Comparative performance of four multi-purpose trees associated with four grass species in the humid regions of Southern India |
| |
| Authors: | Thomas Mathew B Mohan Kumar K V Suresh Babu K Umamaheswaran |
| |
| Institution: | (1) Livestock Research Station, Kerala Agricultural University, Thiruvazhamkunnu, Palghat, 678 601 Kerala, India;(2) College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellanikkara, Trichur, 680 654 Kerala, India;(3) College of Agriculture, Kerala Agricultural University, Vellayani, Trivandrum, 695 522 Kerala, India |
| |
| Abstract: | The results of a field trial conducted at the Livestock Research Station, Thiruvazhamkunnu, Kerala to study the compatibility of different components in a silvo-pastoral system revealed that growth and yield of fodder species were significantly influenced by the tree components only after tree canopy formation. The fodder species such as Pennisetum purpureum Schum., Panicum maximum Jacq., Brachiaria ruziziensis Griseb. and Euchlaena mexicana Schrad. grown in association with Casuarina equisetifolia J. R. & G. Forst. and Ailanthus malabarica DC recorded comparatively higher forage yield even after canopy formation. However, forage crops grown in combination with Acacia auriculiformis A. Cunn. ex Benth. and Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit. registered relatively lower values for growth and yield. Increased light infiltration into the understorey due to the cladophyllous canopy can be attributed as reason for the higher fodder productivity under Casuarina. Due to the combination of crown size and shape, tree height and spacing the amount of light intercepted by Ailanthus also was very low. Among the four multi-purpose trees used, Acacia recorded the maximum growth rate followed by Casuarina, Ailanthus and Leucaena. Forage productivity of the four species was in the order: Pennisetum purpureum > Panicum maximum > Brachiaria ruziziensis > Euchlaena mexicana. Casuarina with Pennisetum/ Panicm were found to be optimal tree — forage combinations for silvo-pastoral systems. |
| |
| Keywords: | Pennisetum purpureum Panicum maximum Brachiaria ruziziensis Euchlaena mexicana Leucaena leucocephala Casuarina equisetifolia Acacia auriculiformis Ailanthus malabarica silvopastoral systems Southern India light interception biomass production |
| 本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录！ |
|
