An experiment consisting of four phosphorus levels (0, 40, 60 and 80 kg/ha P2O5) and five zinc levels (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 kg/ha ZnSO4) was laid out in &nbsp;randomized block design in factorial mode to find out the effect on yield and quality of fodder cowpea [Vigna Unguiculata (L.)Walp.]. Growth parameters viz. plant height, number of leaves, number of branches, leaf length, leaf width and leaf stem ratio were improved with the application of &nbsp;60 kg/ha P2O5 and 20 kg/ha ZnSO4. Application of 60 kg/ha phosphorus recorded 27.64 t/ha yield, which was 7.50 and 55.6 % higher than 40 kg/ha and no phosphorus application, respectively. Application of zinc in the form of ZnSO4 @ 20 kg/ha increased significantly the green fodder yield (25.89 t/ha). Interaction effect of phosphorus and zinc application was found significant with respect to green fodder, dry matter yield and nutrient uptake. Yield, phosphorus and zinc uptake in cowpea fodder were showing declining trend at combination of application rate more than 60 kg/ha P2O5 and 20 kg/ha ZnSO4.

Effect of phosphorus and zinc nutrition on growth and yield of fodder cowpea

<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: Technology advancement has introduced hydroponics technology for green fodder production. The present investigation was undertaken to study the growth performance of Gir cattle calves fed hydroponics maize fodder (HMF) with and without supplementation of probiotic (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). 
 
Methods: A feeding trial of 120 days was conducted on 36 male Gir calves divided into nine groups. Group T1 was treated as control. In group T2, T3, T4 and T5, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of CP supplied through concentrate mixture was replaced by HMF, respectively. Whereas in group T6, T7, T8 and T9, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of CP supplied through concentrate mixture was replaced by HMF with probiotic, respectively. 
 
Result: There was highly significant (P&lt;0.01) effect of treatments i.e. feeding of HMF with and without supplementation of probiotic as well as period (age of calves) on periodical body weight and ADG. There was significantly higher mean periodical body weight (kg) and ADG (g/d) in calves fed HMF and probiotic than control. The highest overall mean body weight and ADG was observed in group T8, followed by T4 and lowest in control group. Overall mean body measurements viz. BH, BL and BG was highest in group T8 and lowest in group T1 but the variation was statistically non-significant for BG. Highly significant (P&lt;0.01) effect of treatments and period&nbsp; were observed on FCR also. Lowest FCR was recorded in group T8, followed by T4 and highest FCR was recorded in control group. It was concluded that better growth performance was evoked in Gir cattle calves fed 75% CP of concentrate mixture replaced by hydroponics maize green fodder with probiotic.</div>

​Effect of Concurrent Feeding of Hydroponics Maize Fodder and Probiotic (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) on Growth Performance in Gir Calves

Background: Fodder cowpea is an important leguminous, short duration, warm season crop widely cultivated. Though India ranks first in livestock population, the productivity is found lesser than the world average due to deficiency in availability of green fodders. As fresh water application usage is increasing for the cultivation of field crops and high value crops, fodder crops are found negligible crops but responds well to water and nutrients. Leaf area index is one of the determinative parameters for the increased yield, an attempt was made to determine the relationship between the growth and yield of fodder cowpea with the application of domestic sewage water and nutrients.&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
Methods: studies were conducted during 2019 and 2020 to study the relationship between different sources of irrigation water and nutrients on the growth and yield of fodder cowpea. Treatments in main plot consists of irrigation with water using well water (I1), domestic sewage water (I2) and well water and domestic sewage water alternatively (I3). Treatments in sub plot consists of no nutrient (N1), Farm Yard manure alone (N2), Farm Yard manure + NPK (N3) and NPK alone (N4), in split plot design and replicated thrice. The leaf constant was determined graphically plotted in regression and used for calculation of leaf area. The relationship between leaf area index and the growth and yield parameters of fodder cowpea were determined.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Our investigation concluded that the application of domestic sewage water along with farmyard manure + NPK significantly increased plant height, number of leaves per plant, leaf length, leaf width, leaf area and leaf area index of fodder cowpea. The data also reveals that leaf area index correlated positively with plant height, number of leaves per plant, biomass per plant and yield of fodder cowpea.

Assessment of Leaf Area Index and its Relationship with Growth and Yield of Fodder Cowpea as Influenced by Sources of Irrigation and Nutrients

<div>Background: In livestock management, supply of green fodder and feed is vital to improve the productivity. In the present context, there is deficit in green and dry fodder availability. Improving the productivity and increase the area under fodder crops are the key options. This can be achieved through adopting the standard package of practises and exploring the other options. Use of plant growth regulators (PGR) have been benefited to increase the productivity in crops. PGRs helps to boost the plant metabolic rate, cellular division, cell elongation, growth and development by governing the phytohormones or other biochemical signals. Application of these PGRs in forage crops is limited and need to study its efficiency. 
 
