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 : 2 December 2020; Accepted : 28 December 2020)
SUMMARY
The experiment was conducted during kharif, rabi and summer seasons of 2018-19 and 2019-20 at Zonal Agricultural Research Station, Vishweswaraiah Canal Farm, Mandya, Karnataka to study the fodder production potential and quality of different fodder cropping systems. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with fifteen different fodder cropping systems comprising both annual and perennial fodder crops and replicated thrice. The data revealed that, perennial B×N hybrid + Lucerne cropping system at 2:8 row proportion recorded significantly higher green fodder yield (1636 q/ha/year) and dry matter yield (321 q/ha/year) which was closely followed by B×N hybrid + Cowpea and B×N hybrid + Sesbania perennial systems at 2:8 row proportion. Withrespect to fibre fractions, significantly lower content of crude fibre (27.02 %), acid detergent fibre (31.22 %) and neutral detergent fibre (43.47 %) was noticed with B×N hybrid + Sesbania (2:8), sole oats and sole lucerne cropping systems but they found on par with other cropping systems involving legume crops. Sole cropping system of oats recorded significantly higher net energy of lactation (1.48 Mcal/kg DM) and metabolizable energy (14.32 MJ/kg DM). Thus perennial cereal-legume fodder cropping systems were identified as best systems for quality green fodder production.
Key words:Cropping systems, green fodder yield, quality, fibre fractions, energy