Introduction

Sudan grass is a promising summer forage crop essentially in arid and semiarid regions as it is less sensitive to water shortage and produces large amounts of biomass (Ismail et al., 2018). Sudan grass as a forage crop has many reliable characters that include high yielding potential, drought and heat tolerance, very good water use efficiency, high response to N fertilization, less susceptibility to disease, and most importantly the crop’s ability to provide 2-3 cuts per growing season (Machicek, 2018). Sudan grass is Feeding of green forage to livestock is essential for the maintenance of normal health and Reproduction. The productivity of Sudan grass is especially high in the periods with moisture reserves abundance (Basaran et al., 2017). Along with the resistance to droughts, Sudan grass has a good ability to tolerate soil salinization (Ziki et al., 2019). At present, in India only 4.4% of the cultivated area is under fodder crops with annual total forage production of 866 million ton. Whereas, the annual green fodder requirement is 1097 million tones and dry fodder is 609 million ton.

Chahal el al. (2020) observed that plant height, shoots per square meter, leaf stem ratio and dry matter accumulation of sorghum sudan grass hybrid increased with increasing fertilizer levels. Nitrogen element is the nutrient that most frequently limits yield and plays an important role in quality of forage crops. Fertilization is one of the most important agronomic practices however; high amounts of N do not necessarily improve yields (Bean et al., 2013). Appropriate nitrogen fertilization plays a key role to increase the forage yield and quality and also, balanced N in soils promotes growth of plants and limits the adverse effect on growth caused by water stress (Villar-Salvador et al., 2013). However, N fertilizers need to be reduced or properly managed as much as possible so that waste is minimized and resource use efficiency is maximized (Mut et al., 2017). Nitrogen as an essential nutrient needed by plants is much required for improved agronomy of Sudan grass under the agroclimatic and deprived soil conditions in dry areas (Kaplan et al., 2019).  The highest dry forage yield of Sudan grass (16.26 ton ha^-1) was achievable at the 1^st cut with the application of the highest N level (105 kg N/ha/cut) (Ziki et al., 2019). Jung et al. (2016) also suggested that more than 300 kg N/ha can improve dry matter yield to be above 116% compared to zero N, thus enhancing the agronomic characters of sorghum and sudan hybrid. Meh et al. (2015) reported that sorghum and sudan hybrid can be cultivated through the application of 80 kg N ha^-1 and 10 kg P ha^-1 for maximum production.

Abo-Zeid et al. (2017) showed that increasing nitrogen dose from 0 to 50, 75 and 100 kg N acre^-1 increased plant height, fresh and dry weight of sorghum forage. Anfinruda et al. (2013) found that there was a significant response in yield with increasing nitrogen rates. They added that there was a significant response in quality parameters such as N%, P%, K% and crude protein yield with increasing nitrogen rates. Several growth and yield parameters, including plant height, diameter, number of leaves and stem biomass were gradually increased using P fertilizers along with addition of K with P helps in strong root development and improve water use efficiency, prevent many diseases, heat damages and helps in cycling of nutrients. Roy and Khandaker (2010) observed that phosphorus application had significant effect on green forage yield and influenced by increasing the level of phosphorus at both cutting. In second cutting, green matter yield was highest at the level of 80 kg triple super phosphate per ha while the lowest yield. Similarly in third cutting, the highest yield was found in 80 kg triple super phosphate per ha. Kundu et al. (2015) reported that significantly maximum dry matter yield (51.54 quintal per ha) was found with the application of 60 kg phosphorus per ha. Kumar and Chaptot (2015) noted that fodder sorghum crop under the influence of 100 per cent RDF (80 kg N+40 kg P₂O₅+40 kg K₂O ha^-1) produced maximum biomass as well as fetched highest net returns of ` 59445 ha^-1 and B : C ratio of 2.93. Dixit et al. (2017) concluded that for achieving higher system productivity, 60 kg phosphorus ha^-1 should be applied during both the seasons (Kharif and Rabi) in fodder sorghum+cowpea - chickpea cropping system under semi-arid climate of central India. The maximum green (41.08 t/ha) and dry (12.26 t ha¹) fodder yields of Sorghum bicolor were observed by  Meena et al. (2017) under the conjoint application of 100 kg N, 50 kg P₂O₅ and 50 K₂O ha^-1. The Sorghum bicolor crop fertilized with 125 per cent RDF (100 kg N+50 kg P₂O₅+50 kg K₂O ha¹) recorded highest plant height, stem girth, number of leaves plant^-1, leaf : stem ratio and dry matter accumulation (DMA) at harvest. The magnitude of increase in DMA plant over 100, 75 and 50 per cent RDF was to the tune of 7.8, 17.5 and 25.6%, respectively (Singh et al., 2016). Sutaria et al. (2013)revealed that the green and dry forage yields were significantly influenced due to the application of potassium. Information on the optimum level of NPK and their effective combination of fertilizer on forage biomass and dry matter yield are scanty. So, the appropriate level of NPK in sudan grass cultivation is needed to know. Keeping this view in mind, this research was done to evaluate the effect of different levels of nitrogen, Phosphorus and potash fertilizer on growth and yield, crude protein and economics of sudan grass.

