Vol. 10, Issue 6 (2021)

Author(s):
K Rajkumar, M Manobhavan, R Venkataramanan, S Meenakshi Sundaram and K Chaidanya

Abstract:
Hydroponics is a smart alternative technology to combat fodder scarcity especially for small farmers with less or no land. The nutritious, palatable and digestible hydroponic green fodder as compared to conventional fodder helps the farmer to tide through phases of scarcity and thus prevent long term production and reproduction losses. A study was planned to evaluate the influence of the Agitated Thin Film Drier (ATFD) salt on nutritive value of hydroponic bajra production. The experimental hydroponic fodder group (ATFD Salt) was prepared by inclusion of the salt at the rate of 50 gms per 3 kg of seed. Eight trays (four control trays and four treatment trays) were used for production of hydroponic bajra fodder production. The results of the proximate composition, biomass yield and root to shoot ratio of the two groups were compared using an unpaired t-test. There was no significant difference (p>0.01) in the biomass yield between the control and treatment group. There was significant difference (P< 0.05) among shoot length and highly significant difference (P< 0.01) among root and root to shoot length ratio. There was no significant (p>0.05) difference in the moisture, crude fibre, ether extract and total ash content, however there was a significant (P< 0.05) difference in crude protein, acid insoluble ash (AIA) and nitrogen free extract (NFE) composition. ATFD salt did not affect the biomass yield of the hydroponics fodder, whereas a high significant difference in the root to shoot length improved the scope for better palatability. There is scope for further research on use of the salt at different stages of fodder growth to utilize the higher mineral content of the residue.