scholarly journals Evaluation of Perennial Grass-legume Cropping Systems for Year-round Supply of Fodder for Dairy Farms

Author(s):  
Bellamkonda Murali ◽  
R. Susheela ◽  
M. Shanti ◽  
K. Shailaja ◽  
T. Shashikala

Background: Long-term and stable livestock productivity could be possible only through a year-round supply of quality green fodder and it is essential for the sustainability of dairy farms. The year-round supply of quality green fodder is challenging to livestock farmers; however, it is possible by adopting perennial grass-legume intercropping systems. Methods: A field experiment with eight treatments consisting of two perennial grasses (Napier- bajra hybrid grass and guinea grass) alone or in combination with three fodder legumes (Lucerne, Hedge Lucerne and Sesbania) was conducted for 3 years (2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19) in a sandy loam soil at the Agricultural Research Institute, Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Hyderabad. The treatments were replicated thrice in a randomized block design. Perennial grasses were raised in paired row method (row to row 120cm and plant to plant 60 cm. The legume intercrops were grown with their respective spacing within 120 cm row. Sesbania inter crop was allowed to grow for 6 months and later trimmed to a height of 1 meter in the establishment year. Growth parameters were measured only for grasses at each harvesting and green fodder, dry matter and crude protein yields were recorded for both grasses and legumes at each cut and accumulated annually (total 6 cuts/year) for statistical analyses. Result: The results indicated that among the grasses, Napier-bajra hybrid recorded significantly higher green fodder, dry matter and crude protein yields; in case of leguminous inter crops, Sesbania recorded highest green fodder, dry matter and crude protein yields followed by Hedge Lucerne. About total productivity of the system, Napier-bajra hybrid + Sesbania (2:1) cropping system recorded highest green fodder, dry matter and crude protein yields. Highest net returns and B:C ratio was also noted with Napier bajra hybrid +Sesbania (2:1) cropping system and proved to be the best perennial fodder system for year-round supply fodder to the livestock.

2021 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 58-63
Author(s):  
Tran Thi Hoan ◽  
◽  
Tu Quang Hien ◽  
Mai Anh Khoa ◽  
Tu Quang Trung ◽  
...  

The purpose of this study is to determine the appropriate level of chicken manure for the green fodder M. oleifera grown for leaf meal production as a supplement into poultry diet to improve poultry product quality (i.e., meat and egg). The experiment was conducted at Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry, Vietnam, for two years from 2018 to 2019. The experiment consisted of four treatments (NT) represented by four different levels of chicken manure, namely, 0 tons (NT1), 10 tons (NT2), 20 tons (NT3) and 30 tons/ha/yr (NT4). Each treatment was carried out over an area of 24 m2 with 5 replicates. The experiment was the complete randomised block design. Other factors such as plantation density, nitrogen, phosphate, potassium fertiliser levels, cutting height, and cutting intervals, etc., were similar among treatments. The results showed that the leaf dry matter yield of NT1 through NT4 was 6.919, 8.131, 8.975, and 9.494 tons/ha/yr, respectively. That of the leaf crude protein was 2.244, 2.694, 3.073, and 3.357 tons/ha/yr, respectively. Increasing manure levels from 0 to 30 tons/ha/yr decreased the dry matter content in the leaves by 1.43%, increased the crude protein in leaf dry matter basic by 2.93%, and decreased crude fibre in the leaf dry matter basic by 2.24%. Based on these results and data from statistical analysis, the most appropriate level of chicken manure application for M. oleifera was at 20 tons/ha/yr.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 9414
Author(s):  
Konapura Nagaraja Manoj ◽  
Bommalapura Gundanaik Shekara ◽  
Shankarappa Sridhara ◽  
Prakash Kumar Jha ◽  
P. V. Vara Prasad

