Production Potential of Fodder Crops in Sapota Based Hortipasture System under Shallow Degraded Soils in Transitional Tract of Peninsular India

B. G. Shivakumar *

ICAR-Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Southern Regional Research Station, Dharwad-580 005, Karnataka, India.

N. S. Kulkarni

ICAR-Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Southern Regional Research Station, Dharwad-580 005, Karnataka, India.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.


Abstract

An experiment was conducted during 2013-14 to 2015-16 for 3 consecutive years to study the performance of fodder crops in sapota based hortipasture systems under rainfed conditions on shallow degraded soils. The experiment comprised of 7 treatments viz., sole signal grass, signal grass intercropped with stylosanthes, sole grazing guinea, grazing intercropped with stylosanthes, sole stylosanthes, sole annual fodder sorghum and sole perennial fodder sorghum in 3 years old sapota orchard. The highest green fodder yield in the first year (19.1 t/ha) was observed in perennial fodder sorghum followed by sole signal grass in the second (23.5 t/ha) and third year (26.2 t/ha). Similar trend was observed in dry fodder yield (3.85, 5.76 and 6.58 t/ha in 1st, 2nd and 3rd year, respectively). This was followed by intercropped signal grass with stylosanthes. The lowest green and dry fodder yield was observed in sole stylosanthes in all the 3 years (4.9, 8.6 and 9.3 t/ha green fodder and 1.98, 2.65 and 3.05 t/ha dry fodder, respectively). The highest net return (Rs. 31450/ha) and B:C ratio (2.93) in first year was observed with perennial fodder sorghum while signal grass intercropped with stylosanthes recorded higher net returns (Rs. 49940/ha and Rs.56990/ha) and B:C ratio (6.37 and 7.13) in 2nd and 3rd year respectively. There was significant improvement in the organic carbon content, available N, P and K content in the soil as compared to initial status in all the treatments.

Keywords: Degraded soil, fodder crops, hortipasture system, sapota, signal grass


How to Cite

Shivakumar, B. G., and N. S. Kulkarni. 2022. “Production Potential of Fodder Crops in Sapota Based Hortipasture System under Shallow Degraded Soils in Transitional Tract of Peninsular India”. International Journal of Environment and Climate Change 12 (12):1505-12. https://doi.org/10.9734/ijecc/2022/v12i121594.