Effect of Nano Urea on the Yield and Proximate Composition of Hedge Lucerne (Desmanthus virgatus) - Promising Legume Fodder for Livestock in Tamil Nadu

Improved agronomic practices such as optimum nutrient management, helps to improve forage quality and yield of the legume crop. The present study was conducted to find out the efficacy of nano urea on the yield and proximate nutrient composition of hedge lucerne grown. Comparing nano urea along with urea top dressing.

The experiment was laid out in randomized block design, replicated six times. At 35 days after sowing, T₁ (control) received 30 kg/ha of urea and treatment T₂ received 4 ml/lit of nano urea as top dressing respectively. Harvested leaf samples were analyzed separately for crude protein (CP), crude fibre (CF), total ash (TA), ether extract (EE) and nitrogen free extract (NFE).

The results showed that Nano urea application 4ml/lit recorded higher plant height, biomass yield in three harvests. Further nano urea application improved the biomass yield of the crop compared to urea top dressing, but it was statistically on par with each other. The study also revealed that there is no significant difference between the nutritive values CP, CF, EE and NFE between the treatment (nano urea) and control. First three harvests in Desmanthus virgatus legume crop application of nano urea @ 4ml/lit as top dressing was onpar with that of urea top dressing in increasing the biomass yield.