The current experiment was aimed to study the effect of treated municipal wastewater with manure and inorganic nutrients on the yield and quality of Bajra Napier hybrid grass. The field experiment was conducted using secondary treated wastewater, manure and inorganic nutrients in Bajra Napier hybrid grass variety CO(BN) 5 with a strip plot design and four replications. The experiment was carried out in Veterinary College and Research Institute, Orathanadu, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, during 2018-19. The five ratios of irrigation water were used in horizontal factor treatments and four different nutrient combination treatments were allotted in the vertical factor. The plot was divided into 27 m2 with 2 m space between the plots. The two budded setts of bajra napier hybrid grass variety CO(BN)-5 were planted at 60 x 50 cm spacing. The irrigation and nutrients were applied as per the treatments. The use of treated wastewater for irrigation combined with manure and inorganic nutrients significantly increased the total green and dry fodder yields. Irrigation treatment with treated wastewater alone + 100% inorganic nutrients (I5N1) recorded significantly higher total green and dry fodder yields of 431.0 and 76.7 t ha-1 yr-1, respectively than all other treatment combinations. Irrigated with groundwater alone (control) without nutrients (I1N4) recorded the lowest total green and dry fodder yields (222.5 and 47.6 t ha-1 yr-1, respectively). The average crude protein content of all total cuttings was significantly higher (13.53%) in I5N1 than all other treatments. On the other hand, the average crude fibre content (28.03%) was significantly lower in the treatment I5N1 as compared to irrigated with groundwater without nutrients (31.18%). The perennial fodder crop Bajra Napier hybrid grass variety CO(BN) 5 cultivated under-treated wastewater combined with manure and inorganic nutrients increased the total green and dry fodder yields with beneficial proximates. The use of treated wastewater for fodder cultivation helps in conserving groundwater and utilize available nutrients in treated wastewater effectively

Treated wastewater irrigation, Bajra Napier hybrid grass, green fodder yield, dry fodder yield, crude protein, crude fibre

This study comprehensively investigated the integrated effects of treated wastewater irrigation combined with manure and inorganic nutrients on the fodder yield and proximate parameters of Bajra Napier hybrid grass in the Cauvery Delta region of Tamil Nadu. The findings unequivocally demonstrate a significant positive impact of the imposed treatments on total green and dry fodder yields, as well as on the crude protein and crude fibre content. Specifically, the irrigation treatment utilizing treated wastewater alone in combination with 100% inorganic nutrients (I₅N₁) consistently recorded the highest total green (431.0 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) and dry (76.7 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) fodder yields. This particular combination also yielded the highest average crude protein content (13.53%) and the lowest average crude fibre content (28.03%), indicating a superior nutritional quality of the fodder. The beneficial response in both quantitative and qualitative parameters highlights the efficacy of using treated wastewater as a valuable resource, not only for irrigation but also for its inherent nutrient content. This integrated approach offers a viable and sustainable option to enhance fodder productivity, effectively utilize available nutrients in treated wastewater, reduce dependence on freshwater sources, and conserve groundwater resources in water-stressed agricultural regions

Senthilkumar D. and M. Ramachandran (2025). Study the Integrated Effect of Treated Wastewater, Organic and Inorganic Nutrients on Fodder Yield and Proximate Parameters of Bajra Napier Hybrid Grass in the Cauvery Delta Region of Tamil Nadu. Biological Forum, 17(4): 117-125