Materials and Methods

The experiment was carried out at the Agroforestry Block of Agricultural Research Farm at Rajiv Gandhi South Campus (25° 10’ latitude, 82° 37’ longitude), Barakachha, Mirzapur (BHU), Uttar Pradesh during kharif season (Sep.-Oct.) in 2016. The soil of the experimental field was sandy loam in texture having pH 6.31, EC 0.072 dSm^-1 and organic carbon 0.16% with, medium in available nitrogen and potassium and high in available phosphorus. The experimental design was split plot design and the main plot treatments were four levels of nitrogen (60, 80, 100 and 120 kg ha^-1) and in sub-plot the three levels of phosphorus and potassium (P₃₀ K₂₀, P₄₀ K₂₅, and P₅₀ K₃₀ kg ha^-1) with three replications. Sudan grass variety MFSH-4 was sowing for green fodder production. The plot size was 4x3 m². The crop was sown at 08/09/2016 in the furrow opened by spade at a planned row to row (30 cm) distance. Relatively higher seed rate 40 kg ha^-1 sudan grass for green fodder. Biometric observations three plants from each plot were randomly selected and tagged for recording the biometric observations at different growth stages. The observations on growth attributes viz. plant height, number of leaves plant^-1, dry matter accumulation were recorded at an interval of 20 days. Yield attributes and yield were studied before and after harvesting as per investigation required. Thereafter, the total green fodder yield all above ground plant part harvested from net plot area were carefully bundled, tagged and the individual bundle weight was recorded. The fodder yield per plot was finally expressed in kg per ha. The uptake of nitrogen and phosphorus by crop was estimated by the using the formula.

Nutrient uptake (kg ha^-1)=Nutrient content (%)×Fodder yield (kg ha^-1)/100

Crude protein content of fodder was determined by multiplying the nitrogen % with 6.25 and was expressed as percentage on dry weight basis. The sum of amount of all input needed for raising crop is the cost of cultivation. Net returns was calculated by subtracting cost of cultivation from gross returns and benefit cost ration was obtained by dividing gross returns with cost of cultivation. The data were analyzed as per the standard procedure for “Analysis of Variance” (ANOVA) (Gomez and Gomez, 1984).

Results and Discussion

3.1.  Effect of nitrogen levels on sudan grass

3.1.1.  Growth parameters

The growth attributes viz., plant height, number of leaves plant^-1, fresh and dry weight plant^-1 were found highest in treatment 120 kg nitrogen ha^-1 levels (Table 1). This could be possible because nitrogen were suppressed by application of nitrogen which creates favorable environment, provide ample plant nutrient for growth in addition to effective plant height, number of leaves, fresh weight and dry weight of the sudan grass. Since nitrogen promotes growth, it enhanced leaf expansion and development. This influence may result in an increase in leaf length and width and leaf blade size. This result is in conformity with Ullah et al. (2017) who reported that different nitrogen levels have significant effects on plant height, dry matter yield, green fodder yield, crude protein, of fodder maize cultivar Kissan. Khaleduzzaman et al. (2007) reported that dry matter yield increased of napier grass up to 160 kg N ha^-1 because napier grass had a higher vegetative growth having more tethering.

