<div style="text-align: justify;">Field experiments were carried out at Mountain Livestock Research Institute (MLRI), Manasbal, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology Kashmir, India to study the direct and residual effect of different rates of organic and chemical sources of nutrients on fodder sorghum-fodder oat cropping sequence during Kharif 2008, 2009 and rabi 2008-09, 2009-10. Application of FYM @ 25tonnes recorded &nbsp;higher green fodder yield of sorghum than rest of treatments. The physical optimum dose of direct+residual effect of FYM on fodder sorghum-fodder oat sequence was 25.49 t ha-1 and economic optimum dose 12.63 t ha-1. Applying 120, 80 and 30 (N, P2O5, K2O kg ha-1) &nbsp;was found superior in green fodder yield than rest of treatments. However, physical optimum dose due to direct +residual effect of N, P2O5 and K2O on fodder sorghum-fodder oat was 134.19 , 67.07 &nbsp;and 33.54 kg ha-1 &nbsp;and mean total economic optimum dose was found to be 128.0, 64.19 and 32.62 NPK kg ha-1 &nbsp;respectively.</div>

<div style="text-align: justify;">Direct and residual effect of organic and chemical sources of nutrients on fodder sorghum-fodder oat cropping sequence</div>

<div>Background: In India, agriculture and animal husbandry are inextricably linked and are essential for livelihood security. Despite the fact that India has the world&rsquo;s largest livestock population, feed and fodder supply is under huge strain, especially as area accessible for fodder cultivation has been shrinking. During the months of March-May and November-February are known as lean periods of fodder production, the supply of green fodder is limited throughout the year in a rainfed condition. Fodder crops develop swiftly and cover the ground surface quickly, even in low-rainfall conditions, producing a significant amount of green fodder while also providing vegetative cover over the land, resulting in resource conserving&nbsp; as well as increased productivity. In this context, the current study was conducted to evaluate various fodder crops, assess their productivity and quality and make appropriate recommendations for semi-arid tropics of India. 
 
Methods: Field experiments were carried out for three years from 2015-16 to 2017-18 at the Agricultural Research Station, Ananthapuramu andhra Pradesh, India, which is located between 14&deg;41&#39;N Latitude and 77&deg;40&#39;E Longitude and an altitude of 350 m. above mean sea level, which falls under the Semi-Arid Tropics. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with nine treatments (fodder crops) and three replications. The treatments comprised of different fodder crops viz., fodder sorghum, fodder maize, fodder bajra, clusterbean, fodder cowpea, field bean, brown top millet, horse gram and sunhemp. 
 
Result: The current study concludes that fodder bajra, fodder sorghum and fodder maize are potential forage cereals because they can produce more quantity and quality fodder while also ensuring net monetary returns and fodder cowpea and sunhemp are the next best suitable forage legumes under late-sown conditions in the semi-arid tropics of India.</div>

Productivity and Quality of Fodder Crops under Late-sown Conditions in Semi-arid Tropics of India

<div>Background: The year round green forage supply for better health and productivity of the animals can be ensured by mixed cropping of cereal and legume forages along with proper nutrient management. Keeping these facts in mind an experiment was carried out to analyse growth, productivity and profitability of fodder sorghum and clusterbean as influenced by mixed cropping and nutrient management. 
 
Methods: Experiment was laid out in factorial randomized complete block design with four seed rate combinations of sorghum and clusterbean (S1 - sole sorghum, S2 - sole clusterbean, S3 - 75% sorghum + 25% clusterbean and S4 - 60% sorghum + 40% clusterbean) along with six nutrient management treatments (N1 - 100% RDF, N2 - 100% RDF + PGPR, N3 - 100% RDF + seaweed extract, N4 - 75% RDF + PGPR, N5 - 75% RDF + seaweed extract and N6 &ndash; 50% RDF + PGPR + seaweed extract) in three replications. The growth of crops was evaluated in terms of plant height, leaf length, leaf width, number of leaves, leaf stem ratio and stem girth which all together contributed towards the fodder yield. 
 
