Effect of different sources and levels of nitrogen on nutrient uptake by forage chicory (Cichorium intybus L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted Agronomy Instructional Farm, S. D. Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar on loamy sand soils during rabi seasons of 2002-03 and 2003-04 to study the nutrient uptake, residual soil fertility and yield of forage chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) as influenced by various sources of nitrogen. Maximum total green (953.06 q/ha) and dry forage yield (118.82 q/ha) were registered with 60 kg N/ha applied as basal. Similarly, application of 30 kg N/ha after harvest of each cut turned out superior over 0 and 15 kg N/ha with respect to total green (1070.7 q/ha) and dry forage yield (132.28 q/ha) of chicory. Among different levels of N applied as basal, 60 kg N/ha proved its superiority with respect to N (2.48%) and Ca (2.46%) content in chicory forage over rest of the treatments. Similarly, application of 30 kg N/ha after harvest of each cut also recorded significantly higher N and Ca content. However, N applied as basal and as top dress had no effect on P and K content. Maximum removal of N, P and K was noticed under 60 kg N/ha applied as basal (283.1, 51.2 and 227.4 kg/ha, respectively) and 318.9, 56.7 and 249.0 kg/ha, respectively with application of 30 kg N/ha as top dress after harvest of each cut. However, no improvement in content and uptake of N, P and K was observed with various sources of nitrogen tried in present study.