Farmers' Perception of Feeding Value of Sorghum Stover Obtained in Different Seasons

摘要

Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is an important food and fodder crop of dryland agriculture in India. Its stover forms important roughage for feeding cattle in rainfed agricultural systems. Kelley et al (1991) reported that on an average, stovercontributes 40% to the total value of sorghum crops. It is grown as a dual-purpose crop and farmers try to maximise grain and fodder yields within the constraints imposed by the environment and their production systems. Sorghum is the staple food crop of Dharwad region of Karnataka. It is grown in the rainy (July-October), late rainy (August-December) and postrainy seasons. The varieties grown and main purpose of growing in each season vary. Rainy season hybrids are grown for fodder. The cultivar M-35-1 is grown in the postrainy season primarily for grain, but its stover forms an important source of fodder for livestock from March through October. Many studies have been conducted to evaluate farmers' perceptions on the fodder value of stover of hybridvs. lo al sorghum cultivars, but similar reports on stover of rainy vs postrainy sorghum are rare. This paper reports on farmers' perceptions of feeding value of sorghum stover obtained from different seasons, and the scientists' responses.