Shade tolerance of selected hybrid napier cultivars under rainfed conditions

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted for two years during 2013 and 2014 at the Agronomy Research Farm of Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur to assess the shade tolerance potential of six selected cultivars of hybrid napier (Co-3, Co-4, Suguna, IGFRI-3, DHN-6 and PTH).The cultivars were exposed under full sunlight (open), 25 per cent and 50 per cent shade. The highest fresh and dry fodder yield was recorded under open condition. Among the cultivars, ‘Suguna’ was superior in fresh fodder yield in both years of study (100.54 Mg ha-1 in first year and 137.51 Mg ha-1 in second year) followed by ‘Co-3’ (94.46 Mg ha-1 and 131.51 Mg ha-1). However, the performance of ‘Suguna’ and ‘Co-3’ were comparable under 25 per cent and 50 per cent shade. Number of tillers and leaves declined with increasing shade. Among the cultivars studied, as ‘Co-3’, ‘Suguna’ and ‘IGFRI-3’ recorded less than 15 per cent yield reduction under 25 per cent shade, they can be grown under tree crops with similar shade levels. Similarly, as the cultivars ‘Co-3’ and ‘Suguna’ recorded less than 25 per cent yield reduction under 50 per cent shade, they can be grown in plantations where the light availability is not less than 50 per cent.