Methods: The study was conducted in fodder maize (Zea mays) crop for three successive years during kharif 2020-22 for growth and yield parameters at BAIFs Central Research Station, Urulikanchan in randomized block design with three replications. 
 
Result: Results showed the significant maximum plant height of 271.30 cm and number of leaves (15.04) per plant in treatment of Mepiquat chloride @ 200 ppm whereas rest of PGR treatments were found at par. Application of Mepiquat chloride @ 300 ppm recorded significantly higher green fodder yield of 494.15 q ha-1&nbsp;followed by application of Salicylic acid @100 ppm recorded green fodder yield of 490.75 q ha-1. Maximum dry matter yield and crude protein yield of 87.17 q ha-1&nbsp;and 6.41 q ha-1&nbsp;respectively were recorded by the application of Salicylic acid @ 200 ppm. The treatment of Salicylic acid @100ppm recorded the highest net monetary return (Rs. 76,650 ha-1) and 2.66 of benefit cost ratio.</div>

Plant Growth Regulators for Forage Yield and Quality Enhancement of Fodder Maize (Zea mays)

Background: The present study was conducted on NADEP compost prepared from cow, goat and poultry manure to determine its effect on growth performance of berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum) fodder. 
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Methods: A sample of compost from different NADEP tanks will be taken at 15th, 30th&nbsp;and 45th&nbsp;day for plant length (cm), number of branches, number of leaves and production yield per plot first cutting (quintal/acre). 
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Result: Applications of 4.5 quintal/acre cow, goat and poultry NADEP compost have a positive effect on the entire fodder growth under the experiment. The significant effect on plant length 60.26 cm at 45 days and number of leaves 24.78 at 30 days revealed that berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum) responded significantly well to the application of poultry compost as compared to cow and goat compost. Based on the findings of the study, it may be recommended that 4.5 quintal/acre of poultry compost is adequate to maximise the growth and yield of berseem fodder.

Effect of Different NADEP Compost on Growth Performance of Berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum) Fodder

<div>Background: Bio-recycling of crop residues is contemplated as an environment friendly soil enrichment and conservation practice that sustains agricultural productivity in the long run. Legume residues are privileged by the unique nitrogen fixing capacity and rhizospheric properties that enhance soil fertility, thereby reducing the need for chemical nutrient inputs. The present study was conducted to evaluate the residual effect of red gram on fodder maize cultivated as succeeding crop in the southern laterites of Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala, India. 
 
Methods: The field experiment to assess the effect of red gram residue incorporation on the growth and yield of fodder maize was carried out in the Instructional Farm, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala during June - August 2019. Fodder maize (African tall) was sown in the plots after incorporation of crop residues of red gram varieties (APK 1 and Vamban (Rg) 3) grown under different planting geometry (40 cm x 20 cm and 60 cm x 30 cm) and NPK doses (40:80:40, 30:60:30 and 20:40:20 kg NPK ha-1) and compared with the package of practices recommendation and in randomized block design (RBD) replicated thrice.&nbsp; 
 
Result: Significantly higher quantities of red gram residues were realised and incorporated in the treatments involving a planting geometry of 40 cm x 20 cm and an NPK dose of 40:80:40 kg NPK ha-1 in both varieties used, Vamban (Rg) 3 and APK 1 (T7 and T1).&nbsp; Nutrient contents in the residues and decomposition in T1 and T7 resulted in the maximum additions in soil, available N, P and K status and dehydrogenase activity. Evaluation of the residual effects of the legume on fodder maize revealed the significantly highest growth and yields in maize raised with chemical fertilizers as per package recommendation and, among the residue incorporated treatments, maximum plant height and fodder yields were recorded in the treatment in which residues of Vamban (Rg) 3 raised at 40 cm x 20 cm spacing and fertilised with 40:80:40 kg NPK ha-1&nbsp; were incorporated, on par with variety APK 1 raised under same management practice. The green fodder yield with residue incorporation was 80-90 per cent that under chemical fertilizer managed treatment. Among the quality parameters, crude protein (9.30%) was the highest with chemical fertilizer application while carbohydrate content (66.23%) was the lowest.</div>

Residual Effects of Red Gram [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] on Growth, Yield and Quality of Fodder Maize (Zea mays L.)

<div>Background: Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] has emerged out as a potential crop for meeting the requirement of high quality fodder to fast expanding cattle population. There is a large gap between the demand and supply of green fodder during the lean period which can be narrowed down through the agronomic approaches. Among them, time of sowing and fertilizer application are considered to be the most important factors determining the production potential of the crop. Keeping this in view, the present investigation was taken up in order to find out the optimum time of sowing along with the optimum dose of phosphorus for the production of fodder cowpea. 
 