The quantity and quality of forage and fodder crops is the major drawback of the livestock sector in the country. There is a need to bridge the gap between the supply and demand of fodder through the adoption of specific sustainable fodder production strategies. The field experiments were conducted during kharif (rainy, June–October), rabi (post-rainy, October–February), and summer (March–May) seasons of 2018–19 and 2019–20 to identify a sustainable fodder cropping system module in randomized complete block design with fifteen fodder cropping systems in three replications. The main objective of this research was to identify the most productive cereal–legume cropping system, both in terms of quantity and quality of biomass, to reduce the gap between supply and demand of quality livestock feed around the year. Among cropping systems, Bajra–Napier hybrid intercropped with lucerne, cowpea, and sesbania recorded significantly higher green fodder (163.6, 155.2, and 144.0 t/ha/year, respectively) and dry matter yields (32.1, 30.8, and 31.3 t/ha/year, respectively). Similarly, the same perennial systems also recorded higher quality yield and ash content. However, higher crude protein content was noticed in monocrop legumes, with the highest in sesbania (22.32%), while higher ether extractable fat was found in monocrop sesbania (3.78%). The monocrop oats recorded higher non-fiber carbohydrates (36.90%) while a monocrop of pearl millet recorded higher total carbohydrates (80.75%), however they were on par with other monocrop cereal cropping systems. Cultivation of legumes as a monocrop, and their inclusion as an intercrop with cereals resulted in lower fiber fractions and improved crude protein in intercropping systems. Furthermore, this improved the dry matter intake and digestibility of fodder. With higher sustainable yield index values and land-use efficiency, perennial intercropping systems were also found to be sustainable. Thus, cultivation of the Bajra–Napier hybrid with either lucerne, cowpea, or sesbania as an intercrop will help livestock farmers to achieve higher productivity in terms of quantity and quality, and forms a viable option for overcoming livestock feed scarcity.


1999 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 41
Author(s):  
S.K. Nadaf ◽  
S.A. Al-Khamisi ◽  
A.H. AI-Lawati ◽  
Y. M. Ibrahim ◽  
M.G. EI-Hag

A field observation trial was carried out at Agricultural Research Center, Rumais, Sultanate of Oman to evaluate the productivity and forage quality of two species of Saltbush viz. Quali saltbush (Artiplex lentiformis L.) And Fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens L), both are perennial and of North American origin. Plants were irrigated with brackish water (EC more than 10.00 dS/m) under drip irrigation and grown with minimum tillage and sub-optimum management conditions. Biomass production was evaluated in terms of five characters i.e. plant height, plant width, plant volume, green fodder yield/plant and green fodder yield/ha over the experimental period (747 d). Arriplex lenformis produced a total green fodder yield of 53.29 kg/plant equivalent to 59.21 t/ha as compared to that of 31.27 kg/plant (34.75 t/ha) produced by Atriplex canescens. The cut yields and interaction effects (between the species and cuts) were also significantly different with respect to all the characters. Chemical composition of the Atriplex species indicated that A Ientiformis had higher levels of Na, K, Cl and Ca as compared to A canescens. The studies of nutrient composition of bulk samples of the Atriplex species revealed that the fresh material contained 34.30% dry matter. On dry matter basis, the Atriplex material had 9.40% crude protein (CP), 24.00% crude fiber (CF), l.5% extract ( EE), 19.60% ash and 45.50% nitrogen free extract (NFE). Despite its high ash content, Atriplex material appeared to be a nutritious and cheap source of nitrogen complementation.


2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Júnior Melo Damian ◽  
Clovis Orlando Da Ros ◽  
Rodrigo Ferreira da Silva ◽  
Ivanir José Coldebella ◽  
Diego Henrique Simon

ABSTRACT Maize and sorghum are the main raw materials in the production of silage for animal feed, with mineral fertilization being worthy of note when the goal is to increase gains in the amount and quality of the forage. This study aimed at evaluating the contribution of N, P or K doses to the dry matter and crude protein yield in maize and sorghum grown for silage. The experiments were carried out in a randomized block design, with four replications, during five successive crops of maize (three summer seasons) and sorghum (two off-season). Five doses of N (0 kg ha-1, 50 kg ha-1, 100 kg ha-1, 150 kg ha-1 and 200 kg ha-1), five doses of P2O5 (0 kg ha-1, 40 kg ha-1, 80 kg ha-1, 120 kg ha-1 and 160 kg ha-1) and five doses of K2O (0 kg ha-1, 30 kg ha-1, 60 kg ha-1, 90 kg ha-1 and 120 kg ha-1) were applied to each crop in the same experimental area. The N doses contributed to an increase in the crude protein yield in the five successive crops of maize and sorghum, together with an increase in dry matter and/or protein concentration. Crude protein increased 59.5-312.9 % for both crops. The soils used for the succession cropping system of maize and sorghum for silage had "very high" levels of P and K. Therefore, the P fertilization had no effect on the dry matter or crude protein yield in the first year of cultivation, similarly to the K fertilization during the five successive crop seasons.


