Apposite Sowing Techniques to Optimize Productivity and Profitability of Berseem

Abstract

Huge deficit in demand and domestic production of green fodder exists that need to be abridged to cope with demand of fast-growing livestock sector. Livestock being an essentials agriculture allied sector shares around 11 % in GDP, which is 60.54 % of agriculture contribution to GDP (GoP, 2019). Due to shortage as well as unavailability of good quality Abstract | Berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) is an important fodder crop of Pakistan that provides nutritious and palatable fodder in repeated cuttings. Gap in its yield is required to be addressed, which is aim of the current study. This study was carried out to select an appropriate sowing technique for optimization of fodder and seed yield as well as to maximize the net return. The experiment was conducted using five sowing techniques viz., broadcast, different row sowing with spacing of 15 cm, 30 cm, 45 cm and 60 cm. Sowing was done during first week of October during each year using seed of new berseem cultivar "Punjab Berseem" at rate of 20 kg ha -1 . All fodder parameters of each of four cuts and seed yield on harvesting were recorded and analyzed. The results showed that broadcast (BC) sowing gave maximum values of yield attributes and increased fodder yield by 43.78 %, seed yield by 14.18 % and CP yield by 45.14% over control (i.e., row spacing of 30 cm). Economic analysis indicated a maximum benefit-cast ratio of 3.51 under broadcast sowing in standing water as compared to control.

Optimisation of Sowing Method for Seed Production in Berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum)

“…From the results of experiment, broadcasting method produced significantly higher morphological and yield related traits than the row sowing method with different spacing. (Gondal et al, 2021b;Gaballah, 2006) also reported similar results. It is noticed that broadcast method produced taller plants compared with row sowing method of berseem crop.…”

“…These consequences are similar with the conclusions of (Gaballah, 2006), who described that broadcast method produced heavier thousand grain weigh than the row spacing methods. Moreover, (Gondal et al, 2021b) also reported that broadcast method had significant effect 1000-grain weight as compared to row spacing one. (Gondal et al, 2021b;Gaballah, 2006;Arora et al, 1998) also described similar results and found that broadcast method produced significantly higher seed yield than the row sowing method.…”

“…Moreover, (Gondal et al, 2021b) also reported that broadcast method had significant effect 1000-grain weight as compared to row spacing one. (Gondal et al, 2021b;Gaballah, 2006;Arora et al, 1998) also described similar results and found that broadcast method produced significantly higher seed yield than the row sowing method. From the results of experiment, broadcasting method produced significantly higher morphological and yield related traits than the row sowing method with different spacing.…”

Impact of Seeding Techniques and Planting Density on Productivity and Profitability of Oat Cultivar (Supergreen Oat)

“…These results are similar to previous investigations of several scientists. This might be owing to proper aeration, nutrient, and water uptake (Khan et al, 2012;Gondal et al, 2021).…”

“…Although forage dearth is reported around the year, but during November-December and May-June, it becomes more obvious. Due to deficit as well as the inaccessibility of quality forage, livestock keeps on underfed with less production (Gondal et al, 2021). Farmer's unawareness of improved cultivars and less adaptation to the latest production technologies of fodder crops are major restrictions on low production of forage in Pakistan (Fodder Research Institute, 2018).…”