Nutrient Management on Forage Yield and Quality in Fodder Cowpea
G. Dharani *
Department of Agronomy, S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati - 517 502, India.
S. Hemalatha
Department of Agronomy, S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati - 517 502, India.
V. Chandrika
Department of Agronomy, S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati - 517 502, India.
M. Raghavendra
Department of Soil Science, S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati- 517 502, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Among the essential nutrients required for optimal fodder cowpea growth, phosphorus (P) and zinc (Zn) stand out due to their key physiological roles. The current research experiment is planned to know the nutrient management on forage yield and quality in fodder cowpea during rabi season (2024-2025). A field experiment was conducted on dryland farm of S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati, to evaluate the effect of graded levels of phosphorus (0, 20, 40 and 60 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹) and zinc (0, 25 and 50 kg ZnSO₄ ha⁻¹) on yield and nutritional quality of fodder cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.). Statistical significance was tested by ‘F’ value at 5 per cent level of probability and wherever the ‘F’ value was found significant, critical difference (CD) was worked out at 5 per cent level of probability and the values were furnished. The findings of the present experiment concluded that application of 60 kg P₂O₅ and 25 kg ZnSO₄ ha⁻¹ significantly improved the yield and nutritive value in fodder cowpea, making it more suitable for livestock feeding under dryland conditions. The lowest zinc content was observed under the control treatment (Z₀), indicating that zinc application effectively enhanced the zinc concentration in plant tissues. This improvement could be attributed to better root proliferation and nutrient uptake facilitated by zinc application.
Keywords: Fodder cowpea, nutrient management, supporting livestock nutrition, photosynthesis