Fodder yield and quality of ryegrass (Lolium perenne) grown pure and in mixture with different seed rates of oat (Avena sativa) and sarson (Brassica campestris)

The experiment was conducted during rabi 2002–03 to 2005–06 to get higher fodder yield of ryegrass in the first cut and to see the effect of oat and sarson crops sown at different seed rates on the succeeding cuts. The experiment consisted of nine treatment combinations viz., ryegrass-monoculture, ryegrass + oats (22.5, 30.0, 37.5 and 45.0 kg/ha), and ryegrass + sarson (0.625, 1.25, 1.875 and 2.5 kg/ha) conducted in a randomized block design with four replications. The addition of oats at the rate of 22.5, 30.0, 37.5 and 45.0 kg/ha and sarson at the rate of 0.625 kg, 1.25 kg, 1.875 kg and 2.50 kg/ha with full seed rate of ryegrass increased green fodder yield by 14.3, 21.1, 25.1 and 27.2% and; 22.6, 33.7, 54.5 and 63.1%, respectively over the ryegrass monoculture. The addition of different seed rates of oats and sarson had no adverse effect on the fodder yield of subsequent cuttings. Sarson contributed 60 to 81% in the first cutting and oats contributed 22 to 60% in first cutting and 7 to 15% in second cutting in mixture with ryegrass. The highest net returns (Rs 49,398/ha) and benefit: cost ratio (2.12) were obtained with berseem + 2.5 kg/ha sarson mixture. The uptake of N by ryegrass + oats/sarson mixtures were higher than pure ryegrass. Crude protein and in vitro dry matter digestibility contents were higher in pure crop of ryegrass in first cutting and the trend was reverse in subsequent cuttings.