EVALUATION OF HIGH YIELDING TEMPERATE PERENNIAL FORAGES  FOR AUGMENTING FORAGE RESOURCES IN LADAKH (INDIA)

Suheel Ahmad; J P  Singh; Inder Dev; Sudesh Radotra; Sheeraz Saleem Bhat; Nazim Hamid Mir; R S  Chaurasia

doi:10.48165/

Authors

Suheel Ahmad ICAR-Indian Grassland & Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi - 284 003, Uttar Pradesh (India)
J P Singh ICAR-Indian Grassland & Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi - 284 003, Uttar Pradesh (India)
Inder Dev ICAR-Central Agroforestry Research Institute, Jhansi - 284 003, Uttar Pradesh (India)
Sudesh Radotra ICAR-Indian Grassland & Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi - 284 003, Uttar Pradesh (India)
Sheeraz Saleem Bhat ICAR-Indian Grassland & Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi - 284 003, Uttar Pradesh (India)
Nazim Hamid Mir ICAR-Indian Grassland & Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi - 284 003, Uttar Pradesh (India)
R S Chaurasia ICAR-Indian Grassland & Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi - 284 003, Uttar Pradesh (India)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48165/

Keywords:

Evaluation, grasses/legumes, Ladakh, Salix, silvipasture

Abstract

The present study was conducted in a community pastureland of Spituk Monastery, Leh (Ladakh) from 2013 to 2015 to evaluate some temperate forage grasses/legumes and their mixtures grown in the interspaces of Salix plantation with a spacing of 4 m x 4 m. The experiment comprised of 13 treatments laid out in a randomized block design with each treatment replicated three times using a plot size of 12 m x 12 m. The results revealed that alfalfhad maximum value of sward height (62.5 cm), which was at par with treatment alfalfa grown in mixture with Dactylis tall fescue + sainfoin. However, plant cover was maximum (75.6-85.6%) in mixture treatments as compared to sole grass or legume treatments (20.4-80.6%). Maximum green (9.87 t ha-1) and dry fodder yield (2.68 t ha-1) was observed in Dactylis + tall fescue + sainfoin + alfalfa treatment, which was at par with tall fescue + alfalfa treatment. The mean values for plant height, collar diameter, diameter at breast height, number of branches and leaf yield were 1.79 m, 21.2 mm, 16.1 mm, 5.32 and 66.72 dry matter kg ha-1, respectively. The study suggests that tall fescue, Dactylis, red clover and sainfoin hold great promise as intercrop in Salix-based silvipastoral systems for der needs in the region.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Ahmad, S., Khan, P.A, Verma, D.K., Mir, N.H, Sharma, A. and Wani, S.A. 2018a. Forage production and orchard floor management through grass/legume intercropping in apple-based agroforestry systems. International Journal of Chemical Studies, 6(1): 953-958.

Ahmad, S., Mir, N.H., Bhat, S.S. and Singh, J.P. 2018b. High altitude pasturelands of Kashmir Himalaya: Current status, issues and future strategies in a changing climatic scenario. Current Journal of Applied Science and Technology, 27(2): 1-10.

Suheel Ahmad et al.

Bond, W. and Grundy, A.C. 2001. Non-chemical weed management in organic farming systems. Weed Research, 41: 383-405.

Dhiman, R.C. 2014. Status of poplar and willow culture in Himachal Pradesh. Indian Journal of Ecology, 41(1): 1-9.

Dong, S.K., Long, R.J., Hu, Z.Z. and Kang, M.Y. 2005. Productivity and persistence of perennial grass mixtures under competition from annual weeds in the alpine region of the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau. Weed Research, 45: 114-120.

Gokkus¸ A., Koc, A., Serin, Y., Comakli, B., Tan, M. and Kantar, F. 1999. Hay yield and nitrogen harvest in smooth brome grass mixtures with alfalfa and red clover in relation to nitrogen application. European Journal of Agronomy, 10: 145-151.

Hamilton, J. 2008. Silvopasture: Establishment and Management Principles for Pine Forests in the Southeastern United States. USDA National Agroforestry Center, Lincoln, USA. Hay, R.K.M. and Walker, A.J. 1989. An Introduction to the Physiology of Crop Yield. Longman Scientific and Technical, Harlow, England.

Humbert-Droz, B. and Dawa, S. 2004. Biodiversity of Ladakh: Strategy and Action Plan. Ladakh Ecological Development Group, Sampark, New Delhi, India.

IGFRI. 2012. Annual Report 2011-2012. Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Kachroo, P., Sapru, B.L. and Dhar, U. 1977. Flora of Ladakh: An Ecological and Taxonomical Appraisal. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehra Dun, India.

Misri, B. 1988. Forage production in alpine and subalpine regions of North West Himalaya. pp. 43- 55. In: Pasture and Forage Crop Research - A State of Knowledge Report (ed. Punjab Singh), RMSI, IGFRI, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Peri, P.L., Lucas, R.J. and Moot, D.J. 2007. Dry matter production, morphology and nutritive value of Dactylis glomerata growing under different light regimes. Agroforestry Systems, 70(1): 63- 79.

Raj, A. and Sharma, P. 2013. Is Ladakh a ‘cold desert’? Current Science, 104(6): 687-688. Ram, S.N., Kumar, S., Roy, M.M. and Baig, M.J. 2006. Effect of legumes and fertility levels on buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) and annona (Annona squamosa) grown under hortipasture system. Indian Journal of Agronomy, 51(4): 278-282.

Singh, J.P., Ahmad, S., Radotra S., Dev, I., Mir, N.H., Deb, D. and Chaurasia, R.S. 2018. Extent, mapping and utilization of grassland resources of Jammu and Kashmir in Western Himalaya: A case study. Range Management and Agroforestry, 39(2): 138-146.

Snedecor, G.W. and Cochran, W.G. 1994. Statistical Methods (8th edn.). East West Press Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, India.

Tarawali, S.A., Tarawali, G., Larbi, A. and Hanson, J. 1995. Methods for the Evaluation of Legumes, Grasses and Fodder Trees for Use as Livestock Feed. ILRI Manual 1. International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya.

Tewari, J.C., Pareek, K., Raghuvanshi, M.S., Kumar, P. and Roy, M.M. 2016. Fodder production system A major challenge in cold arid region of Ladakh, India, MOJ Ecology and Environmental Science, 1(1): 22-28.

Wani, S.A., Shaheen, F.A., Wani, M.H. and Saraf, S.A. 2014. Fodder budgeting in Jammu and Kashmir: Status, issues and policy implications. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences, 84: 54- 59.

Yadav, A., Gendley, M.K.., Sahu, J., Patel, P.K., Chandraker, K. and Dubey, A. 2019. Silvopastoral system: A prototype of livestock agroforestry. The Pharma Innovation Journal, 8(2): 76-82.