Effect of Phosphorus and Zinc Application on Nutritional Characteristics of Fodder Cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata )
Year: 2015
Type: article
Abstract: An experiment consisting of four phosphorus levels (0, 40, 60 and 80 kg/ha P2O5) and five zinc levels (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 kg/ha ZnSO4) was laid out in factorial randomized block design to find out the effect on yield and nutritive value of fodder cowpea (Vigna unguiculata). Application of 60 kg/ha phosphorus recorded 27.64 t/ha yield which was 7.50 and 55.6% higher than 40 kg/ha and no phosphorus application, respectively. Application of Zn in the form of ZnSO4 @ 20 kg/ha increased (P<0.05) the green fodder yield (25.89 t/ha). The successive increase in P level from 0 to 60 kg P2O5/ha enhanced CP level significantly (P<0.05) from 15.07 to 17.97%. Zinc application also increased CP content from 15.23 to 17.56% with increase in ZnSO4 level from 0 to 20 kg/ha. The content of NDF and ADF were not influenced due to application of Zn and P. The interaction effects of P and Zn were found to be significant (P<0.05) with respect to P and Zn concentration. P and Zn content in cowpea fodder showed declining trend at application rate more than 60 kg/ha P2O5 and 20 kg/ha ZnSO4. Therefore, a combination of 60 kg/ha P2O5 and 20 kg/ha ZnSO4 could be applied to obtain better yield and nutritive value of fodder cowpea.
Language: English
Subfield: Soil Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W2335922732