Effect of Last Fodder Cut on Fodder and Seed Yield of Berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum L.)
Effect of Last Fodder Cut on Fodder and Seed Yield of Berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum L.)
Muhammad Musa1*, Muhammad Riaz Gondal2, Aaqib Riaz3, Sikander Hayat2 and Iftikhar Haider1
ABSTRACT
Berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum L) provides nutritious and palatable fodder in repeated cuttings during winter and early summer. However, its seed yield per unit area in Pakistan is relatively low as compared to other countries. The present study was aimed to evaluate the influence of climate on fodder production, seed vigour, seed yield and total income ha-1 of three berseem varieties and to enhance the production through management of harvesting at Fodder Research Institute, Sargodha, Pakistan during three rabi seasons from 2015 to 2018. The experiment was arranged in split plot design with three replications. Berseem varieties (Super Late, Agaiti Berseem, Punjab Berseem) were kept in main plots and last cutting dates (10thMarch, 20th March, 30th March, 10th April and 20th April) were kept in sub-plots. Results revealed considerable differences in the period of flowering as well as yield characters under different cutting managements. Seed production decreased and fodder tonnage increased with delay in last harvest for fodder. Similarly, seed quality in terms of % germination and seed size decreased with delay in last harvesting. The last performed on 20th April produced significantly higher green fodder yield but low seed yield and total income ha-1 whereas 10th March and 20th March produced higher number of seeds per head, 1000-seed weight, tillers m-2 and seed yield. It indicated that date of last cut of fodder up to 20th March could enable a balance between fodder yield and seed yield, resulting in higher income. Temperature ranging from 15 0C to 38 0C and relative humidity ranging from 60.70 to 38.69 % is required for successful completion of vegetative and reproductive phases of berseem.
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