Effect of mulching practices on growth and yield of forage crops under rainfed ecosystem

Abstract

There had been very less systemic study of forage crops in this part of the world. The information is scanty and not well documented. With these backgrounds, a field experiment was conducted during winter and summer season of 2012-13 and 2013-14 with three forage crops [Brachiaria brizantha, Panicum maximum and Setaria anceps] and three mulching managements [no mulching, soil dust mulching and live mulching]. Experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications. Forage crop was assigned to the main plots and mulching to the subplots. The results revealed that superior growth attributes as well as highest green fodder yield (91.14 q ha-1 in winter and 307.20 q ha-1 in summer) and dry matter yield (26.27 q ha-1 in winter and 66.99 q ha-1 in summer) were obtained with forage crop Setaria anceps. Mulching influenced all growth parameters (plant height, leaf area index and crop growth rate) significantly and recorded highest with live mulching followed by soil dust and no mulching. Adoption of live mulching resulted in highest green fodder yield (94.17 q ha-1 in winter and 309.58 q ha-1 in summer) as well as highest dry matter yield (26.28 q ha-1 in winter and 71.93 q ha-1 in summer). The present experimental findings signify the importance of live mulching in improving growth attributes and yield of forage crops.