Effect of integrated nutrient management on forage yield and quality of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.)

A field experiment was conducted during 2007-08 to 2009-10 at MPKV, Rahuri, Maharashtra to study the effect of integrated nutrient management on forage yield and quality of perennial Lucerne. Application of recommended dose of fertilizer (20:80:40 kg NPK ha(-1)), elemental sulphur (30 kg ha(-1)), sodium molybdenum (1 kg ha(-1)) and borax (4 kg ha(-1)) along with FYM (10 t ha(-1)) to perennial lucerne crop recorded significantly highest growth attributes viz., plant height (79.7 cm) and leaf: stem ratio (1.01), maximum green forage and dry matter yield (4782.0 and 1056.6 q ha(-1), respectively), with highest net return (Rs. 330443/- ha(-1)) and benefit: cost ratio (2.21) from 34 cuts of lucerne as compared to other treatments under study. It registered higher values of soil available nutrients viz., Nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, sulphur, molybdenum and boron over rest of all the treatments. However, it was found at par with application of RDF (20:80:40 kg NPK ha(-1)), elemental sulphur (30 kg ha(-1)), sodium molybdenum (1 kg ha(-1)) and borax (4 kg ha(-1)) along with FYM (5 t ha(-1)) in respect of green forage yield (4639.95 q ha(-1)), dry matter yield (1023.18 q ha(-1)), net return (Rs. 320539/- ha(-1)) and benefit : cost ratio (2.21).