Grow stylo in the interspace of fruit trees.
Gill A. S.
Author Affiliation: Indian Grassland & Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi, UP, India.
Indian Farming 38 : 33-34
Abstract : An introduction to the paper discusses the longstanding practice of growing fodder crops under orchards of various fruit trees in India - termed a 'hortipastural system' by the author. Two studies are reported, both carried out at Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, on a 2.5-ha area of marginal land of low fertility, unsuitable for raising agricultural crops. The fruit trees present were 3-4 yr old, widely spaced, and made up of guava, lemon, mango and kinnow [mandarin, Citrus reticulata]. In the first study, green and dry fodder yield of natural vegetation (grass) was measured under each species. Av. yields were 212 quintals/ha (green wt.) and 50.2 quintals/ha (DM); greatest yield was under kinnow (respectively 250 and 63.5 quintals/ha). In the second study, stylo (Stylosanthes hamata) was sown after the monsoon in areas fertilized with NP (20 kg N and 50 kg P2O5/ha) or not fertilized. Av. green and dry fodder yields without fertilizer were 151 and 34 quintals/ha and with fertilizer 211 and 50.5 quintals/ha. Highest yields were under lemon and kinnow. It is noted that grass yield, and stylo yield from fertilized plots were similar, although stylo is much more valuable as a fodder (18-20% crude protein vs. 2-3% in grass).