Forage Yield and Nutritional Characteristics of Cultivated Fodders as Affected by Agronomic Interventions: A Review

Abstract

The human population is growing rapidly which increases pressure on livestock to meet the animal products (milk, meat, wool etc.) demand. For the higher productivity of livestock, it is essential to provide green fodder to the livestock. The poor quality green forages not only reduce milk productivity but also affect animal health. The green forage quality plays a key role in economical ruminant production. Forage quality depends mainly on its genetically trait, however, it can be improved by implying improved agronomic practices viz., timely/adequate tillage operation, optimum nutrient management, sowing at right time with adequate seed rate, intercropping system, timely water management, weed management and harvesting at right stage etc. The green biomass yield is significantly influenced by tillage operations. The right source and dose of nutrient is important for the production of quality fodder. Addition of nitrogen to soil increases the fodder yield as well as protein content. Delayed sowing generally increases the crude protein and fiber content but decreases the crude fat. Crop density is positively related to forage yield and crude fiber, however, crude protein is negatively associated with plant density. Introducing legumes intercrops in cereal fodder improves the fodder quality as well as quantity. Forage yield follows a decreasing trend by enhancing the water scarcity, however, optimum irrigation and good quality water improves the fodder quality. Delay in harvesting decreases forage quality. Therefore, proper agronomic practices should be followed for enhanced fodder production and better nutritional value.

Fodder productivity and profitability of different maize and legume intercropping systems

“…Availability of green fodder with improved quality to animals is the key to success of dairy enterprises and it is difficult to maintain the health and milk production of the livestock without supply of the quality green fodder. The growing of fodder crops in mixture with legumes has potential to improve palatability and digestibility of fodder (Kumar et al 2018, Kumar et al 2016. It is fact that about 65-70% of the total cost of livestock farming is attributed to feeding.…”

Multiple agroecosystem services of forage legumes towards agriculture sustainability: An overview

“…The mixture of legume species with pasture increases the production of below and aboveground biomass which in turn serve the purpose of soil carbon sequestration by ensuring a higher soil C pool (Lynch et al 2005, Chan et al 2011. the C balance should be favorably changed by enhancing the chemical complexity, quantity, and quality of carbonic substance being added in soil to compensate the C losses from microbial attack or decomposition (Kumar et al 2018). Moreover, inclusion of forage legumes in pastures or rotating with crops results in net C sequestration helps maintains SOC stocks, or simply slows the rate of loss of SoC compared to continuously cropped soils will be influenced by the prevailing climatic condition effects on C inputs and C loss processes, and the frequency or duration of the pasture phase (Chan et al 2011).…”

Morphological characterization using nonmetric variables in exotic oat (Avena SP.) accessions

“…Unfortunately, there is acute shortage of green as well as dry fodder by 35.6 and 11.0 per cent, respectively (IGFRI Vision 2050) due to less acreage of green fodder crops (4.9 per cent) and more emphasis on food grain production (Kumar et al, 2018) that drastically affects the productivity of animals in comparison with other countries. In hulled varieties, the spikelets usually contain three florets, one of which is rudimentary and nonfunctional.…”