Production and energy efficiency as influenced by different fodder based cropping system

Abstract:

The present study, entitled “Production Potential and Economic Viability of Food– Forage-Based Cropping Sequences under Irrigated Conditions of Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh,” was carried out under the All India Coordinated Research Project on Forage Crops at Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. The experiment consisted of 10 food–forage-based cropping sequences arranged in a randomized block design with three replications. The cropping sequence maize (green cob) + ricebean–berseem–maize (fodder) + ricebean recorded the highest nitrogen uptake of 642.1 q/ha. The maximum energy productivity of 4.61 kg/MJ was obtained from maize (baby corn) + ricebean–berseem–maize (baby corn) + ricebean. However, this sequence recorded the lowest specific energy requirement of 21.65 MJ/kg. It was followed by maize (baby corn) + ricebean–berseem–maize (fodder) + ricebean, which achieved an energy productivity of 4.24 kg/MJ. In contrast, the rice– berseem–moong sequence recorded the lowest energy productivity of 2.78 kg/MJ but showed the highest specific energy requirement of 35.72 MJ/kg. The highest total energy input requirement, amounting to 64.15×10 ³ MJ/ha, was observed in the maize (green cob) + ricebean–oat–maize (green cob) + ricebean and maize (green cob) + ricebean–oat–maize (fodder) + ricebean cropping sequences. The minimum energy input of 36.50×10 ³ MJ/ha was recorded in the perennial grass-based sequence. The highest energy output of 652.12×10 ³ MJ/ha was obtained from maize (green cob) + ricebean–berseem–maize (fodder) + ricebean, followed by maize (green cob) + ricebean– maize (green cob) + ricebean, which produced 622.39×10 ³ MJ/ha. The hybrid Napier grass sequence recorded the lowest energy output and energy balance, at 341. . 41×10 ³ MJ/ha and 304.90×10 ³ MJ/ha, respectively. The highest energy balance of 588.33×10 ³ MJ/ha was recorded in maize (green cob) + ricebean–berseem–maize (fodder) + ricebean.