The effect of different levels of amino acid and zinc on the quality and quantity of Berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum)

The unavailability of green fodder throughout the year and low quality fodder are some of the main constraints that contribute in low yield of livestock. To overcome the restraint in quality and quantity, an experiment was designed at Agriculture Research Institute, Tarnab – Peshawar to investigate the effect of different levels of amino acid (aspartic acid) and zinc (zinc sulphate) on the quality and quantity of berseem. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with split plot arrangement having three replications. Different levels of amino acid were applied @1000, 2000 and 3000 ml ha-1 to main plot while Zinc was applied @14 and 28 kg ha-1 to sub plot. Maximum stem height (73.77 cm), branches per stem (20.39), highest percentage of crude protein (17.67 %), crude fiber (33.59 %), dry mater (21.75 %) and green fodder yield (27.84 t ha-1) was recorded in the plots that received the amino acid @ 3000 mlha-1, while the plots that received amino acid at lowest rate i.e. 1000 ml ha-1 yielded the lowest stem height (60.22 cm), minimum number of branches per stem (12.72), low percentage of crude protein (15.85 %), crude fiber (31.21 %), dry matter (19.38 %) and lowest green fodder yield (23.72 t ha-1). Similarly, zinc applied at higher rate of 28 kg ha-1 boosted the stem height (70.89 cm), number of branches (16.62), crude protein (17.86 %), crude fiber (35.01 %), dry matter (21.53 %) and green fodder yield (28.91 t ha-1) compared to zinc applied @ 14 kg ha-1. It is therefore, recommended that while growing berseem amino acid @ 3000 ml ha-1 and Zinc @ 28 kg ha-1 should be applied in order to get good yield and a quality crop.