Standardizing the Growth Conditions for the Production of Hydroponic Fodder Horse Gram

S. Gunasekaran; C.  Valli; R. Karunakaran; P. Tensingh Gnanaraj; H. Gopi

doi:10.5455/ijlr.20200504030556

Authors

S. Gunasekaran Assistant Professor Institute of Animal Nutrition, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Kattupakkam, Tamil Nadu, INDIA
C. Valli Professor and Head, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Kattupakkam, Tamil Nadu, INDIA
R. Karunakaran Professor and Head, Department of Animal Nutrition, Madras Veterinary College, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, INDIA
P. Tensingh Gnanaraj The Registrar, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, INDIA
H. Gopi Professor and Head (Retd.), Farmers Training Centre, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu, INDIA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5455/ijlr.20200504030556

Keywords:

Germination Time, Hydroponic Fodder, Horse Gram, Soaking Time, Seed Rate

Abstract

In a fabricated hydroponic fodder production unit biomass yield of hydroponic fodder horse gram in a 2 x 3 factorial design in six replicates was adopted to assess the influence of soaking (8 or 12 hours) and germination time (4 or 8 or 12 hours) of horse gram seeds. Irrespective of the soaking and germination time no significant variation (P < 0.05) was observed on the biomass yield. However, numerically higher biomass yield at 12 hours of soaking and 4 hours of germination was observed. To determine the influence of different seed rate (25, 50, 75, 100, 125 and 150 g / sq.ft) on biomass yield of hydroponic fodder horse gram a study was conducted which revealed the highest biomass yield of 5.28±0.32 kg/ kg of seed at a seed rate of 50 g/sq.ft on 6th day of growth.