Performance of some popular fodder grasses in east Khandesh region of Maharashtra, India

Abstract

In India crop livestock integration which is also known as ‘Mixed Farming’ is common practice. On such a farm the livestock husbandry provides supplementary income to the farmers. For which they rear cattle, cows, buffalos, goats and poultry. Therefore, it is necessary for the farmer to obtain fodder either from grasslands or by cultivating forage crops to feed the animal. So in order to evaluate the suitability in view of their production potential and nutritive value present investigation was undertaken by using some popular fodder grasses viz. Marvel grass ,Sudan grass Neel grass and Deenanath grass; are selected for cultivation and total performance at Maharashtra sheli Va Mendhi Vikas Prakshetra Bilakhed, Tal-Chalisgaon, East Khandesh Region of Maharashtra, during kharif season of 2010-11. On an average Neel grass was found to the highest in protein content i.e. upto 9.8% and also other nutrients were in adequate, but the green fodder yield was poor i.e. only 17.9 t/ha. While Deenanath grass was moderate in protein content i.e. 8.6% and the other nutrients and yield performance was better i.e. 33 t/ha. Marvel grass though found nutritive, but the yield was lowest i.e. only 15.6 t/ha. Sudan grass less nutritive and yield performance was moderate.