Evaluation of suitable Agroforestry system for quality forage in semi-arid regions

An experiment was conducted at CSWRI, Avikanagar in 2005–06 to evaluate a suitable agroforestry system for the production of quality forage in semi-arid regions. The results reveal that the highest biomass production (86.37 q/ha) was recorded in ardu + cenchrus grass agroforestry system followed by babool + cenchrus among different combinations of arable crops and fodder trees. On an average ardu based agroforestry system yielded higher biomass to the extent of 3.75, 6.74, 25.12 and 160.7% in comparison to babool, sirus, neem based agroforestry systems and open field condition, respectively. Maximum protein yields and P yields were recorded in ardu based agroforestry system. The highest protein yield was estimated in ardu + guar (928.9 kg/ha), which was closely followed by ardu + cenchrus. Maximum P yield was also estimated in ardu + cenchrus agroforestry system. Both the nutritional parameters having influence on reproduction processes, are closely associated with biomass yields as substantiated by correlation of total protein yield (r = 0.75*) and total P yield (r = 0.85*) with biomass yield having regression equations Y = 6.18 + 0.10 X and Y = 0.07 + 0.0014 X, respectively.