Fodder yield and quality assessment of different bajra napier hybrids in central Gujarat of India

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during 2013-15 at Fodder Demonstration Unit, National Dairy Development Board, Anand, Gujarat to compare growth, herbage yield and nutrient composition of eight notified bajra napier (BN) hybrids. On the basis of pooled data of two years, highest green fodder yield (GFY) 94.2 t/ha and dry matter yield (DMY) 20.9 t/ha was recorded in BN hybrids BNH 10 and DHN 6, respectively. Significantly higher dry matter content of 22.7 per cent was observed in DHN 6. At 90 days harvesting interval, green fodder and dry matter yields varied significantly at 5% level of significance from 77.8 to 94.2 t/ha and 16.8 to 20.9 t/ha, respectively, among different hybrids. APBN 1 recorded higher crude protein content and crude protein yield of 8.7 per cent and 1.64 t/ ha. Among BN hybrids, crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre, silica and oxalic acid contents varied from 6.4 to 8.7, 0.8 to 1.1, 31.1 to 34.1, 6.0 to 7.2 and 2.3 to 2.8 per cent, respectively. W hereas calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and sulphur contents ranged from 0.31 to 0.49, 0.32 to 0.44, 1.59 to 2.06, 0.63 to 0.89 and 0.14 to 0.20 per cent among hybrids. On the basis of the study conducted over a period of two years, newly notified BN hybrid DHN 6 was found significantly better than local checks CO 3 and APBN 1 for dry matter yield.