Yield and Quality of Fodder Turnip as Affected by Nitrogen Application and Weed Management During Lean Period

A field experiment was conducted at Forage Research and Management Centre, NDRI, Karnal during rabi season in 2013 to study the effect of nitrogen application and weed management on growth and yield of fodder turnip (Brassica compestris var. rapa) with four levels of nitrogen (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg N/ha) and four weed management practices (pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg a.i./ha, hand weeding, isoproturon @ 0.75 kg a.i./ha and weedy check) consisting of four replications in split plot design. Among N treatments of 150 kg application N/ha gave the highest growth, yield and quality. For weed management, application of pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg a.i. proved to be better in terms of growth and yield of turnip. Highest net return of 70,099 in 150 kg N/ha and 66,240 in pendimethalin application was observed with corresponding benefit: cost ratio of 1.77 and 1.79.