Performance of berseem (Trifolium alexandrum) and rye grass (Lolium perennel.) each alone and mixed under irrigated conditions of Himachal

A field experiment was conducted during ‘rabi’ seasons of 1988–89 and 1989–90 at North Temperate Regional Station (CSWRI) Garsa (Kullu) H.P. to assess the productivity of berseem and rye grass each alone and mixed in various combinations with sheep manure applications. In the initial stages rye grass produced more compared to berseem and later berseem produced more thereby resulting in regular production. Also berseem increased average number of plants/mtr row length (100 to 110) and rye grass recorded significantly (P<0.05) increased average height/plant (88.3 to 95.5 cm) in mixed stand compared to monocropping. This further reflected the average green forage yield increase (from 197.2 to 217.5 q/ha vis-a-vis dry matter yield from 49.1 to 52.6 q/ha significantly (P<0.05). The average cost of production of green forage perquintal over two years varied from Rs. 45.11 to Rs. 47.10 with mixed forages compared to monocrop. The cost of production could have been lowered further with earlier sowing and judiciuos fertilizer application.