Growth and yield performance of fodder tree species with intercrops under agro forestry systems in Dharwad Karnataka, India Shahapurmath Girish*, Inamati S. S., Mutanal S. M.1 College of Forestry, UASD, Sirsi-581 401, Uttara Kannada (Karnataka), India 1AICRP on Agro Forestry, UAS, Dharwad-580 005, Karnataka, India *Email: girishbshahapur @gmail.com
Online published on 27 August, 2020. Abstract A field experiment was conducted to assess the growth and yield performance of fodder tree species with intercrops (soybean and safflower) under agroforestry systems in Northern Transitional zone of Dharwad region of Karnataka, India during 2018 and 2019 in kharif and rabi seasons. The fodder plantation at 5 x 3 m spacing was established in 2014 with seven fodder tree species. The pollarding height of fodder tree species was maintained at 2 m. The highest current annual increment (CAI) in diameter at breast height (DBH) was recorded in Moringa oleifera (2.31 and 2.12 cm). Moringa olifera attained maximum CAI in tree canopy cover (1.89 and 1.89 m2). The highest CAI in volume of wood was reported in Moringa oleifera (5.042 and 5.625 m3 ha−1). Gliricidia sepium produced the highest CAI in total tree biomass (4.18 and 4.90 t ha−1). The pooled data of 2018 and 2019 reported maximum green fodder yield in Calliandra calothyrsus (474.17, 586.07 and 429.46 kg ha−1) followed by Leucaena leucocephala (444.26, 555.33 and 388.73 kg ha−1) which varied significantly from other fodder tree species at all the stages of pruning intervals (4, 8 and 12 months). Total fodder yield presented for the year 2018 and 2019 showed significantly higher values in Calliandra calothyrsus (1462.89 and 1516.52 kg ha−1 respectively). Top Keywords Agroforestry, Biomass, Intercrops, Tree Fodder. Top |