Studies on Silvi-pasture Systems for Intensive Fodder Production

Silvi-pastoral system with suitable species of trees and grasses help in increasing the land productivity and also maintain environmental potentialities. Moreover, deep root system of trees bind the soil, reduces erosion and extracts moisture from deeper strata of the soil. The effects of tree species on associated crops in agro forestry system are not consistent. The association of cereal and legume forages not only maintains similar level of herbage yield but also nearly doubles the crude protein production. Study of the right combination of tree species and associated crop in agro forestry for this region is the need of the hour. However, meager information is available on silvi pastoral systems with different grass legume components, hence present investigation was undertaken

Assessment of Fodder Production Potential of Lucerne (\u3cem\u3eMedicago sativa\u3c/em\u3e L.) Genotypes for Sustainable Live Stock Production

Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) is a temperate perennial legume capable of producing high quality forage throughout the year. The plant also contains sufficient concentrations of vitamins and most minerals for all classes of livestock. Livestock production can be substantially increased by using lucerne. It is a persistent, productive as well as heat and drought resistant crop which provides better and wet seasons. It tolerates short spell of drought but not water logging and high humidity in the rainy season. Cultivated lucerne is an out crossing auto- tetraploid plant developed by combining different M. sativa and M. falcate germplasm sources in order to maximize heterosis and to secure multiple pest resistance (Gherardi et al., 1998)

Evaluation of Grasslands of Mahboobnagar District, Telangana State

Telangana state is gifted with rich livestock resources; 50.3 lakh cattle, 41.9 lakh buffaloes, 128.7 lakh sheep and 46.7 lakh goats ( Livestock census, 2012).The district of Mahboobnagar in this newly formed State is known for its huge cattle, sheep and goat population. The district ranks first in sheep (37, 30,689) and goat (6, 87,066) population among all districts of state, though ranks second and sixth in cattle and buffalo population, respectively (Live stock census, 2012). The most common sources of fodder to feed these livestock are crop residues (68%), forages from common property resources (CPRs) like forests, pastures and grazing lands (25%), cultivated fodders (3%) and other feeds such as concentrates etc contributes 4%. Though the area under fodder crops is significantly high in this district (24,153 ha), there is a wide gap between the demand and supply. The cultivated forage crops are fed inevitable to cattle while sheep and goat are often fed exclusively by grazing. Owing to \u3c 700 mm annual rainfall and aberrations in climate, the area under natural pastures and grasslands is shrinking; is just 17,560 ha population (LUP Report, 201314) which seldom supports huge sheep and goat. There is a need to identify and evaluate these grasslands for forage quality as these are the only source of fodder for sheep and goat in the district. Hence, a survey had been taken up to document the various plant species under grasslands along with nutritional evaluation

Yield and Quality of Dual Purpose Sorghum-Fodder Cowpea Cropping System as Influenced by Integrated Nutrient Management

Integrated nutrient management in cropping system ensures higher fertilizer use efficiency through balanced combination of organic manures and chemical fertilizers. INM is required to stimulate sustainability in production of crops in cropping sequence. Sorghum is commonly grown for grain and fodder in different agro-climatic regions of Andhra Pradesh. The crop can be grown both in kharif and rabi season. In our country, sorghum provides a cheap source of dietary carbohydrate and energy. Sorghum is a C4 plant species however grain and fodder yields are low mainly because of low inputs. Since it is not precisely known that what would be the most advantageous combination of organic manure and inorganic nitrogen fertilizer to get maximum yield from sorghum crop, this experiment was formulated. Fodder cowpea is also included as rabi crop to quantify residual effect of nutrients in the system

Evaluation of Grasses Raised through Sewage Water in Musi, Hyderabad

Growing of various crops utilizing sewage is a common scenario in many urban and sub-urban areas. The crops mostly include forage crops, leafy vegetables, vegetables and sometimes food grains. These sewage waters are known to contain undesirable constituents like heavy metals, pesticide residues besides, harmful pathogens. These undesirable components can make way very possibly from sewage to soils, plant parts; there by to even milk, thus entering into food chain. Musi, a tributary of Krishna on whose banks Hyderabad lays is the main fodder bank of the city. Thousand of hactares of land resembling vast grassland ecosystem is under cultivation of forage crops. Para grass (Bracharia mutica) is the dominant crop grown in and around Musi along with several other crops. So far the path of the undesirable factors in sewage into forage crops and thereby food chain is not studied. Hence, this work is emphasized to study the level of pesticide residues in soil, water and plant

