Performance of jujube (Ziziphus mauritiana)-based hortipasture system in relation to pruning intensities and grass-legume associations under rainfed conditions

An experiment was conducted during 2001–02 and 2002–03 on sandy-loam soil to study the productivity of ber or jujube (Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk.)-based hortipasture system in relation to pruning intensities and grass - legume associations under rainfed conditions. Pruning of secondary branches of trees at 20 cm length from base recorded significantly higher dry matter and crude protein yields of pasture than pruning at 60 cm length. However, dry leaf forage yield, fruit yield and fuel wood were significantly increased when pruning of secondary branches was done at 40 cm length than 20 cm length. Intercropping of Guinea grass (Panicum maximum Jacq.) with Caribbean stylo (Stylosanthes hamata Taub.) gave significantly higher dry forage and crude protein yields compared to other grass-legume combinations. Dry leaf forage yield and fuel wood production were not significantly influenced with different pasture combinations. However, significantly higher fruit yield was recorded under natural pasture than other grass-legume intercroppings.