NAVEEN KUMAR*, SATPAL, SURESH KUMAR, UMA DEVI, J. M. SUTALIYA AND SHWETA
Forage Section, Department of Genetics & Plant Breeding,
Department of Agronomy, MAP Section, Department of Genetics & Plant Breeding,
CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125004 (Haryana), India
*(e-mail : nknaveenroyal@gmail.com)
(Received : 03 March 2020; Accepted : 29 June 2020)
SUMMARY
The scarcity of fodder availability along with increasing demand of livestock products when integrated with ill effect of climate change, further decreasing fodder productivity in response to increasing emissions of green house gaseous. In future, these threats will raise challenges in quality fodder production. To meet out the desired level of livestock production and its annual growth, the deficit in components of fodder, crop residues and feed has to be solved out either by increasing productivity, utilizing untapped feed resources, increasing land area or through the adoption of some innovative strategies. Maize, being one of the most adaptable emerging crops having wider adaptability under varied agro-climatic conditions, has been proved superior in terms of green fodder quality and silage making, as it provides very palatable, highly succulent and nutritionally rich fodder to livestock which is free from anti-metabolites. Despite technological advancement in breeding programmes, fertilizers and irrigation management systems, the climate is a key aspect in quality fodder production. To mitigate the ill effects of changing climate, conventional approaches of crop production needs to be altered and inventive adaption policies required to be in place. Potential adaptations can be achieved by improving irrigation efficiency and altering sowing time or introducing new genotypes with higher thermal accumulation efficiency. Hybrids with resistant traits to various biotic stresses have been identified and evolved. Furthermore, genotypes adaptable to new geographical area with different environment conditions have to be identified and explored to withstand with climate change.
Key words:Maize, quality fodder, nutrition, climatic scenario, adaptation