Evaluation of sustainable land use system for maximizing food and fodder production in semi arid rainfed conditions.

摘要

A field experiment was conducted during kharif 2006-07 with different crops/crop combinations under various land use systems in rainfed conditions at Research Farm, Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar, Rajasthan, India. The treatments comprised of three land use system viz. single tier (open), two-tier [fodder tree - Ardu (Ailanthus escelsa) + grass/crop] and multi/three-tier system [Ardu + fodder bush (Dichrostachys nutans) + grass/crop] as main plot treatments and six associated crops crop combinations as subplot treatments i.e. sole bajra (Pennisetum glaucum), sole groundnut, sole moong [Vigna radiata], bajra:cenchrus grass (Cenchrus setigerus), groundnut:cenchrus and moong:cenchrus (3:2 ratio). Results indicated that the highest average seed yield and biomass yield was recorded in three tier system which was higher in two tier and single tier system by 4.81 and 9.87%, respectively. Further, cenchrus yields recorded maximum in three-tier agroforestry system. The dry fodder yield and biological yield were higher by 4.71 and 10.53% compared to two-tier system and 6.24 and 17.12% to that of single tier system. All the tested crops (bajra, groundnut and moong) produced almost similar yield attributes and yields (dry fodder yield, seed yields and biomass yields) either sown as sole crops or in combination with cenchrus as strip in ratio 3:2. Cenchrus production (seed, dry fodder and biological yields) was higher when sown with the strips of leguminous crops viz. moong and groundnut in comparison to bajra.