MANINDER KAUR* AND HARPREET KAUR OBEROI
Forages, Millets and Nutrition Section
Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics
Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141004 (Punjab), India
*(e-mail : manindersindhu@pau.edu)
(Received : 6 January 2023; Accepted : 28 March 2023)
SUMMARY
A field experiment was conducted in the fodder research farm of Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, PAU Ludhiana during three consecutive Kharif seasons from 2015-2017 to study the production potential of multicut sorghum sown with pearl millet in different seeding ratios under different methods of sowing. The experiment was planned comprising of ten treatment combinations i.e. five seeding ratios of sorghum and pearl millet (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75 and 0:100) and two methods of sowing (line sowing and broadcast sowing). The green fodder and dry matter yield increased in intercrops than the sole crops. The results of the study confirmed the superiority of seeding ratio of 25:75 of sorghum and pearl millet in total green fodder yield (728.3 q/ha) over other treatments. However, highest dry matter yield was recorded by the sole stand of pearl millet crop followed by the seeding ratio of 25:75. The nutritive value of pearl millet (7.36% crude protein content) was better than sorghum (6.74% crude protein) and hence the crude protein content of the intercropping treatments increased with increase in the seeding ratio of pearl millet. The growth and yield of crops whether in sole stand or in intercropping was better with line sowing over broadcast sowing. The fodder quality was not affected by the method of sowing. Line sowing realized higher net returns of Rs 34416/ha and among the seeding ratios higher net returns was achieved by 25:75 seeding ratio.
Key words: Sorghum, pearl millet, intercropping, quality