Table 1: Effect of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium levels on growth and yield of sudan grass under horti-pastoral system

3.1.2.  Green fodder yield

Yield is the ultimate outcome of the crop efficiency to convert dry matter into yield components. Timely and proper fertilizer application provide plant nutrient give high dividend in the form of increased yield. Nitrogen in agriculture is the major nutrient which determine crop yield. It plays an important role in plant growth as an essential constituent of cell components having direct effect on growth, yield and quality of crop (Mohan et al., 2015). In the present study green fodder yield was maximum under 120 kg nitrogen per ha among all the nitrogen levels (Table 1). Jung et al. (2016) supported this finding, in their experiment they found that increasing nitrogen level from 0 to up to 300 kg N ha^-1 can improve yield in sorghum and sudan hybrid. Meh et al. (2015) noted significantly highest green biomass yield of sorghum and sudan hybrid grass due to application of 80, 120 and 160 kg N ha^-1 compared to other 0 and 40 kg N ha^-1 treatments might be due to its tremendous response of nitrogen fertilizer on yield. Fresh and dry fodder yields of sudan grass were significantly increased as nitrogen rate increases from 50 to 100 kg (Abo-Zeid et al., 2017).

3.2.  Effect of phosphorus and potassium on sudan grass

3.2.1.  Growth parameters

The growth attribute viz. plant height, number of leaves, fresh weight and dry weight were significantly affected by different levels of phosphorus+potassium. All growth parameters were significantly high due to more growth of sudan grass with phosphorus+potassium (P₅₀ K₃₀ kg per ha) level (Table 1). This could be possible because phosphorus+potassium were creating favorable environment i.e. more cellular respiration, metabolic activity, CO₂ fixation, sugar metabolism and energy storage and transfer. This is also reported by Mohan et al., (2015).

3.2.2.  Green fodder production

Phosphorus and potassium are essential macro nutrient for proper growth and development. In the present study green fodder yield was maximum under P₅₀+K₃₀ kg per ha among all the phosphorus+potassium levels. It could be possible due to phosphorus+potassium creates favorable environment to maximum growth of plant height, number of leaves, fresh weight and dry weight of the sudan grass. Singh et al., (2016) also found that phosphorus and potassium application has primitive effect on plant morphological traits like plant height, number of leaves, fresh and dry weight which were increased green fodder yield of crop.

3.3.  Effect of NPK levels on nutrient uptake and crude protein

The maximum nitrogen, phosphorus and potash uptake were recorded with 120 kg nitrogen per ha followed by 100, 80 and 60 kg nitrogen ha^-1 (Table 2).

Table 2: Effect of NPK levels on nutrient uptake and crude protein of sudan grass fodder under horti-pastoral system

Phosphorus and potassium level (P₅₀+K₃₀) recorded significantly higher nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium uptake as compared to (P₃₀+K₂₀) kg ha^-1. Awan and Abbasi (2000) and Meh et al. (2015) reported that nitrogen and phosphorus uptake increased with increasing levels of N and P fertilizers. Kumar et al. (2001) observed significant increase in crude protein yield from 0.39 to 0.83 MT ha^-1 as the level of N fertilizer increased from 0 to 160 kg ha^-1 in oat forage. This might be due to more availability of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium due to higher doses of these nutrients and poor fertility status of soil. According to Gopalan et al. (2007), Patel et al. (2018) and Singh et al. (2012) application of potassium released the fixed NH₄⁺from soil and helped the crop for better uptake of nitrogen.

3.4.  Relative economics

Maximum net return (Rs. 7934.23 ha^-1) was recorded in 120 kg nitrogen per ha in combination with P₅₀+K₃₀ kg ha^-1 whereas B: C ratio was maximum (1.25) in 120 kg nitrogen ha^-1 in combination with P₃₀+K₂₀ kg ha^-1 (Table 3). This is due to fact that 120 kg N ha^-1 increased the green fodder yield, gross return and net return. Pankhaniya et al. (1997) and Rana et al., (2012) reported that the economics of the sorghum increased with application nitrogen.

Table 3: Effect of NPK level on sudan grass fodder economics under horti-pastoral system

Conclusion

Application of 120 kg N, 50 kg P₂O₅ and 30 kg K₂O ha^-1 produced significant plant height, fresh and dry plant weight, green fodder yield of sudan grass as well as accumulate more NPK and crude protein, this was found more remunerative fertilization practice under present study.

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