Investigations on Yield Advantage, Light Interception and Crude Protein Content of Fodder Crops as Influenced by Intercropping with Pigeonpea

Author: Rajashree*, Dodamani B.M., Rathod P.S., Patil, D.H. and Amaregouda A.

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Abstract

India is having largest livestock population and is facing serious lack of fodder. This is due to increasing pressure on land for growing food grains, oilseeds, pulses and inadequate attention being given to the production of fodder crops. There is a huge gap between the fodder demand and fodder supply. This gap can be minimized by adapting suitable cropping systems. Pigeonpea is the major crop of northern parts of Karnataka. As pigeonpea is a long duration and widely spaced crop, the inter row space can be used efficiently by adapting intercropping system. Hence, intercropping pigeonpea with fodder crops helps in reducing the fodder scarcity problems without compromising on economic yield of pigeonpea. Hence, present investigation is carried out to evaluate the yield advantage, light interception and crude protein content of fodder crops as influenced by intercropping with pigeonpea. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design and replicated thrice, it consisted o

Keywords

crude protein content, fodder crop, intercropping, LER, PEY, Pigeonpea.

Conclusion

Fodder scarcity problems of current situation can be minimized by improvement in cropping system such as intercropping system. Pigeonpea being widely spaced and long duration crop gives ample opportunity to utilize inter row space. Hence intercropping fodder crops in pigeonpea can be a better option to utilize light, space and time and profitable also. Under the present investigation when all the treatments were compared intercropping pigeonpea with fodder legumes was found to be better than fodder cereals because of higher intercropping yield advantage and higher protein content.

References

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How to cite this article

Rajashree, Dodamani, B.M., Rathod, P.S., Patil, D.H. and Amaregouda, A. (2021). Investigations on Yield Advantage, Light Interception and Crude Protein Content of Fodder Crops as Influenced by Intercropping with Pigeonpea. Biological Forum – An Internat