Influence of Sowing Dates on Fodder Yield Production of Berseem under the Climatic Condition of Peshwar Valley

Abstract

Research work under the title “Influence of sowing dates on fodder yield production of berseem under the climatic condition Peshawar” was conducted at New Developmental Farm, The University of Agriculture Peshawar, Khyber Pukhtonkhwa Pakistan, during the session 2012-2013. Experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) having three replications. Sowing dates (15^th November 2012, 15^th December 2012, 15^th January 2013, and 15^th February 2013) were allotted to main plots.  Plots sown in November and December showed better performance as compared with sowing in January and February. Sowing dates had significant effect on emergence me-2, fresh forage yield kg ha^-1, dry matter yield at 20 days after first cut, days to 75% flowering. Maximum emergence m^-2 (368), fresh forage yield (17233 kg ha^-1), dry matter yield at 20 days after first cut (12916 kg ha^-1), days to 75% flowering (173 days) were obtained from sowing on 15^th November. It was concluded that planting of berseem either on 15^th November or 15^th December were better in terms of fodder yield production, and thus recommended for obtaining maximum yield in agro-climatic condition of Peshawar.

Keywords: clover, berseem, sowing dates, fresh forage yield