Effect of cutting management and phosphorus levels on seed quality of berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) in Western Maharashtra

Abstract

The field experiment conducted at Instructional Farm, Department of Agronomy, Post Graduate Institute, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, Dist. Ahmednagar, Maharashtra (India) during rabi season 2020-21 and 2021-22 on “Influence of cutting management and phosphorus levels on growth, quality and seed yield of berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum L.)” The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications. There were 24 treatment combinations formed with six main plot treatments of cutting management viz., C1- All cut for forage production, C2- Left for seed production, C3- 1 cut after left for seed production, C4- 2 cut after left for seed production, C5- 3 cut after left for seed production, C6- 4 cut after left for seed production and four Sub plot treatment of phosphorus levels viz., P1- 0% P2O5, P2- 75% P2O5, P3- 100% P2O5 and P4- 125% P2O5.The results showed that the cutting management practice left for seed production (C2) treatment with phosphorus level 125% P2O5 (P4) recorded significantly higher seed quality parameters viz., seed germination (%), root length (cm), shoot length (cm), root: shoot and seedling dry weight (mg), seedling length (cm), vigour index I and vigour index II respectively during both the years and on pooled mean basis.