2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (6) ◽  
pp. 1431-1440
Author(s):  
N. M. Abood ◽  
E. M. SHALAL ◽  
M. I. HAMDAN

Field experiment was carried out during the spring and fall seasons of 2019 at the Abu Ghraib Research Station of the Agricultural Research Office/ Ministry of Agriculture, was aimed to investigate the effect of plant growth inhibitors on growth and yield of several sorghum varieties .Randomized Complete Block Design within split plot arrangement with three replications was used. The main plot consists of three growth inhibitors (Cycocel, Ethiphon, and Mebiquat), which were added at stages six and eight leaf stage, in addition to the control treatment (distilled water only), the sub plot was included three cultivars (Mabrouk, Buhooth 70 and Giza 113). The results showed in both seasons significant interaction between cultivars and growth inhibitors in most of the studied traits. The plants of the variety Giza 113 sprayed with Ethiphon recorded the lowest period of reaching physiological maturity, the highest average dry matter yield, and the highest weight of 1000 grains (89.00 days, 17.32 ton ha-1, and 39.33 gm) respectively. The same variety recorded the highest content of chlorophyll in the leaves and the highest grain yield due to the effect of Mebiquat (49.50 spad, 3.93 ton ha-1. The cultivar Buhooth 70 with the effect of Cycocel achieved the highest average of dry matter yield of 33.27 ton ha-1.


2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 256-264
Author(s):  
T. F. Mbahi ◽  
S. Maidadi ◽  
Z. A. Gworgwor ◽  
Y. Danladi

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of growth, biomas yieds and nutritive value of Lablab purpureus, Centrosema pubescens and Mucuna pruriens under rain fed condition in Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria. The field experiment was laid in a randomized complete block design with the plot divided into three main plots and replicated three times measuring 5x5m with inter and intra row spacings of 0.5m. The five harvesting stages are 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 weeks, respectively. The growth in height increases with stage of growth and declined with reduction in rainfall. Higher growth were recorded in T3 (3.8 -354.8cm) followed by T2 (2.96-260.20cm) and then T1 (1.50-213.00cm) and the results were presented graphically. The result of the chemical composition of all the legumes showed that the crude protein decreases with stage of growth from weeks 6 -14 (14.40, 12.26, 10.65-10.08, 6.79, 6.49) and ADF and NDF (25.20, 32.15, 27.35-42.13, 40.33, 36.50 and 32.20, 54.45, 47.00- 51.24, 63.53, 66.33), respectively. The biomass yields were significantly different (P<0.05) for all the legumes at different harvesting stages T1 (2744.53-3186.93), T2 (2696.47- 3006.70) and T3 (2843.73-3147.63). It is therefore concluded that legumes could best be harvested between weeks 10 and 12 when the yield and quality are at levels to sustain the animals both for maintenance and production.


Author(s):  
Yasin Korkmaz ◽  
Tugay Ayasan ◽  
Sait Aykanat ◽  
Mustafa Avcı

The research was carried out in the Eastern Mediterranean Agricultural Research Institute-Hacı Ali location with 4 replications according to the randomized block trial design in 2013-2014. 13 public and 1 private sector maize variety were used as material in the trials. According to the results of the analysis, it was determined that the maize varieties examined showed statistically significant differences in plant properties, dry grass and silage quality. Average plant height, number of leaves, leaf ratio, stem diameter, number of cob, stem ratio, cob ratio and green grass yield were 249.9 cm, 12.97 plant/piece, 19.24%, 22.08 mm, 0.93 plant/unit, 38.40% and 4,251.57 kg/da respectively. According to the analysis, it was observed that the average crude protein content, ADF ratio, NDF ratio, crude ash content, digestible dry matter ratio, crude protein yield, dry matter rate, dry matter yield and hay yield were 8.80%, 34.91%, 59.7%, 7.2%, 61.7%, 993.9 kg/ha, 29.4%, 11,640 kg/ha 12,570 kg/ha in dry grass, respectively. For the silage of varieties, the average crude protein content, ADF ratio, NDF ratio, pH, digestible dry matter rate, dry matter ratio, crude protein yield and Fleig score were 8.22%, 29.27%, 50.48%, 3.57, 66.1%, 28.14%, 926 kg/ha and 118.35, respectively. Burak, Sasa 1 and Ada 334 genotypes performed better in terms of green yield per hectare (53,650, 50,290 and 45,630 kg/ha) and dry matter yield (14,710, 12,810 and 12,410 kg/ha). These varieties can be recommended to producers as silage maize varieties under second crop conditions in Çukurova region of Turkey.


