EFFECT OF PHOSPHORUS AND POTASSIUM FERTILIZERS ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF BERSEEM (Trifolium alexandrinum L)

Abstract

A research study was conducted to find out the effect of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers on the growth and yield of Berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum L) which belongs to the family Papilionaceae. The experiment was conducted at LPRI, Bahadurnagar Okara in the Field area of Fodder Crops Division during Rabi 2021-22 to 2023-24. The experiment was carried out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Treatments including phosphorus (0, 30, 50 and 90 kg P ha-1) and potassium (0, 30 and 60 kg K ha-1) were applied to Berseem fodder crop. These treatments produced significant effect on green fodder yield (ton/ha-1) the Number of tillers per plant, plant height, Number of leaves per plant, number of heads (m-2), number of seeds head -1, seed yield (kg ha-1) and thousand seed weight (g). The first cut of the crop was taken after 60 days of sowing. Maximum number of heads (2800 m-2), number of seeds head-1 (59.47), green fodder yield (111 Ton ha-1), seed yield (254.45 kg ha-1) and thousand seed weight (2.35 g) were recorded in plots having 90 kg P ha-1 x 60 kg K ha-1, while minimum number of seeds (1732 m-2), number of seeds head-1 (37.52), green fodder yield (76 Ton ha-1), seed yield (240.48 kg ha-1 ) and thousand seed weight (2.08 g) were obtained from plots having no fertilizers (control or 0 kg ha-1). The plant samples were analyzed for quality parameters such as dry matter yield kg per ha-1, DM%, CP%, CF%, and ether Extract. The better-quality fodder i.e. dry matter yield 6.45 ton per ha-1, DM 59.47 %, CP 16.26 %, CF 28.65 %, and ether Extract 1.9% were found in plots having treatment 90 kg P ha-1 x 60 kg K ha-1. The findings of this study shows that berseem had better performance in terms of seed production when fertilized with 90 kg P ha-1 and 60 kg K ha-1 in irrigated areas.