Nutritional response of fodder cowpea to residual nitrogen management

Abstract

An Experiment on Integrated nitrogen management on fodder maize and its residual effect on fodder cowpea was conducted during kharif-rabi season of 2021-22 and 2022-23 at Main Forage Research Station Anand Agricultural University, Anand 388110 (Gujarat) with twelve integrated nitrogen management treatments with three replications. All targeted treatments imposed in kharif fodder maize crop only while in second season (Fodder cowpea), Common application of seed treatment to fodder cowpea. Significantly higher dry matter intake (1.92 and 1.97%) of fodder cowpea was observed higher in first and second year, respectively by residual effect of 125% RDN (100 kg N/ha) + Micronutrient enriched FYM 0.5 t/ha. In first year, dry matter digestibility (62.88%), total digestible nutrient (58.22%), relative feed value (92.60%) and relative feed quality (89.86%) was reported significantly in higher in residual treatment where application of 125% RDN (100 kg N/ha) + Micronutrient enriched FYM 0.5 t/ha fb Bio NP drenching 1 L/ha at 15,30 and 45 DAS. In second year, residual effect of 125% RDN (100 kg N/ha) + Micronutrient enriched FYM 0.5 t/ha treatment noted significantly higher dry matter digestibility (64.22%), total digestible nutrient (60.45%), relative feed value (98.50%) and relative feed quality (97.45%).