Effect of planting geometry and cutting management on productivity, quality and economics of mixed pasture under rainfed conditions

A field experiment was conducted on sandy-loam soil for 5 years (1997–98 to 2001–02) at Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, to study the effect of planting pattern and harvest intervals on yield, quality and monetary return of pasture under rainfed semi-arid conditions. Four methods of planting geometry of grasses, viz. Pennisetum trispecific hybrid [(Pennisetum americanum × Pennisetum purpureum) × Pennisetum squamulatum], Pennisetum pedicellatum, Chrysopogon fulvus and Andropogon gayanus and legumes, viz. Stylosanthes hamata, Stylosanthes scabra, Macroptillium atropurpureum, Clitoria ternatea and Atylosia scarabaoides (1:1–50 cm, 1:2–50 cm, 1:1–75 cm and 1:2–75 cm apart), and four harvesting intervals (45, 70, 95 and 120 days) in mixed pastures were studied. Planting of grasses and legumes in 1:1 row ratio at 50 cm distance resulted in significantly higher green for-age (22.0 t/ha) and dry-matter yield (5.41 t/ha) compared with 1:2 row ratio at 75 cm distance (green forage 19.31 t/ha and dry matter 4.61 t/ha) during all the 5 years. Total green forage (23.2 t/ha) and dry-matter yield (5.62 t/ha) was also significantly increased with the harvesting of pasture at 70-day interval than other harvest intervals. The highest net returns (Rs 5,717/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (0.76) were obtained in 1:1 row ratio at 50 cm distance. Among harvesting treatments, highest net returns (Rs 6,793/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (1.95) were achieved with 70-day harvest interval. The significant improvement in crude-protein content (grasses 6.55% and legumes 11.4%) and reduction in neutral detergent fibre (grasses 67.87% and legumes 52.81%) and acid detergent fibre (grasses 47.72% and legumes 36.69%) in forage was recorded in 1:2 row ratio of grass-legume inter-cropping than 1:1 row ratio at 75 cm distance. Harvesting of pasture at 45 days interval resulted in significantly higher crude protein content (grasses 6.98% and legumes 11.35%) and lower neutral detergent fibre (grasses 64.25% and legumes 48.18%), acid detergent fibre (grasses 45.26% and legumes 33.42%) compared with 70 days, 95 days and 120 days harvest intervals, respectively in all the 5 years.