Effect of different levels of nitrogen and seeding density on growth, yield and quality of maize fodder

摘要

A field experiment was conducted to study the yield and quality behaviour of maize fodder as influenced by nitrogen levels (0,80 and 120 kg ha~(-1)) and seeding rate (75, 100 and 120 kg ha~(-1)). The application of nitrogen significantly improved thegreen fodder yield and other growth parameters viz; plant height, number of leaves and leaf area per plant and stem diameter. The quality parameters like crude protein, crude fibre, ash and dry matter contents also increased with increasing nitrogen rates while, the ether extractable fat content decreased. The increase in seeding density significantly increased the stand density green fodder yield and dry matter contents. All other growth and quality parameters were affected adversely with the increasein seed rate except crude fibre content which remained almost constant.