Development of suitable Silvipasture models for meeting the fodder requirements in TamilNadu
Development of suitable Silvipasture models for meeting the fodder requirements in TamilNadu
wca2014-2151 Divya M.P 1 1,*Swaminathan C 1Priyanka V. 2Vinothini B. 2 1Dryland Agricultural Research Station, TamilNadu Agricultural University, Chettinad, 2Silviculture and Agroforestry, TamilNadu Agricultural University, Mettupalayam, IndiaThere is a gap between the fodder availability and supply in TamilNadu and hence the livestock growers are facing the fodder shortage during lean season. In this juncture, the experiments were conducted to develop suitable silvipasture models for the drylands of TamilNadu. The silvipasture experiments were conducted with Acacia leucophloea, Ailanthus excelsa, Gmelina arborea,Tectona grandis and Pongamia pinnata. Among eight fodder crops tried viz., 3 grass fodder viz.,Cenchrus ciliaris, Cenchrus setigerus, Cenchrus glaucus ; 2 cereal fodder viz., Fodder Sorghum (COFS 27), Fodder Sorghum (COFS 29) and 3 legume fodder viz.,Lucerne, Desmanthus and Stylosanthus tried under Acacia leucophloea, Cenchrus spp was found to the suitable fodder crops for Acacia leucophloea based silvipasture system. The results showed that among the four fodder crops viz., fodder cowpea, fodder sorghum, stylosanthus and desmanthus tried under Ailanthus excelsa, fodder cowpea was found to be the suitable fodder crop for Ailanthus based silvipasture system. The following six fodder crops viz.,fodder sorghum, (COFS-27), fodder sorghum (COFS-29), fodder maize, fodder cumbu , fodder cowpea and desmanthus raised as intercrops under teak , fodder cowpea was found to be a suitable fodder crop for teak based silvipasture system. Among the five fodder crops viz., Blue buffel, Para grass, Cumbu Napier hybrid, Guinea grass and Desmathus raised under Gmelina arborea, guinea grass was found to be the suitable fodder crop for Gmelina based silvipasture system. The following fodder crops viz.,fodder sorghum, cenchrus, guinea grass , desmanthus, stylosanthus and lucerne were raised as intercrops under Pongamia pinnata. The results showed that cenchrus, guinea grass and desmanthus were found to be the suitable fodder crops for Pongamia pinnata based silvipasture system. It is concluded that the adoption of suitable silvipasture models in the drylands of TamilNadu would not only meet the fodder requirements but also enhance the productivity of drylands of TamilNadu.