Background: Improved agronomic practices such as optimum nutrient management, helps to improve forage quality and yield of the legume crop. The present study was conducted to find out the efficacy of nano urea on the yield and proximate nutrient composition of hedge lucerne grown. Comparing nano urea along with urea top dressing. 
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Methods: The experiment was laid out in randomized block design, replicated six times. At 35 days after sowing, T1 (control) received 30 kg/ha of urea and treatment T2 received 4ml/lit of nano urea as top dressing respectively. Harvested leaf samples were analyzed separately for crude protein (CP), crude fibre (CF), total ash (TA), ether extract (EE) and nitrogen free extract (NFE). 
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Result: &nbsp;The results showed that Nano urea application 4ml/lit recorded higher plant height, biomass yield in three harvests. Further nano urea application improved the biomass yield of the crop compared to urea top dressing, but it was statistically on par with each other. The study also revealed that there is no significant difference between the nutritive values CP, CF, EE and NFE between the treatment (nano urea) and control. First three harvests in Desmanthus virgatus legume crop application of nano urea @ 4ml/lit as top dressing was onpar with that of urea top dressing in increasing the biomass yield. 
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Effect of&nbsp; Nano Urea on the Yield and Proximate Composition of&nbsp; Hedge Lucerne (Desmanthus virgatus ) - Promising Legume Fodder for Livestock in Tamil Nadu

Present study was conducted at Central Research Station of BAIF Development Research Foundation, Urulikanchan, Pune during 2013 to 2015 with an objective to determining the nutritive values and keeping quality of legume blocks. Leaf meals were prepared from sun dried leaves and chaffed twigs of subabul (Leucaena&nbsp;leucocephala), desmanthus (Desmanthus vergatus), sesbania (Sesbania sesban) and lucerne (Medicago sativa). Five blocks were prepared by adding molasses, corn flour, mineral mixture and salt. Chemical composition such as dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), crude fibre (CF), ether extract (EE), ash and silica content were determined according to standard analytical procedures. The chemical composition was more or less similar in fresh and stored legume blocks in all the recipes and did not vary much during storage. Further, no deterioration in colour, odour or texture was observed in storage, or any apparent contamination with mould. Among the five leguminous blocks, highest nutritive values in terms of CP, CF, EE, ash and silica were observed in sesbania legume block (22.17, 12.14, 3.52, 10.71 and 0.52%) followed by blocks of subabul (20.52, 10.61, 3.42, 10.72 and 0.81%) respectively. The cost of per kg production of leguminous block of subabul and sesbania was low as compared to lucerne blocks, which were Rs. 20, 21 and 29 correspondingly. All the goats offered legume blocks accepted them readily. All the blocks were offered to difeerent five goats for feeding and their acceptance and the intake was 100 per cent. &nbsp;Hence, the leguminous blocks prepared from sesbania and subabul leaf meal were selected as the best leguminous blocks as goat feed. 
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Leguminous blocks: Nutritional values and economics

<div>Background: Celosia argentea, commonly known as plumed cockscomb, is a herbaceous plant of tropical origin and has 19.78% crude protein and is equal to leguminous fodder. It is highly palatable by animals. The study was designed to find out the chemical composition of the plant at summer and monsoon season and also to conserve it as fodder block for feeding ruminants during feed shortage.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: Fodder block was prepared by using paddy straw (60%), Celosia argentea plant (30%), 7.5% refined wheat flour, 2% mineral mixture and 1% salt. The fodder blocks were assessed for physical, chemical and IVDMD tests. Three treatments such as paddy straw and Desmanthus fodder (T1), paddy straw and Celosia argentea fodder (T2), paddy straw and Celosia argentea block (T3) were used for palatability trial in eighteen cross bred heifers. Trial was conducted for a period of one month. Daily feed intake (kg/day), initial and final body weight was measured. Data was analysed by using SPS software.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Significant variations (P&lt;0.01) were observed in the proximate composition of Celosia argentea fodder between monsoon and summer season. The prepared fodder blocks with Celosia argentea had bulk density of 70.15 kg/m3, relative hardness of 12.36 mm and durability of 89.22%. The chemical composition of fodder blocks (dry matter - 90.3%, crude protein - 10.28%, ether extract - 1.6%, crude fibre - 16.25%, total ash - 13.26%, nitrogen free extract - 58.35%, Ca - 1.05% and P - 0.53%) were found to lie in the normal range. The IVDMD of fodder block is 48.52%. Average daily dry matter intake of heifers fed with T3 was higher (P&lt;0.01) compared to heifers fed with T1 and T2. The body weight of heifers fed with all treatments did not change during trial period. Celosia argentea can be utilized as alternate to Desmanthus fodder and can be preserved as fodder block along with paddy straw for use during fodder deficit seasons.</div>

Effect of Nano Urea on the Yield and Proximate Composition of Hedge Lucerne (Desmanthus virgatus ) - Promising Legume Fodder for Livestock in Tamil Nadu

Leguminous blocks: Nutritional values and economics

Feeding Celosia argentea as Fodder Block to Ruminants