Evaluation of Fodder Maize (Zea mays L.) Cv. African Tall and its Response to Different Rates of FYM and Biofertilizers under Cold arid Conditions of Kargil

Fodder availability in cold arid regions is from 40 to 50 percent of real need, but in some areas it exceeds 50 percent [1]. Alfalfa, which is the sole fodder accessible to farmers and is dried and given to animals throughout the winter, is insufficient to meet the winter fodder shortfall. The region has a 73 percent fodder deficiency, according to reports [1]. The region's large fodder shortfall explains why the fodder development initiative is so important. Ladakh's freezing desert terrain has a lengthy, harsh winter that lasts 7-8 months and is devoid of any vegetation. During the winter, the entire animal rearing depends on the stored feed. Keeping these facts in view a field experiment entitled “Evaluation of fodder maize (Zea mays L.) Cv. African tall and its response to different rates of farmyard manure (FYM) and Biofertilizers under cold arid conditions of Kargil” was carried out at the research farm of Mountain Agriculture Research and Extension Station Kargil for the years 2015-16 and 2016-17 on silty clay loam soil low in available nitrogen and medium in available phosphorus and potassium with neutral pH. The experiment comprised of two factors viz., Bio fertilizers (B1: Azotobactor, B2: Phosphorus solubilising bacteria (PSB), B3: Azospirillium, B4: Azotobactor + PSB, B5: Azospirillium + PSB) and three FYM rates (R₁= 10 t ha⁻¹, R₂ =20 t ha⁻¹ and R₃ = 30 t ha⁻¹) was laid out in a Randomized block design replicated thrice, given nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium as per recommended package. The results revealed that highest plant height, number of leaves, stem girth and fodder yield were realized from the treatment comprising of FYM @30 t ha⁻¹ + Azotobactor + PSB treatment among all the treatments. Also crude protein and crude fibre were recorded to be higher with the treatment of FYM @30 t ha⁻¹ + Azotobactor + PSB.