Tiwari, R. C.Pathak, Gaurav2017-09-182017-09-182011Pathak and Tiwari, 2011http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810031431A field experiment entitled “Evaluation of Fodder based Intercropping Systems” was conducted at the Instructional Farm, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur during kharif 2010. The objectives were to find out the intercropping and planting system for maximization of green fodder yield and to estimate quality and economic viability of the cropping systems. The experiment consisted of 16 treatment combinations i.e. T1: Sorghum (sole cropping), T2: Maize (sole cropping), T3: Cowpea (sole cropping), T4: Clusterbean (sole cropping), T5: Sorghum + Cowpea (Intercropping 1:1 row proportion), T6: Sorghum + Clusterbean (Intercropping 1:1 row proportion), T7: Maize + Cowpea (Intercropping 1:1 row proportion), T8: Maize + Clusterbean (Intercropping 1:1 row proportion, T9: Sorghum + Cowpea (Intercropping 2:1 row proportion), T10: Sorghum + Clusterbean (Intercropping 2:1 row proportion), T11: Maize + Cowpea (Intercropping 2:1 row proportion), T12: Maize + Clusterbean (Intercropping 2:1 row proportion), T13: Sorghum + Cowpea (Intercropping 3:1 row proportion), T14: Sorghum + Clusterbean (Intercropping 3:1 row proportion), T15: Maize + Cowpea (Intercropping 3:1 row proportion), T16: Maize + Clusterbean (Intercropping 3:1 row proportion). The results of experiment revealed that among all sorghum and maize based intercropping systems, sorghum + cowpea in 2:1 row proportion produced significantly higher green fodder yield, dry matter production at harvest, N and P uptake, quality component (crude protein, ether extract, crude fibre and mineral matter) and economics (net returns and B/C ratio) while sorghum + clusterbean in 2:1 row proportion (T10) gave significantly higher LAI and LER over sole treatments. The maize intercropped with cowpea in 2:1 row proportion (T11) was also found significantly superior in respect of total digestible nutrients (TDN) over sole treatments. In sorghum based intercropping systems, its intercropping with cowpea in 1:1 row proportion (T5) gave significantly higher plant height of sorghum (291cm) and 2:1 row proportion of sorghum with clusterbean gave significantly higher LAI of sorghum (7.10) and LER (1.57) over rest of the treatments. Sorghum with cowpea in 2:1 row proportion (T9) produced significantly higher total dry matter production at harvest (1295 g m-2), green fodder yield (380 q ha-1), total nitrogen uptake (119.66 kg ha-1), total phosphorus uptake (35.02 kg ha-1), total crude protein production (747.89 kg ha-1), total crude fibre production (3029.18 kg ha-1), total ether extract production (186.41 kg ha-1), total mineral matter production (1096.17 kg ha-1). The maximum net returns ( 29285 ha-1) and B/C ratio (2.45) were obtained when sorghum was intercropped with cowpea in 2:1 row proportion. It was followed by sorghum + clusterbean intercropping in 2:1 row proportion with net returns of ( 28505) and B/C ratio of (2.41). In the maize based intercropping systems, 1:1 row proportion of sorghum intercropping with clusterbean (T8) gave significantly higher plant height of maize (218cm) and 2:1 row proportion of maize intercropping with cowpea (T11) produced significantly higher LAI of maize (4.37), total dry matter production at harvest (1248 g m-2), green fodder yield (368 q ha-1), total nitrogen uptake (108.18 kg ha-1), total phosphorus uptake (28.76 kg ha-1), total crude protein production (676.13 kg ha-1), total crude fibre production (2825.24 kg ha-), total ether extract production (184.48 kg ha-), total mineral matter production (1029.26 kg ha-1), total digestible nutrients production (7823.05 kg ha-1) and LER (1.55) over rest of the treatments. The maximum net returns ( 27261 ha-) and B/C ratio (2.12) were obtained when maize was intercropped with cowpea in 2:1 row proportion. It was followed by maize + clusterbean intercropping in 2:1 row proportion with net returns of ( 25490) and B/C ratio of (2.01).Evaluation of Fodder based Intercropping SystemsennullThesis