Result: In sorghum crop the growth was not statistically different between the treatments S1 and S3 but in clusterbean sole crop recorded higher growth yet the influence was not significant on all parameters. Among nutrient management N1, N2 and N3 treatments recorded higher growth and thus yield in both crops which was not statistically different from N5 treatment. The correlation study indicated that cumulative influence of these growth parameters resulted in higher green and dry fodder yield under sole crop. Whereas in mixed cropping S3 treatment recorded significantly at par fodder yield to S1. The evidence presented above shows that 75% sorghum + 25% clusterbean mixed cropping treatment with 75% RDF + seaweed extract served its purpose of fodder yield enhancement.</div>

<div>Growth, Productivity and Profitability of Fodder Sorghum and Cluster Bean as Influenced by Mixed Cropping and Nutrient Management</div>

<div>Background: Long-term and stable livestock productivity could be possible only through a year-round supply of quality green fodder and it is essential for the sustainability of dairy farms. The year-round supply of quality green fodder is challenging to livestock farmers; however, it is possible by adopting perennial grass-legume intercropping systems.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: A field experiment with eight treatments consisting of two perennial grasses (Napier- bajra hybrid grass and guinea grass) alone or in combination with three fodder legumes (Lucerne, Hedge Lucerne and Sesbania) was conducted for 3 years (2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19) in a sandy loam soil at the Agricultural Research Institute, Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, Hyderabad. The treatments were replicated thrice in a randomized block design. Perennial grasses were raised in paired row method (row to row 120cm and plant to plant 60 cm. The legume intercrops were grown with their respective spacing within 120 cm row. Sesbania inter crop was allowed to grow for 6 months and later trimmed to a height of 1 meter in the establishment year. Growth parameters were measured only for grasses at each harvesting and green fodder, dry matter and crude protein yields were recorded for both grasses and legumes at each cut and accumulated annually (total 6 cuts/year) for statistical analyses.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The results indicated that among the grasses, Napier-bajra hybrid recorded significantly higher green fodder, dry matter and crude protein yields; in case of leguminous inter crops, Sesbania recorded highest green fodder, dry matter and crude protein yields followed by Hedge Lucerne. About total productivity of the system, Napier-bajra hybrid + Sesbania (2:1) cropping system recorded highest green fodder, dry matter and crude protein yields. Highest net returns and B:C ratio was also noted with Napier bajra hybrid +Sesbania (2:1) cropping system and proved to be the best perennial fodder system for year-round supply fodder to the livestock.</div>

Evaluation of Perennial Grass-legume Cropping Systems for Year-round Supply of Fodder for Dairy Farms

Livestock is the backbone of agriculture, in spite of that, its performance is poor with low productivity, the reason is lack of nutritious fodder in sufficient quantities that reduces milk production in cattle and causes health issues. The nutritional quality and yield of fodder crops can be improved by using appropriate agronomic practices such as adequate tillage operations, proper/timely water management, weed management, nutrient management, sowing at the right time with the right seed rate, timely harvesting and so on. In this review paper, several research and review papers have been studied to understand the impact of different agronomic practices on quality and productivity of fodder crops. When compared to zero tillage, the use of tillage operations such as primary, secondary, conventional and deep tillage increases dry matter and green fodder yield. Irrigation at critical phases and on a frequent basis boosts the organic matter (OM) content and dry matter of feed. In comparison to late harvesting, early harvested forages have higher DMD (Dry matter digestibility) and CP (crude protein) content. Nitrogen application certainly fostered crop growth and development resulting in higher green fodder yield with improved fodder quality. When it comes to raising the DMD % of fodder crops, intercropping is crucial. DMD % in intercropping of Maize + cowpea (2:1) is higher as compared to sole maize and sole cowpea. Fodder yield and quality are reduced as a result of late sowing. Therefore, we conclude that agronomic interventions have a significant impact on the primary and secondary quality characteristics of fodder crops. As a result, proper methods for improving nutritional quality and overall crop productivity should be implemented in the fields.