1995 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 258-259
Author(s):  
Paul J. Semtner ◽  
William B. Wilkinson III

Abstract This experiment was conducted to evaluate various systemic insecticides applied as soil or transplant water treatments followed by foliar applications of Orthene for TA and TFB control on fluecured tobacco and to determine the impact of treatment on tobacco yield and price. The experiment was conducted at the VPI & SU Southern Piedmont Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Blackstone, VA. Eleven treatments and an untreated control were established in a randomized complete block design with 4 replications. Plots, 4 × 40 ft (1 row × 24 plants), were separated by single guard rows. Pretransplant soil treatments of most liquid formulations were applied broadcast with a CO2-pressurized tractor sprayer that delivered 30.4 gal/acre at 40 psi through 8003LP tips on 29 Apr (Ambient temperature, 85-89°F, soil temperature, 75°F; soil pH, 5.8; OM, 2%). Treatments were immediately incorporated by double disking. The Furadan and Temik treatments were applied during bed formation and immediately covered with 6 to 8 inches of soil on 17 May. Furadan 4F was diluted 50:50 in water and applied in a narrow stream (&lt; 1-inch wide) in the row using a peristaltic pump. Temik was applied in a 14 inch band using a tractor mounted- Gandy granular applicator. The soil moisture was good for both the pretransplant soil and bedding treatments. ‘K-326’ flue-cured tobacco was transplanted into experimental plots in a Chesterfield-Mayodan-Bourne sandy loam soil on 18 May. A measuring cup was used to apply transplant water (TPW) treatments of Orthene and Admire in 4 fl oz/plant (204 gal/acre) at the base of each plant in the treatment plots. Virginia Cooperative Extension recommendations were followed for production of the crop. Foliar applications of Orthene and Dipel were applied on 6 Jul with a CO2-pressurized backpack sprayer that delivered 30 gal/acre through 3 TX-12 tips at 60 psi. TA populations were estimated on the upper 4 leaves of 10 plants/plot about once a week from 5 to 11 wk after transplanting. On 25 Aug, TA damage was rated on a scale of 0 to 10 where 0 = no aphid damage or sooty mold and 10 = very severe necrosis of leaves and extensive sooty mold. TFB and TFB feeding holes in the most damaged leaf were counted on 10 plants/ plot. Tobacco was harvested as it ripened, weighed, graded by a USDA/AMS inspector, and yield and price were calculated. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and significantly different means were separated by WD (K-ratio = 100). Aphid count data were transformed to Log10(x + 1) before analysis.


2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 610
Author(s):  
Redempta Wea ◽  
I Gusti Komang Oka Wirawan ◽  
Bernadete Barek Koten

A research aimed to evaluate nutrients digestibility in growing local male pig fed spontaneous bioconverted-tamarind seed has been done in animal feed technology laboratory of Kupang State Agricultural Polytechnic.The research used 25 local male grower pigs with body weight around 3-6 kg. The study used a randomized block design with five treatments, i.e. R0 = ration using tamarind seeds without bioconversion, R1 = ration using spontaneous bioconversion tamarinds for 24 hours, R2 = rations using spontaneous bioconversion tamarinds for 48 hours, R3 = rations using bioconversion tamarinds spontaneous for 72 hours, and R4 = rations using spontaneous bioconversion tamarinds for 96 hours. Each treatment was repeated five times in which each of them used five pigs. Parameters observed were nutrient digestibility (dry matter, crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, and ash). The data were analyzed by using variance and continued by Duncan’s multiple range test to determine the differences between treatments. The results showed that the time of spontaneous bioconversion of tamarind seeds increased the digestibility of tamarind seed nutrients and it was concluded that the best time of spontaneous bioconversion was for 72 hours.


1982 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-105
Author(s):  
G. W. Horn ◽  
S. L. Armbruster ◽  
P. L. Sims

ABSTRACTNinety-six Hereford steer calves that weighed 249(s.e.4·7)kg were allocated randomly to four treatments of 24 steers each in a randomized complete block design with four blocks. The steers grazed dormant native range forage that contained 41 to 60 g of crude protein per kg dry matter during the 120-day wintering trial and were given 0·91 kg of supplement per head per day. The supplements used contained 175 or 350 g crude protein per kg dry matter and 0 or 165 mg monensin per kg supplement; a factorial arrangement of treatments was used in allocating the supplements. Weight gains of steers given the high-protein supplements were greater than those on the low-protein supplements during periods 1(0 to 61 days) and 2 (62 to 120 days), and over the total trial (P < 0·01). Monensin increased weight gains during period 1 and the total trial (P < 0·01). The protein level × monensin interaction was not significant for either period or the total trial (P > 0·15). The results indicate that inclusion of monensin in protein supplements for growing cattle grazed on low-quality dormant native forage may allow some reduction in protein content of the supplement.


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