Production potential and economic feasibility of year round forage production system in Tarai region of Uttarakhand

A field experiment was conducted to study the production potential and economic feasibility of different forage based crop sequences under Tarai condition of Uttarakhand. Pooled result of five years indicated that sorghum + cowpea – oat + berseem – maize + cowpea sequence produced significantly higher green fodder yield (170 t/ha/year) which remained at par with maize – mustard – oat – maize + cowpea (169 t/ha/year) and Napier bajra hybrid (perennial) + cowpea/berseem (164 t/ha/year). The dry matter (46 t/ha/year) and digestible dry matter yield (25.5 t/ha/year) were significantly higher with maizemustard-oat-maize+ cowpea followed by sorghum + cowpea – oat + berseem – maize + cowpea. Quality wise sorghum + cowpea – oat + berseem – maize + cowpea proved superior producing highest crude protein yield (5.2 t/ha/year). Among year round forage production systems, Napier bajra hybrid (perennial) + cowpea/berseem realized highest net return (Rs. 25174/ha/year), B:C ratio (2.05) and production efficiency (Rs. 69/day/ha). Stability index was higher in the order with sorghum + cowpea – oat + berseem – maize + cowpea and maize – mustard – oat – maize + cowpea (0.98) < Napier bajra hybrid + cowpea/berseem (0.95) < sorghum – berseem – maize + cowpea (0.92). It clearly indicated that forage sorghum/NB hybrid (perennial) based sequence was the most suitable year round forage production system as it provided higher biomass of superior quality for livestock and net return under agro climatic situation of Tarai region of Uttarakhand.