SUSHIL KUMARI*, K. S. AHLAWAT, K. K. BHARDWAJ, P. K. POONIA, S. ARYA, KAJAL AND SATPAL
Department of Forestry, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar (Haryana), India.
Department of Soil Science, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125 004 (Haryana)
Department of G&PB (Forage section), CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125 004 (Haryana)
*(e-mail: sushil.punia100@gmail.com)
(Received: 21 April 2025; Accepted: 27 June 2025)
SUMMARY
Performance of fodder crop Sorghum bicolor was investigated with different spacing’s of Prosopis cineraria to evaluate productivity and economics of the silvopastoral agroforestry system at Forestry research farm , CCS HAU, Hisar Haryana during 2021-22.The experiment was laid out by planting fodder sorghum (var, HJ 541) in between 5.9 years old Prosopis cineraria at different spacing’s i.e. 8m x 3 m, 9m x 3m, 10m x 3 m, and a control treatment in randomized block design (RBD) with five replications during the summer seasons (kharif). Growth parameters including plant height, stem diameter, fresh fodder yield, and total soluble solids (T.S.S.) content were assessed, along with an economic analysis based on the benefit-cost (B:C) ratio. Study revealed that the Growth performance of the crop viz. Plant height (cm), stem diameter (mm) and fresh fodder yield t/ha was recorded at the time of harvest. Plant height varied from 256.15cm (10m x 3m) to 261.36cm (8m x 3m) but was found statistically non-significant among different spacing’s of Prosopis cineraria and in open (control) Fresh fodder yield was highest under the 8m x 3m spacing (46.27 t/ha), followed by the 9m x 3 m (45.96 t/ha) and 10m x 3m (45.79 t/ha) spacing’s. The 8m x 3m spacing consistently produced the highest plant height, stem diameter, and fresh fodder yield, although differences were not statistically significant. The B:C ratio was highest under the 8m x 3m spacing, suggesting slight economic benefits. Overall, Prosopis cineraria agroforestry systems demonstrate minimal negative impacts on sorghum performance, with the 8m x 3m spacing’s providing the best balance of growth, yield, and economic returns.
Key words: Agroforestry, Khejri, spacing’s, sorghum, fodder production, semi-arid ecosystem