Growth, Yield and Quality Assessment of Trees and Fodder Crops under Agroforestry System in Ranchi District of Jharkhand
Loading...
Date
2023
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi
Abstract
Integration of trees with fodder crops under agroforestry systems in the humid
and sub humid region is a strategy for year-round fodder production and insurance
against fodder scarcity. During 2019-2021, a field trial entitled “Growth, Yield and
Quality Assessment of Trees and Fodder Crops under Agroforestry System in Ranchi
District of Jharkhand” was conducted using the fodder tree Melia azedarach (Bakain)
along with the four fodder crops viz., Para grass, Hybrid Napier, Stylo and Charabadam
at the research field of Agroforestry situated at the College of Veterinary Science and
Animal Husbandry campus, Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi, Jharkhand. The
experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) involving nine treatment
combinations replicated thrice. The treatments comprised of Bakain + Stylo, Bakain +
Charabadam, Bakain + Para grass, Bakain + Hybrid Napier, sole Bakain, sole Stylo,
sole Charabadam, sole Para grass and sole Hybrid Napier.
Growth parameters of tree species (Bakain) i.e., diameter at breast height (cm),
tree height (m), tree volume (m3/tree), crown diameter (m), number of branches (per
tree), number of leaves (per branch), leaf area index; yield attributes of the tree species
(Bakain) i.e., green leaf biomass (t/ha), dry leaf biomass (t/ha), fresh weight of the
standing trees, dry weight of the standing trees as well as quality attributes of the tree
(Bakain) and fodder crops i.e., crude protein content (CP%), crude fibre content (CF%),
neutral detergent fibre (NDF%), acid detergent fibre (ADF%), ash content (AC%), ether
extract (EE%) and nitrogen-free extract (NFE%), were recorded during both years of
experimentation. The growth attributes of fodder crops i.e., plant population, number of
branches, number of leaves per tillers and leaf area index; yield attributes of fodder
crops i.e., green fodder yield (t/ha), dry fodder yield (t/ha), leaf weight (t/ha), stem
weight (t/ha), leaf: stem ratio were observed. Rainfall use efficiency, palatability trial,
carbon sequestration potential and economic analysis of the system were also taken into
consideration. Results reflect that Bakain intercropped with Stylo recorded better
growth with regard to tree height (10.46 m), DBH (17.59 cm), crown diameter (6.28 m),
LAI (3.07), number of branches (571.33), fresh biomass (111.69 t/ha) and dry biomass
(80.98 t/ha) produced, tree volume (0.253 m3), as well as leaf fodder quality in terms of
CP content (12.89%), ADF (37.37%), AC (3.04%) and EE (4.80%), however, sole
Bakain contains more CF (53.96%) and NDF (35.21%).
Among different intercrops, Stylo recorded more tillers (295.83), crude protein
content (15.74%), yield of crude protein (12.16 q/ha), rainwater productivity (0.28
q/ha/mm), carbon sequestration (140.31 t/ha), carbon credit (514.96), gross return
(₹.1,86,705 /ha), net return (Rs.1,34,632 /ha) and LER (2.56). However, Hybrid Napier
as sole or intercropped recorded highest LAI (4.08), GFY (869.23 q/ha), DFY (149.55
q/ha), NDF (60.62%), ADF (48.24%), CF (62.38%) and EE (5.69%) along with the
highest Benefit: Cost Ratio (4.67). Improvement in soil chemical properties was better
under intercrops than sole tree or grasses. Among the intercrops, Charabadam
intercropped with Bakain has been found to put forth a better impact on soil
improvement.
The study concludes that the Bakain + Stylo based agroforestry system is
viable in degraded or waste land with medium to low fertility for round-the-year
production of quality fodder as well as climatic amelioration. This will certainly help
improve fodder scarcity for the livestock and uplift the livelihood conditions of farmers
in the plateau region of Jharkhand.