Enhancing forage production through a silvi-pastoral system in an arid environment

A study was undertaken at Jodhpur during the years 2001–2011 to assess the production potential of Cenchrus ciliaris L., Lasiurus sindicus Henr. and Vigna unguiculata L. (cowpea) sown in strips with Colophospermum mopane Kirk ex Benth. and Hardwickia binata Roxb. tree stands without and with fertilizer application. Results indicated that the plant growth and survival percentage of C. mopane was higher than that of H. binata. Growth of C. mopane plants was affected by different cropping systems and fertilizer treatments during the initial phase but later on the effect was not significant. Green and dry forage yields were influenced by the cropping systems, i.e., 2.09 t ha −1 with L. sindicus followed by 1.9 t ha −1 dry forage yield in a sole strip of C. ciliaris, which was significantly higher than the strip cropping of cowpea with respective grasses. However, the sustainable yield index was higher with C. ciliaris (0.52) followed by L. sindicus (0.38). The average data revealed that the protein yield was higher in L. sindicus + cowpea and C. ciliaris + cowpea inter-cropping as compared to the respective sole strip of Cenchrus ciliaris and L. sindicus. Application of 40 kg N ha −1 increased dry fodder yields by 15 % over the control, and crude protein also increased by 22.37 %. Water use efficiency of grasses increased with nitrogen application. Maximum water use efficiency (9.8 kg dry matter ha −1 mm −1 ) was recorded in L. sindicus with 40 kg N ha −1 mm −1 application followed by C. ciliaris (8.8 kg dry matter ha −1 mm −1 ). The system productivity varied with different tree species and inter-cropping. Among tree species, the system productivity was higher with H. binata than with C. mopane. Leaves of H. binata were more palatable and preferred by goats than C. mopane . For obtaining higher productivity of quality fodder, inter-cropping of grasses with legumes in association with H. binata appears to be a highly suitable proposition for a silvi-pastoral system in an arid environment.