SUSHIL KUMARI*, K. S. AHLAWAT, K. K. BHARDWAJ, R. S. DHILLON, R. S. BENIWALL, CHHAVI SIROHI, PAWAN KUMAR POONIA, VIRENDER DALAL AND SATPAL
Department of Forestry, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar (Haryana), India
Department of Soil Science, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125 004 (Haryana), India
Department of G&PB (Forage section), CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125 004 (Haryana), India
*(e-mail : sushil.punia100@gmail.com)
(Received : 14 September 2022; Accepted : 28 September 2022)
SUMMARY
There is a large gap between the demand and supply of green fodder during lean period. A study was conducted at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana to assess the productivity of fodder crops Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) HJ 541 and Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) HC 46 under a eucalyptus-based agrisilviculture system. The present study was carried out a 2.0-year-old plantation of Eucalyptus tereticornis planted at different 4m × 2m and 5m × 2m spacing during the summer season (kharif) with different, fodder crops, viz. Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), were sown under eucalyptus plantation and control (devoid of tree) with seven replications. The results revealed that height of Sorghum (192.56 cm) and Cowpea plant (82.65) cm were higher under 5 m × 2m spacing as compared 4m × 2m spacing. Similarly the other parameters in both the crops such as leaf area of sorghum and cowpea (2088.64 & 1754.64 cm2/plant), Plant Stem diameter (11.54 and 7.15 mm) and Fresh fodder yield (32.72 and 14.11 t/ha) were also higher under 5m × 2m spacing at harvest. The benefit cost ratio of this experiment was calculated. Among both the crop maximum value of benefit-to-cost ratio (BC ratio) (0.84) and (0.40) under 5m × 2m spacing in the sorghum and cowpea as compared to (0.73) and (0.36) 4m × 2m spacing. The crop indicates that 5m × 2m spacing is more appropriate spacing of Eucalyptus based Agrisilviculture system from efficiency and profitability point of view.
Key words: Eucalyptus, sorghum, cowpea, B:C ratio, Agrisilviculture