K. N. MANOJ*, B. G. SHEKARA, K. N.KALYANA MURTHY AND MUDALAGIRIYAPPA
Department of Agronomy, UAS, GKVK, Bengaluru (Karnataka), India
AICRP on Forage Crops, ZARS, V.C. Farm, Mandya (Karnataka), India
AICRP on Dryland Agriculture, GKVK, Bengaluru (Karnataka), India
*(e-mail : manojrajagri@gmail.com)
(Received : 15 September 2020; Accepted : 30 September 2020)
SUMMARY
Quality green fodder production throughout the year is the major drive for increasing the livestock productivity in the country. In this regard, a filed investigation was conducted at Zonal Agricultural Research Station, Vishweshwaraiah Canal Farm, Mandya, Karnataka during 2018-19 and 2019-20 to identify the suitable cropping system for year round quality green fodder production under irrigated condition. The experiment was conducted with fifteen different cropping systems involving both annual and perennial cereal and legume fodder crops in randomized complete block design and replicated thrice. The pooled data revealed that, the perennial B×N hybrid + Lucerne system at 2:8 proportion recorded higher green fodder yield (1636q/ha/year), dry matter yield (321q/ha/year), crude protein yield (60.2 q/ha/year), gross returns (Rs. 3,02,440/ha/year), net returns (Rs. 2,14,232/ha/year) and benefit cost ratio (3.4) followed by B×N hybrid + Cowpea (2:8) and B×N hybrid + Sesbania (2:8) perennial systems and proved as viable systems for obtaining higher quality fodder.
Key words:Cropping systems, green fodder, crude protein, Bajra Napier hybrid, Lucerne