Moisture Content, Soil Nutrients Status, Productivity and Economics of Hardwickia Binata Based Silvopasture System under Moisture Conservation Practices and Grasses

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during 2009 to 2013 on sandy loam soil at Central Research Farm of Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi to study the effect of moisture conservation practices and grasses on improvement of moisture content, soil nutrients status, productivity and economics of Hardwickia binata Roxb based silvopasture system under semiarid rainfed conditions. The treatment consisted of establishment of three grasses viz. Cenchrus ciliaris, Chrysopogon fulvus and Panicum maximum in intercropping with Stylosanthes hamata in association with H. binata and construction of three moisture conservation practices viz. staggered trenches, bund and control (without bund and staggered trenches). Construction of staggered trenches recorded significantly higher green top feed (0.93 t ha−1) and fire wood (0.70 t ha−1) of H. binata as compared to control treatment-without trenches and bund in 4th years of study. Among grasses intercropping of P. maximum and S. hamata in association with H. binata produced significantly higher green pasture yield (17.67, 27.96, 30.59 and 33.18 t ha−1) as compared to C. fulvus- S. hamata and C. ciliaris-S. hamata intercropping system during 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th years, respectively. Construction of bund recorded maximum moisture content (9.28, 8.01, 7.79 and 8.35% at 15 cm soil depth and 11.73, 9.24, 8.03 at 30 cm soil depth during October-April) closely followed by staggered trenches. Available nutrients (N-212.53, P-7.76 and K-206.20 kg ha−1 and OC-0.540% was also significantly improved where bund was constructed than control treatment. Intercropping of P. maximum with S. hamata in association with H. binata recorded maximum net return (` 9432 ha−1) and B:C ratio (1.47) followed by C. ciliaris-S. hamata intercropping system (` 7684 ha−1 and 1.38). Intercropping of P. maximum with S. hamata in association with H. binata along with construction of bund across the slope produced maximum pasture yield closely followed by staggered trenches. In H. binata construction of staggered trenches resulted in highest top feed and fire wood.