Productivity and Economics of Hydroponic Fodders as Influenced by Harvesting Time
Ayesha Ashique *
Department of Agronomy, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola (Maharashtra)-444104, India.
A.B. Chorey
All India Coordinated Research Project on Dryland Agriculture, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola (Maharashtra)-444104, India.
M.M. Ganvir
All India Coordinated Research Project on Dryland Agriculture, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola (Maharashtra)-444104, India.
V. Chaitanya
Department of Agronomy, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola (Maharashtra)-444104, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
An investigation was conducted at Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Science University, Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola to study the Productivity and economics of hydroponic fodders as influenced by harvesting time at Department of Agronomy.
The investigation was carried out in a factorial randomized block design (FRBD) with three replicas. The study consisted of four different times of harvest (9th, 11th, 13th and 15th days of harvesting) and two fodder crops (maize and cowpea). The results revealed that the higher green fodder yield (26.64 kgm-2) and dry matter yield (3.06 kgm-2) were recorded on the 15th day of harvesting in fodder crop Cowpea, whereas lower green fodder yield (18.58 kgm-2) and dry matter yield (2.28 kgm-2) were recorded on the 9th day of harvesting in Maize. In terms of economics, the 15th day of harvesting has recorded a higher gross monetary return, net monetary return, and benefit-cost ratio in Cowpea.
Keywords: Hydroponics, fodder, FRBD, B:C ratio, cowpea, harvesting time, antioxidants