Sustainable forage cropping systems for round the year green fodder supply in irrigated subtropics of Jammu

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted during 2020-21 and 2021-22 to evaluate various forage-based cropping systems for irrigated conditions of Jammu. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design and replicated thrice. Results showed that multicut sorghum + maize with root slips of napier planted on field boundaries in July recorded significantly highest green forage yield which was though statistically at par with multicut sorghum + maize with root slips of Setaria planted on field boundaries in July followed by multicut sorghum + maize with stem cuttings of napier planted on field boundaries in January and multicut sorghum + maize with stem cuttings of Setaria planted on the field boundaries in January during kharif season. In rabi season, berseem + oat with root slips of napier planted on field boundaries in July was found to be significantly superior than other treatments. Multicut bajra + maize - berseem + barley with stem cuttings of napier planted on field boundaries in January recorded higher system productivity which was at par with the treatment multicut bajra + cowpea - berseem + oat with stem cuttings of napier planted on field boundaries in January.