Proximate Composition and Fibre Fraction of Pearl Millet Fodder as Influenced by Different Nutrient Management Practices

Abstract

Background: Quality traits of forage crops are largely influenced by various agronomic management practices at field conditions in different climatic strata. Judicious use of organic and inorganic sources of nutrients may sustain soil health, fodder productivity and quality. Keeping above facts in view an experiment was conducted for evaluation of nutrient management practices to increase fodder quality of pearl millet. Methods: The experiment was carried out during kharif season (2019-20) at Agronomy Research Farm, ICAR-NDRI, Karnal and laid out in randomized block design with eight treatments, viz., T1: Absolute control; T2: 100% RDF; T3: 100% RDF + Cow urine foliar spray; T4: 100% RDF + PGPR; T5: 100% RDF + PGPR + Cow urine foliar spray; T6: 75% RDF + Cow urine foliar spray; T7: 75% RDF + PGPR and T8: 75% RDF + PGPR + Cow urine foliar spray. Each treatment had three replications. Result: The results showed that the fodder proximate principles viz., dry matter, crude protein, ether extract and total ash content increase by 27.04, 21.33, 24.06 and 31.17% respectively, with T5 treatment than absolute control. The cell wall constituents such as neutral detergent fibre (63.99%), acid detergent fibre (39.50%) and acid detergent lignin (5.60%) were also lower in T5 treatment over the other treatments. It can be concluded that the fodder quality of pearl millet significantly better with application of T5 treatment, that was found statistically at par with T4 treatment. Which, will further strengthen and sustain the performance of livestock in terms of health and milk production.