Applied Biological Research

Field experiments were carried out at Cattle Research Station, SKUAST-K, Manasbal, India to find optimum nitrogen source for higher fodder production of good quality in two cropping sequences during 2007–08 and 2008–09. The cropping sequence of oat-maize-turnip recorded higher fresh fodder production, dry matter accumulation and crude protein productivity as compared to oat-sorghum cropping sequence. The magnitude of increase with oat-maize-turnip sequence in above respective parameters was 24.40, 6.64 and 9.32% over oat-sorghum cropping sequence. Integrated approach (50% N through organic and 50% N through inorganic source) proved better than the supply of nitrogen through organic source only. The supply of nitrogen through integrated approach recorded 22.28, 20.00 and 17.70% superiority in fresh fodder production, dry matter accumulation and protein productivity, respectively, over the supply of nitrogen through organic source only. Further, supply of 50% nitrogen through sheep manure and 50% through urea proved 25.80, 23.45, 22.0, 11.97 and 1.39% superior in fresh fodder production over the supply of nitrogen through sheep manure or farm yard manure (FYM) or vermicompost or 50% N as vermicompost + 50% as urea or 50% N as FYM + 50% as urea, respectively.