Effect of micro irrigation and crop establishment methods on growth, physiological parameters, quality, and production of bajra napier hybrid grass CO (BN) 5 (Pennisetum glaucum L. × Pennisetum purpureum schumach)

An experiment was conducted to examine the influence of irrigation methods and crop establishment methods on sprouting, establishment, growth, physiological parameters, quality and fodder yield of bajra napier hybrid grass (Pennisetum glaucum L. × Pennisetum purpureum schumach) at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The experiment was laid on a strip plot design comprising of irrigation methods and crop establishment methods with 03 replications. The subsurface drip irrigation significantly increased the growth, physiological parameters, crude protein yield (8.85 t/ha/year), green (335.0 t/ha/year) and dry (71 t/ha/year) fodder yield. Horizontal planting of setts with sett treatment showed significantly higher sprouting, establishment per cent, growth parameters, crude protein yield (8.99 t/ha/year), green (331.5 t/ha/year) and dry (71.4 t/ha/year) fodder yield. Growth, physiological and quality parameters showed positive correlation to green fodder yield except crude fiber content on bajra napier hybrid grass. Hence, subsurface drip irrigation and horizontal planting of single budded setts with sett treatment should be adopted to obtain the maximum sprouting, establishment, growth, quality, green and dry fodder yield.