Effect of irrigation during the dry season on leaf yield of Trichanthera gigantea

Abstract

The experiment was conducted at Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry from 2019 to 2020 to determine the effect of irrigation on the leaf yield of Trichanthera gigantea green fodder in the dry season. The experiment consisted of 4 independent variables (NT1, NT2, NT3, NT4), corresponding to 4 different irrigation levels (0, 40, 80,and 120 m3/ha/harvest) and designed in a completely randomised block with 5 replicates. Plantation density, fertilizer application, and other factors were similar among the four variables. The results showed that the dry matter and crude protein yields of leaves of the irrigated experiments were higher than that of the control (without watering). The dry matter yields of leaves in NT1 to NT4 were 2.410, 2.934, 3.292, and 3.594 tons/ha/dry season, respectively. If the yield of NT1 was considered as 100% then that of NT2, NT3, and NT4 was 121.7, 136.6, and 149.1%, respectively. The protein yields of NT1 to NT4 grew up from 0.618 tons (100%) to 0.922 tons/ha/dry season (149.2%). Dry matter and crude protein yields of NT2, NT3, and NT4 were significantly different from NT1; that of NT4 was significantly different compared to that of NT2 and NT3. Research results have shown that irrigation in the dry season has a significant effect on leaf yield of Trichanthera gigantea green fodder and should be irrigated at 120 m3/ha/harvest.