Effect of nitrogen fertilizer on yield contributing character, biomass yield and nutritive value of cowpea forage
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3329/bjas.v39i1-2.9680Keywords:
Cowpea, Nitrogen fertilizer, Yield, Chemical composition, Nutritive valueAbstract
The study was conducted to investigate the effect of nitrogen application on the yield contributing characteristics, biomass yield and nutritive values of cowpea forage. Five nitrogen levels viz: 0 (T0), 15 (T1), 20 (T2), 25 (T3) and 30 (T0) kg N/ha were applied in 20 plots in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The result showed that the application of nitrogen fertilizer had significant (P<0.01) effect on plant height and highest plant height (96.25 cm) was observed at 25 kgN/ha. However, application of nitrogen fertilizer from urea did not show any significant effect on branching of plant. The application of nitrogen fertilizer significantly (P<0.01) increased the green, dry and organic matter, and crude protein yield of cowpea forage. No significant difference (P>0.01) among the groups for chemical composition of cowpea forage was observed due to increasing rate of N fertilizer. Similarly, N fertilization had no affect on OM digestibility and ME content of cowpea forage. From the results of the present study, it may be concluded that the application of N at the rate of 25 Kg N/ha could be used for cowpea forage production.
Key words: Cowpea; Nitrogen fertilizer; Yield; Chemical composition; Nutritive value
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjas.v39i1-2.9680
Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 2010, 39(1&2): 83-88
Downloads
158
593
Downloads
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
© Bangladesh Journal of Animal Science.
Authors are required to transfer their copyright to the Bangladesh Journal of Animal Sciences.
All rights reserved. No parts of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the Bangladesh Journal of Animal Science.