Evaluation of Silage Quality of Forage Maize (Zea mays L.) and Sweet Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) Varieties at Different Phenophases

Aim: To evaluate the green fodder production potential of forage maize and sweet sorghum varieties at different phenophases. Experiment Design: Factorial Randomized Block Design (FRBD). Place and Duration of Study: AICRP on Forage Crops and Utilization, Agricultural Research Institute. Duration from July 2022 to Nov 2022. Methodology: Field experiment was conducted at AICRP on Forage Crops and Utilization, Agricultural Research Institute (ARI), Rajendranagar, Hyderabad during kharif 2022. The treatments consisted of four maize varieties (African tall, J –1006, TSFM 15-5 and DHM-117) and two sweet sorghum varieties (CSH-22SS and CSV-49SS) and three harvest stages (S1: Milky stage, S2: Soft dough stage and S3: Dent stage) laid out in randomized block design with factorial concept with two factors. Factor (A) as six varieties and factor (B) as three harvest stages (phenophases) with three replications. Texture of the soil was sandy loam with the pH of 7.0, low in available nitrogen (199.3 kg ha-1), medium in available phosphorous (39.12 kg ha-1) and potassium (195.30 kg ha-1). Results: Fodder maize variety African tall recorded significantly higher plant height (265.8 cm) at dent stage, leaf-stem ratio (0.36) at milky stage, green fodder yield (438 q ha-1) at soft dough stage and dry fodder yield (122.7 q ha-1) at dent stage of harvest. while J-1006 recorded significantly highest dry matter content (29.8%) at the dent stage of harvest. CSH 22SS recorded significantly higher crude protein content (10%) in the milky stage. Conclusion: African tall variety has recorded significantly higher green fodder yield (438 q ha-1) at soft dough stage and dry fodder yield at the dent stage (122.7 q ha-1)

Effect of Different Varieties, Nitrogen Levels and Cutting Management on Yield and Its Attributes of Fodder Bajra (Pennisetum glaucum L.)

Aims: To identify an ideal pearl millet variety under ideal nitrogen level and cutting management for high green fodder yield and dry fodder yield. Study Design: Factorial Randomized block design. Place and Duration of Study: AICRP on Forage Crops and Utilization, Agricultural Research Institute, from July 2021 and Nov 2021. Methodology: Field experiment was conducted at AICRP on Forage Crops and Utilization, ARI, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad during kharif 2021. The treatments consisted of three varieties (TSFB 15-4, TSFB 15-8 and Moti bajra), three nitrogen levels (80, 100 and 120 kg N ha-1) and two cutting management practices (C1: Two cuts: 1st at 60 days after sowing (DAS), 2nd cut at 50% flowering) (C2: Three cuts: 1st at 50 days after sowing (DAS), 2nd cut at 35 days after 1st cut and 3rd cut at 50% flowering) laid out in randomized block design with factorial concept, with Factor (A) as varieties, Factor (B) as nitrogen levels and Factor (C) as cutting management with three replications. The soil was sandy loam in texture with pH of 7.0 low in available nitrogen, medium in available phosphorus and available potassium. Results: Variety TSFB 15-8 recorded significantly higher plant height (67.2 cm) and leaf-stem ratio (0.4) green forage yield (821.1 q ha-1), dry fodder yield (198.4 q ha-1)respectively, but Moti bajra variety was recorded highest number of tillers m-2 (4.5).Application of nitrogenat the rate of 120 kgha-1 significantly recorded highest plant height (72.0 cm), number of tillers m-2 (4.7) and leaf-stem ratio (0.4), green forage yield (817.7 q ha-1), dry fodder yield (201.0 q ha-1). Three cuts for green fodder recorded significantly higher plant height (65.9 cm), number of tillers (5.1) and leaf-stem ratio (0.5) green fodder yield(910.0 q ha-1), dry fodder yield (216.4 q ha-1) compared to two cuts. Conclusion: Variety TSFB 15-8 with nitrogen level of 120 kg N ha-1 at C2 found suitable and economical for cultivation in southern Telangana zone