Nutritional quality of baby corn fodder as influenced by tillage practices and nitrogen management

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at Karnal, Haryana to evaluate the effect of tillage practices and nitrogen management on yield and quality of baby corn fodder. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with three replications having a combination of three contrasting tillage practices as main plots and six nitrogen management practices as sub plot treatments. Among tillage practices, significantly higher green fodder and dry matter (DM) yield was observed in raised bed (RB) over zero tillage (ZT) and conventional tillage (CT). Significantly higher cell content and lower neutral detergent fibre (NDF) content was observed in ZT over CT and RB, while significantly higher DM% and lower amount of neutral detergent insoluble crude protein (NDICP) and acid detergent insoluble crude protein (ADICP) were observed in RB and ZT over CT. Among nitrogen management options, significantly higher fodder and DM yield, DM%, total ash, CP, NDICP and ADICP was recorded in 125% N over 0, 75, 75 + Azotobacter and 100% N alone. However, 125% N was statistically at par with 100% N + Azotobacter. Significantly higher ether extract (EE) and lower NDF and cellulose content were observed in 100% N + Azotobacter and 125% N. The significant interaction effect was observed in green fodder and dry matter yield and RB with 125% N and 100% N + Azotobacter were superior over rest of the treatments. Among fodder quality parameters, significantly lower NDICP was observed in ZT with 125% N and 100% N + Azotobacter over rest of the treatments. Baby corn grown in RB/ZT with 100% N and seed inoculation with Azotobacter was a better strategy for higher yield and better fodder quality.