Vol. 11, Issue 7 (2022)

Author(s):
E Manikkavasakam, M Hemalatha, G Kumar and M Joseph

Abstract:
A hydroponic experiment was conducted at Agricultural College and Research Institute, Killikulam from February 2022 to April 2022 to study the effect of seed priming and foliar nutrition on growth, yield and quality of fodder maize. The experiment was laid out in factorial completely randomized design with two factors. Whereas, Factor A is seed priming viz., hydropriming (S₁), 2% humic acid priming (S₂) and 1% moringa leaf extract priming (MLE) (S₃) and factor B is foliar nutrition such as control (F₁), humic acid (HA) @ 0.1% (F₂), vermiwash @ 20% (F₃), Azophos @ 1% (F₄) and 19:19:19 WSF @ 1% (F₅) at 5 DAS. The results of the experiment indicated that seed priming with 1% moringa leaf extract recorded the highest germination percentage (91.5%) and it was followed by 2% humic acid seed priming (83.0%). The higher growth parameters, green fodder yield and superior proximate fodder quality were recorded in 2% humic acid seed priming and it was followed by 1% MLE seed priming. With regard to foliar nutrition, 0.1% Humic acid spray at 5 DAS recorded higher growth parameters, green fodder yield and superior proximate fodder quality. On Interaction, 2% humic acid seed priming along with 0.1% Humic acid foliar spray influenced significantly and recorded higher growth parameters, higher green fodder yield and superior proximate fodder quality.