandy loamy soil to study the fodder productivity and economics of berseem as influenced by varieties, row spacing andnutrient levels. The treatments comprised of three varieties viz., ‘Vardhan’, ‘BB 2’ and ‘BB 3’; two row spacings viz., 30and 45 cm; and three nutrient levels viz., 75%, 100% and 125% of RDF. The results indicated that variety ‘BB 2’ recordedsignificantly higher green fodder (19.20 t ha-1), dry fodder (2.67 t ha-1) yield and net returns (`34763 ha-1) as compared to‘BB3’ and ‘Vardhan’. The sowing of beerseen in 45cm row spacing being on par with 30cm row spacing recorded highergreen fodder (17.41 t ha-1), dry fodder (2.43 t ha-1) yield and net returns (`29395 ha-1). Among the nutrient levels,application of 125% of RDF recorded significantly higher green fodder (18.96 t ha-1), dry fodder (2.66 t ha-1) yield and netreturns (` 32345 ha-1). The combination of berseem variety ‘BB 2’ with 125% of RDF at 45 cm row spacing recorded highergreen fodder (22.18 t ha-1), dry fodder (3.07 t ha-1) yield and net returns (`42005 ha-1) as compared to other treatmentcombinations.