Yield and quality of promising fodder grass varieties under varying shade levels in Kerala

An experiment was laid out at AICRP on Forage Crops and Utilization at the College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala, to assess the performance of different fodder grass varieties under varying shade levels. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with three replications. Treatments comprised of 3 shade levels (0, 25 and 50% shade) and five fodder varieties [bajra napier (BN) hybrid varieties Suguna, Susthira, CO-3, CO-5 and Guinea grass var. Suparna]. Among the shade levels, highest L:S ratio was recorded under open (1.53) and the highest leaf area was recorded under both 25 and 50% shade levels. Among the varieties, the highest tiller number was recorded in guinea grass var. Suparna (31.7), highest LSR in BN hybrid varieties CO-3 and CO-5 and highest leaf area in BN hybrid variety Susthira. The highest GFY (2418.7 q/ha) and DFY (604.7 q/ha) were recorded by CO-5 under open conditions. Under 25 and 50% shade levels, the highest GFY and DFY were recorded in guinea grass var. Suparna. The highest chlorophyll content was recorded in all four BN hybrid varieties under 50% shade than the other two shade levels. The interaction effect was nonsignificant on quality characteristics like crude protein and fiber contents. Among the shade levels, highest protein content was recorded under 50% shade level (11.7%). Among varieties, BN hybrid var. Suguna recorded the highest protein content (11.33%) and guinea grass var. Suparna had the lowest fiber content (23.84%). Considering the yield and quality of different BN hybrid varieties under varying shade levels, it was concluded that CO-5 is best suited for cultivation under open and Suparna for 25 and 50% shaded fields.