PERFORMANCE OF FODDER CROPS DURING POST RAINY SEASON IN ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS
B. GANGAIAH* AND M. S. KUNDU
1Division of Natural Resource Management
2Division of Animal Science
ICAR- Central Island Agricultural Research Institute,
Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, India 744 105
*(e-mail : bandlagangaiah1167@gmail.com)
(Received : 13 December 2018; Accepted : 24 December 2018)
SUMMARY
Andaman & Nicobar Islands dairy farming progress was severely constrained by shortage of green fodders especially during post rainy season and fodder cultivation was unknown for the stakeholders. In this context, field experimentation was carried out under rain fed situations during for post-rainy seasons (December 2015 – January 2016) at Port Blair in a low fertile neutral pH soil to assess the productivity, quality and economics of 3 fodder crops i.e., maize (Zea mays L.), sweet sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] and pillipesara (Phaseolus trilobatus (L.) Schreb) in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with four replications. The results revealed that sweet sorghum has significantly higher dry fodder production (t/ha) and net returns (Rs. /ha) i.e. 12.73 and 23,074 than maize (10.91 and 16,995) and pillipesara (3.78 and 4,030). Pillipesara fodder was more nutrient dense (N, P), but overall nutrient contained in biomass was highest in maize and sweet sorghum (N & P) and maize (K). Based on productivity, quality and economics sweet sorghum cultivation was recommended for augmenting fodder supplies in the islands during post-rainy season.
Key words: Fodder, Maize, Sweet sorghum, Pillipesara, Crude Protein, Leaf: Stem ratio, Income