<div>Impact of Agronomic Management Practices on Quality and Productivity of Fodder Crops: A Review</div>

<div>Background: Cropping system approach has gained importance in agriculture and relative enterprises. In agriculture, management practices are usually formulated for individual crops. However, farmers are cultivating different crops in different seasons based on their adaptability to a particular season, domestic needs and profitability, therefore production technologies should be developed keeping in view&nbsp; of crops grown in a sequence in a year or more than one year depending on the crop duration. The current study aims in application of biofertilizers and inorganic fertilizers which are essential to raise the crop yield. Rhizobium has an enormous potential to fix atmospheric nitrogen. PSB solubilize the unavailable bound phosphates of the soil and make them available to plants which increase overall plant growth resulting in 10 to 15% increase in yield. 
 
Methods: A field experiment was conducted during rabi and summer seasons of 2017-18 and 2018-19 at College Farm, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari. The treatment consisted of five treatment of integrated nutrient management to chickpea in rabi season as main plot treatments replicated four times in randomized block design. During summer season each main plot treatment was split into four sub plot treatments with different levels of RDF to fodder maize resulting in twenty treatment combinations replicated four times in split plot design.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Application of 100% RDF+Rhizobium+PSB (T3) to chickpea recorded significantly higher almost all the growth attributes, yield attributes and yield, nutrient uptake, protein content and yield as well as available nutrient status in soil being remained at par with 100% RDF (T1) and 75% RDF+Rhizobium+PSB (T4). while economics was remarkably improved due to inorganic fertilizers as well as combination of inorganic fertilizers with Rhizobium+PSB to chickpea and 100% RDF (S1) to summer fodder maize significantly highest all growth and yield attributes, available nutrient status of soil and economics.</div>

Productivity, Profitability and Nutrient Status of Soil as Influenced by Integrated Nutrient Management in Chickpea-fodder Maize Cropping Sequence

Livestock contributes significantly to the agricultural and National GDP (gross domestic product). India is known as one of the most important countries containing a larger livestock population. Hence, to sustain the livestock population, the production of quality forage is the most important factor. Currently, the lack of dry and green forage yield is increasing day by day due to an insufficient supply of required fertilizers to the fodder crops and farmers are not willing to cultivate fodder crops as it provides smaller net returns. Moreover, the availability of smaller land holdings is another cause of the fodder deficit in the country. In cereal fodder crops, nitrogenous fertilizers have an immense role in determining the crude protein and fibre content of the plant when it is applied with appropriate doses that differ from crop to crop. Moreover, biofertilizers are products that contain stains of different microorganisms. Inoculation of biofertilizers such as Azospirrilum, Azotobacter, Acetobacter, Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Clostridium, etc. to the cereal fodders (sorghum, maize, oat, barley, ryegrass, etc.) leads to a considerable increase in yield attributes as well as the quality of the yield can be sustained also without deteriorating the soil fertility. Again, the combined application of both i.e., biofertilizers and nitrogenous fertilizers at a suitable proportion provides the maximum possible quality yield with higher net profit. Therefore, it is necessary to apply fertilizers (nitrogen and biofertilizers) at the time of crop requirement for maximum production. Hence, this study is conducted to observe the performance level of cereal fodders under the impact of nitrogenous fertilizers and biofertilizers.

Effect of Nitrogenous Fertilizers and Bio Fertilizers on the Growth and Development of Cereal Fodder Crops: A Review

<div>Background: Freshwater in sufficient quantity and adequate quality is a prerequisite for human societies and natural ecosystems. To adequately feed 9.3 billion people in 2050, consumptive water use (i.e. transpired water) by all food and fodder crops needs to increase from its present estimated level of 7000 km3/year to 12,586 km3/year. However, fresh water resources are increasingly getting scarce because of increased competition among a multitude of users. Getting agriculture to perform with progressively smaller allocation of renewable water resources will remain a challenge on global scale. To meet the challenge there is an urgent need to improve the crop water productivity to ensure the sustainability of agriculture. 
 
Methods: An experiment was carried out at village Menawali, Hanumangarh, Rajasthan during both kharif and rabi seasons to assess productivity, economics, N-uptake and water use of different crops. An area of 187 ha comprising 25 farmers irrigated by common irrigation channels were selected to collect the information. The information required i.e. soil, crop management, growth, phonological, yields, water balance, N-uptake and water use efficiency of each crops were collected from 15 farmers. Bt-cotton and clusterbean of kharif and wheat and Indian mustard in rabi were prominent crops, cotton-wheat, cotton-mustard, clusterbean-wheat and clusterbean-mustard were major cropping sequences of the study region. 
 
