Biomass Quantity and Quality from Different Year-Round Cereal–Legume Cropping Systems as Forage or Fodder for Livestock

Abstract

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.

Dry matter production, nitrogen yield and estimation of nitrogen fixation of legumes on vertisols of the Ethiopian highlands

“…However, the reference crop teff produced a higher dry biomass yield, but the N concentration was typically less than 1%. The study is in agreement with the previous studies conducted regarding the relationship between dry biomass and N concentration ( Manoj et al., 2021 ; Adams et al., 2018 ; Anglade et al., 2015 ). The uptake of teff is solely dependent on soil mineral N as it is a non-N-fixing cereal crop with a high C/N ratio ( Santi et al., 2013 ), whereas legumes use both N from the atmosphere and inorganic N from the soil ( Pampana et al., 2018 ).…”

Zero Tillage, Residue Retention and System-Intensification with Legumes for Enhanced Pearl Millet Productivity and Mineral Biofortification

“…Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br. Emend stuntz) is a critical component of food production systems in arid and semi-arid ecologies globally, where it forms a key part of the staple diet of millions [1] and may be used as livestock fodder in times Sustainability 2022, 14, 543 2 of 19 of great need [2,3]. Pearl millet is more nutritious than most cereals, as it is a good source of protein (10.5-14.5%), fat (4.0-8.0%), and essential minerals (2.0-3.5%) [4], as well as containing vitamins and amino acids [5].…”

Carbon Footprint Assessment and Energy Budgeting of Different Annual and Perennial Forage Cropping Systems: A Study from the Semi-Arid Region of Karnataka, India

“…However, compared to cereal cropping systems, perennial monocropping and intercropping systems have shown 45 and 52% reductions in indirect and non-renewable energy source use, roughly 46% on average, owing to comparatively lower fertilizer consumption. Thus, to attain sustainability, the contribution of renewable energy sources to input energy needs to be maximized in place of non-renewable energy sources in agricultural cropping systems [79][80][81][82].…”