PRODUCTIVITY AND ECONOMICS OF DIFFERENT FORAGE PRODUCTION SYSTEMS IN SOUTH GUJARAT CONDITIONS OF INDIA
L. M. PATIL*, V. K. KAUTHALE, T. G. BHALANI AND D. J. MODI
BAIF Krishi Vigyan Kendra
Bharuch, Gujarat (India)
*(e-mail : lalitpatil59@gmail.com)
(Received : 2 May 2018; Accepted : 17 May 2018)
SUMMARY
A Field experiment was carried out at BAIF’s KVK Chaswad in Bharuch district during 2014 to 2016 with an objective to study the various forage cropping systems for green fodder production and find out the best remunerative year round fodder production system suitable to the South Gujarat conditions. The experiment was conducted with five cropping systems replicated four times in randomized block design. The cropping systems comprised of the combination of annual and perennial cereals and legumes crops. The three years pooled data revealed that the combination of Hybrid Napier variety BAIF Napier Hybrid-10 with Desmanthus (Hedge Lucerne) in 1:5 proportion has given significantly higher green fodder yield of 1701.41 q/ha, gross monetary returns of Rs. 294,872/ha, net monetary returns of Rs. 228,977/ha and benefit: cost ratio of 4.47. The soil fertility status was also maintained over a period of three years due to this cropping system.
Key words:Fodder production systems, green fodder yield, net monetary returns, soil fertility