Result: In kharif season, Bt-cotton gave higher economic yields than clusterbean and amongst rabi season crops, economic yields of wheat and mustard were 4255, 1778 kg/ha, respectively. The economic yield of cropping sequences varied from 3741-6514 kg/ha and were higher for cotton-wheat (6218 kg/ha), intermediate for clusterbean-wheat (5785 kg/ha) and lower for cotton-mustard (3741 kg/ha) and clusterbean-mustard (3308 kg/ha). The cotton-wheat (₹1181.2 mm) sequence had highest water use. Clusterbean-wheat cropping system recorded highest water productivity (16.5 kg/ha mm) followed by clusterbean-mustard (14.9 kg/ha mm). The clusterbean-mustard (₹456/ha mm) cropping sequence was most profitable and fetched highest net return followed by clusterbean-wheat (₹383/ha mm).</div>

Assessing Crop and Water Productivity Performance of Different Crops and Cropping Systems

Background: Formal seed is the most critical input to enhance the productivity of fodder and green manure crops. Better accessibility of formal seeds of fodder and green manure can ensure twin effects- productivity and sustainability. The present study throws the light in respect of the supply-demand gap of formal seeds, causes and seed replacement rates of fodder and green manure crops.&nbsp; 
 
Methods: The study was based on a survey conducted on a well-structured schedule during 2022 and 2023. Three stages of random sampling were adopted to select the Blocks, Villages and farmers. One bock with 06 villages and 60 farmers (10 farmers from each village) was selected randomly from each district for the study. So that study was comprised of a total of 05 blocks, 30 Villages and 300 farmers. 
 
Result: The study found that there was a gap in the supply-demand of formal seeds of fodder and green manure crops. The study further reported an inverse relationship between farm size and use of the formal seeds for fodder and green manure crops. The seed replacement rate (SRR) was less for all categories of farms. Farm size is negatively associated with seed replacement rate. Low SRR signifying the need to strengthen the seed supply systems. It was further observed the seeds from the informal sector were given less preference by formers, in terms of quality, over to formal seeds provided by public and private sectors. Despite this, the reason for the gap was that the formal seeds belonging to the public sector were not available in proper time and quantity. The availability of seeds of desired varieties through the public sector was also an issue of concern. Whereas, access to formal seeds belonging to the private sector was limited due to higher prices in comparison to the farmers&rsquo; saved seeds and formal seeds of the public sector causing a supply-demand gap for the fodder and green manure crops.

&nbsp;

Supply-demand Gap of Formal Seeds for Fodder and Green Manure Crops in the Eastern Plain Zone of U.P.

<div>Background: Agricultural background of rural India, maintaining cattle is very important, but due to the lack of pasture land and fodder production, it is tough to maintain the cattle with the farmers. However, producing fodder crops throughout the year makes it possible to maintain cattle. During the rainy season, different grasses are available, but during the rabi season dry period, fodder becomes scares, so growing fodder oats will compensate during the lean period. 
 
Methods: A field experiment was conducted during the rabi season of 2019 and 2020 at the experimental research farm, School of Agricultural Sciences, Nagaland University, Medziphema. The experiment consisted of six varieties of oat, namely, V1-OS-346, V2-OS-403, V3-WJ-8, V4-OS-6, V5-OS-7 and V6-OS-377, which were laid out in randomized block design (RBD) with four replications to find out the best suitable variety under rainfed condition of Nagaland. 
 
Result: The study revealed that all the oat varieties grew well under Nagaland conditions. The variety OS-403 recorded the highest plant height (72.69 cm) and was at par with variety WJ-8 (72.43 cm). Among the varieties, green fodder yield and dry matter yield were significant. The variety OS-403 recorded the highest green fodder yield (148 q/ha), followed by WJ-8 (143.11 q/ha). Similar is the trend for dry matter yield. The variety OS-403 recorded the highest dry matter yield (27.97q/ha), at par with variety WJ-8 (27.22 q/ha). Crude protein content (%) and crude protein yield (q/ha) were non-significant among the different oat varieties.</div>