Assessment of BxN Hybrids for Fodder Productivity in South Gujarat, India

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Bharuch, Gujarat to evaluate eight Bajra x Napier (BxN) hybrids viz. BNH-10, BNH-11, CO-5, CO-6, DHN-5, DHN-15, Phule Jaywant, and Phule Gunwant for their fodder yield potentials and quality parameters over three years (2021-2024). A Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications was employed for the experiment. The pooled results of three years revealed that significant variations were observed in hybrids investigated. The hybrid BNH-11 consistently and significantly outperformed other tested hybrids, demonstrating superior performance across multiple parameters, including plant height (143.25 cm), tillers per plant (26), leaf-to-stem ratio (1.14), green fodder yield (207.05 MT ha⁻¹), dry matter yield (80.36 MT ha⁻¹) and crude protein yield (6.06 MT ha⁻¹). Phule Gunwant closely followed BNH-11, performing on par across all evaluated parameters. These findings indicate that BxN hybrids exhibit substantial potential for fodder production, supporting their use in sustainable livestock farming systems in the region.