Forage yield of berseem (<i>Trifolium alaxandrium</i>) as affected by phosphorus and potassium fertilization

Abstract

This research was conducted with the aim to quantify the effect of phosphorus and potassium fertilization on forage yield of berseem (Trifolium alaxandrium). The experiment was carried out at the Research Farm of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Agricultural University Peshawar, Pakistan during the cropping season of 2004 to 2005. Randomized complete block design (RCBD) having four replications was used for the experiment. Significant differences were found among the treatments for number of branches per plant, fresh forage yield and dry forage yield. The highest number of branches per plant (9.15), fresh forage yield (6077 kg ha^-1) and dry forage yield (156.83 kg ha^-1) were recorded in plots with 60 kg P ha^-1 x 30 kg K ha^-1 treatments, while the lowest values of 6.93, 5430 kg ha^-1 and 153.80 kg ha^-1 for branches per plant, fresh forage yield and dry forage yield, respectively were recorded in the plots with no fertilizer (control). Emergence (m^-2) and plant height of berseem were non-significantly affected by phosphorus and potassium fertilization. So, it was concluded that berseem showed better performance in terms of higher forage yield under 60 kg P ha^-1 x 30 kg K ha^-1 levels in Peshawar valley.

Key words: Phosphorus, potassium, forage yield, berseem.