			Home About us Contact

Fodder Production (fodder + production)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Earth and Environmental Science	60%

Selected Abstracts

The Effects of Plant Population Density on the Growth and Chemical Composition of Lablab purpureus Grown for Fodder Production in a Semi-Arid Region

JOURNAL OF AGRONOMY AND CROP SCIENCE, Issue 2 2001
Y. Shehu
Lablab purpureus was grown in two 6-month field experiments in the Savannah region of Africa, with high rainfall and hot temperatures in the first 2 months, followed by low rainfall and cool temperatures until harvesting in January. The experiments evaluated the effects of plant population density (PPD), using rows at 70-, 110- and 150-cm intervals, on the yield and nutritive value of the crop, and the effect of an interim harvest on response to PPD. Lablab yield ha,1 was increased to a greater extent by an increase in PPD from 110 to 70 cm interrow spacing than by an increase from 150 to 110 cm, and yield plant,1 decreased as PPD increased to a greater extent for double-harvested than for single-harvested plants. This suggested that high PPD in the early stages of growth is important to promote high crop yields in this environment, probably because it mitigates drought effects in autumn. The effects of PPD on herbage composition were small and suggested that plant maturity had not been greatly affected by density. It is concluded that the maintenance of plant cover in the early stages of growth is important for high yields in the Savannah region, which can be achieved by an interrow spacing of no more than 70 cm and avoidance of an interim harvest. Die Einflüsse der Bestandesdichte auf Wachstum und chemische Zusammensetzung von Lablab purpureus im Anbau zur Futterproduktion in einer semiariden Region Lablab purpureus wurde in zwei 6 Monate andauernden Feldexperimenten in der Savannenregion von Afrika angebaut, wobei hoher Regenfall und hohe Temperaturenin den ersten beiden Monaten, gefolgt durch niedrigen Regenfall und kühle Temperatur bis zur Ernte im Januar vorherrschten. Die Experimente wurden im Hinblick auf die Einflüsse der Bestandesdichte (PPD) ausgewertet, wobei Reihenabstände von 70, 110 und 150 cm hinsichtlich des Ertrages und des Nährwertes des Bestandes und des Einflusses auf eine Zwischenernte in Abhängigkeit von PPD untersucht wurden. Der Lablab -Ertrag/ha war stärker durch Zunahmen in PPD von 110,70 cm Reihenabständen erhöht als bei Abständen von 150,110 cm; in diesem Fall nahm der Ertrag je Pflanze mit einer Zunahme von PPD für zweifache Ernte stärker zu als bei Pflanzen mit einmaliger Aberntung. Dies lässt vermuten, dass hohe PPD in frühen Stadien des Wachstums bedeutend ist für die Förderung des Bestandesertrages in dieser Umwelt, da wahrscheinlich Trockeneinflüsse im Herbst abschwächt werden. Die Einflüsse von PPD auf die Spross-Zusammensetzung war gering und lässt vermuten, dass die Pflanzenreife kaum von der Bestandesdichte abhängig ist. Es wird angenommen, dass der Halt der Pflanzenbedeckung in den frühen Stadien des Wachstums Bedeutung für hohe Erträge in der Savannenregion hat; dies kann mit Reihenabständen nicht über 70 cm und dem Vermeiden einer Zwischenernte erreicht werden. [source]

Fodder production and soil health with conjunctive use of saline and good quality water in ustipsamments of a semi-arid region

LAND DEGRADATION AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 2 2007
R. K. Yadav
Abstract Food and fodder shortage in arid and semi-arid regions force farmers to use marginal quality water for meeting the water requirement of crops which result in low quality, reduced production and an adverse impact on soil properties. A field study on loamy-sand (Hyperthermic Typic Ustipsamments) saline soil was conducted during 1999,2001 at Central Institute for Research on Buffaloes, Hisar. This involved assessment of effects of conjunctive use of saline water, EC,=,4·6,7·4,dSm,1, SAR,=,14,22 ((mmol,1)½ with good quality water on five fodder crop rotations: oat-sorghum (Avena sativa- ,Sorghum bicolor), rye grass,sorghum (Loleum rigidum,Sorghum bicolor), Egyptian clover,sorghum (Trifoleum alexandrinum,Sorghum bicolor), Persian clover,sorghum (Trifoleum resupinatum,Sorghum bicolor) and Indian clover,sorghum (Melilotus indica,Sorghum bicolor) and certain soil properties associated with it. Leguminous winter fodder crops were more sensitive to poor quality water use. Reductions in fodder yield with use of saline water alone throughout season were 85, 68, 54, 42, 36 and 26 per,cent in Indian clover, Egyptian clover, Persian clover, oat, rye grass and sorghum respectively as compared to good quality water. Leguminous fodder crops produced protein rich (12,14 per,cent) and low fibre (18,20 per,cent) fodder as compared to poor quality grassy fodder under good quality water irrigation but their quality deteriorated when saline water was used. These leguminous crops accumulated proportionately higher Na+ (1·58 per,cent) resulting in adverse impact on their growth as compared to grassy fodder crops. Higher soil salinity (12·2,dSm,1), SAR,=,20 (mmol,1)½ was recorded with saline water irrigation; and slight adverse impact was noticed on infiltration rate and contents of water dispersible clay. Alternate cyclic use of canal and saline water could be an option for fodder production under such conditions. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Comparative effect of biofertilizers on fodder production and quality in guinea grass (Panicum maximum Jacq.)

JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 9 2008
Seema Mishra
Abstract BACKGROUND:Panicum maximum Jacq. is one of the most important fodder grasses of the tropics. For good production and growth it requires high amounts of N fertilizer. Chemical fertilizers have a deleterious effect on soil fertility and are not economical for resource-poor farmers. Utilization of plant growth-promoting bacteria and fungi proved to be beneficial for improving crop production as well as the soil fertility. In the present paper the effect of inoculation of N fixer (Azospirillum brasilense) and P solubilizers (arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi consortia and inoculum of Glomus intraradiaces) was studied in single as well as mixed inoculation on forage yield and quality in guinea grass (Panicum maximum Jacq.) at different cuttings under the cut-and-carry system. RESULTS: Overall five cuttings were obtained during the year. Dual inoculation, i.e., Azospirillum with indigenous AM consortia, significantly improved fodder growth, production and quality in terms of crude protein (CP) content, while neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) content decreased after this treatment. The density of soil microbes (number of Azospirillum colony-forming units, number of AM spores) was enhanced in mixed inoculation. Chemical fertilizer improved fodder production and CP content significantly over control but also enhanced NDF and ADF content and suppressed the Azospirillum colony-forming units, AM spores and AM root infection. CONCLUSION: It could be concluded from the present study that inoculated N fixer and P solubilizer have a synergistic effect which enhanced overall fodder production, quality and also beneficial microflora in the rhizosphere soil, which also demonstrated the sustainability of biofertilizers. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry [source]