Nutrient Management and Fertilizer Use in Forage Crops

An attempt has been made in this field on nutrient management and fertilizer use in forage crops. The management of the soil and fertilizer nutrients through balanced fertilizer application at proper rate and time, combined use of organic manure and chemical fertilizers. The responses to N application alsovaries with radiation curtailment and the application of Nitrogen compensated such reduction up to some degree. While working on oat and barley crops on Chinese cabbage and safflower observed the yield reduction in various fodder crops by 16–30 percent due to radiation curtailment under tree canopy and such reduction could be compensated to some degree with additional application of 25% N over recommended dose. The recommended dose of N for oat, barley, Chinese cabbage and safflower were 80, 120, 60 and 40 Kg N/ha respectively. Future, the soil fertility status in tree based cropping improved with improved with increased in organic carbon, available nutrients (N&P), field capacity and lowered bulk density, particularly with increased Nitrogen fertilizer.