Methods: The present experiment was undertaken during summer, 2019 on sandy loam soils of dryland farm, S.V. Agricultural College, Tirupati. Three time of sowing viz., I fortnight (FN) of January, II FN of January and I FN of February assigned to main plots and four levels of phosphorus viz., 0, 20, 40 and 60 kg P2O5 allotted to subplots with three replications were maintained under split plot design.&nbsp; 
 
Result: The plant height, number of leaves plant-1, number of branches plant-1, dry-matter production and number of nodules plant-1, leaf to stem ratio and green fodder yield were higher with early sown crop i.e. I FN of January. Application of 60 kg P2O5 ha-1 resulted in significant improvement in the growth parameters, yield attributes and yield of fodder cowpea, while the lowest were recorded under control conditions (0 kg P2O5 ha-1). The interaction between time of sowing and phosphorus levels influencing the above parameters was found to be non-significant. In conclusion, the present investigation revealed that fodder cowpea gives optimum green fodder yield with high nutritional quality on sown during I FN of January with 60 kg P2O5 ha-1.</div>

Effect of Sowing Window and Phosphorus Levels on Growth and Yield of Summer Fodder Cowpea

<div>Background: The huge decline in grazing resources and many fold increase in stocking rate has made goat farming unsustainable and uneconomic under extensive system, therefore, it has become essential to explore and develop alternative and strategic goat production system. The present study was undertaken to compare the performance of male barbari goats fed with and without green fodder under stallfed system to develop a goat farming model for peri urban/ rainfed region where availability of green fodder is exclusive and costly. 
 
Methods: Twelve Barbari male kids of average body weight 13.49&plusmn;0.54 kg at 4 months of age were randomly divided into two equal groups (Gr 1 and Gr 2) of 6 animals each. The animals of Gr 1 was fed with concentrate pellet (16% crude protein), green and dry fodder while kids in Gr 2 were fed with concentrate pellet, dry fodder and no green fodder for a period of 150 days (up to 9 month of their age). Growth parameters, carcass parameters and cost benefit analysis were carried out. 
 
Result: Average slaughter weight, daily weight gain (g), empty body weight, carcass weight and dressing % was 26.31&plusmn;1.99 kg, 85.53&plusmn;8.17 g, 22.09 kg, 13.18 kg and 49.13% in group-I and 25.8&plusmn;1.16 kg, 82.0&plusmn;4.13 g, 21.91 kg, 12.91 kg and 48.88% respectively in group-II. Differences between kids of both the groups for above growth and carcass parameters were non-significant. Net profit per kid fed with green and without green fodder when sold at Rs. 250/kg live weight was Rs. 2381.17 and Rs. 2347.72 respectively and Rs 3696.67 in Gr 1 and Rs 3637.72 in Gr 2 if sold @ Rs. 300/kg live weight. Present study concluded that the Barbari growing kids could be profitably raised for mutton production exclusively on concentrate and dry fodder without deteriorating slaughter weight and carcass quality. This model of goat farming is technically and economically viable for commercial goat farming and also benefits resource poor traditional goat farmers in big way by making goat based self-help groups.</div>

<div>Growth, Carcass and Economic Evaluation of Barbari Kids Reared with and Without Green Fodder under Stall-feeding in Semi-arid Region of India</div>

Background: The present study investigated the effect of lopping schedules and stump heights on the growth, fodder yield and quality of dual-purpose barley to optimise fodder production from existing cropping patterns in Punjab during winters. 
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Methods: An experiment was carried out during the rabi seasons of 2022-23 and 2023-24 at the agriculture farm of Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab with 10 treatments viz., T1: No lopping, T2: Lopping @ 30 DAS + 1-inch stump height, T3: Lopping @ 30 DAS + 2 inches stump height, T4: Lopping @ 30 DAS + 3 inches stump height, T5: Lopping @ 45 DAS + 1 inch stump height, T6: Lopping @ 45 DAS + 2 inches stump height, T7: Lopping @ 45 DAS + 3 inches stump height, T8: Lopping @6 0 DAS + 1-inch stump height, T9: Lopping @ 60 DAS + 2 inches stump height, T10: Lopping @ 60 DAS + 3 inches stump height, replicated four times in randomized block design. Growth parameters, fodder yield and quality parameters were recorded. 
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Result: Though, the higher green fodder yield (10.9 t/ha) was obtained under lopping at 60 DAS with a 1inch stump height, to maintain quality and further regeneration of crop, lopping done at 30 DAS with 3 inches stump height was found to be better with considerable green fodder yield (2.5 t/ha). Lopping in dual-purpose barley should be done at early vegetative stages to obtain a considerable amount of quality green fodder, as it provides sufficient time for the crop to regenerate further.

Effect of Varying Lopping Schedules and Stump Heights on Growth, Fodder Yield and Quality of Dual-purpose Barley (Hordeum distichon L.)&nbsp;