Effect of Zinc application on growth and nutritional composition of sorghum fodder varieties

Abstract

An experiment was carried out during the Kharif season of 2023 in the sub- tropical climate of Jammu in the Siwalik foothills ofnorth-west Himalaya. The soil was sandy clay loam, slightly alkaline, low in organic carbon, available nitrogen, zinc and mediumin accessible potassium and phosphorus. A factorial randomized block design with three replications was used with two factors,i.e, Factor A, which included two varieties, viz., V1- SSG and V2- CSV 33 MF and Factor B consisting of eight zinc fertilizationtreatments. N:P2O5:K2O @ 60:40:20 kg ha-1 was applied uniformly to all the treatments. CSV 33 MF (V2) variety had the noticeablygreatest crop growth metrics and crude protein at all the harvesting intervals. However, RDF + soil application of ZnSO4 @ 20 kgha-1and foliar application of ZnSO4 at 0.5% at 40 DAS and 80 DAS (F8) proved superior in terms of growth parameters and crudeprotein which was statistically at par with F6 at first cut and F7 at second and third cut. With regard to quality traits, numericallylowest NDF, ADF, hemicellulose, crude fibre and highest values of ether extract, ash content, DDM, DMI, RFV, RFQ and TDNwas recorded under CSV 33 MF (V2) and RDF + soil application of ZnSO4 @ 20 kg ha-1 and foliar application of ZnSO4 at 0.5% at40 DAS and 80DAS (F8). The findings indicate that variety CSV 33 MF with RDF + soil application of ZnSO4 @ 20 kg ha-1 + foliarapplication of ZnSO4 at 0.5% at 40 DAS and 80 DAS is more suitable for increased fodder quality.