Fodder Production From Tree-Legume-Grass Based Agroforestry Systems in Sub Tropical Hills of Western Himalayas, India

A field experiment was conducted over a period of two years (2005 and 2006), at Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India to evaluate fodder production from different tree-crop combinations and varying levels of nitrogen (40, 80 and 120 kg ha⁻1), in which Mucuna pruriens was cultivated as fodder crop in association with Prunus persica (Peach), Grewia optiva and Morus alba and Setaria sphacelata. The fodder yield was not affected by various agroforestry systems during two years of study. However, nitrogen application significantly increased the M. pruriens fodder yield. Nitrogen dose of 120 kg ha-¹ produced significantly higher green fodder yield in M. pruriens i.e. 17.42 and 26.52 t ha⁻¹ during first and second year, respectively. Interaction of agroforestry systems and nitrogen levels showed significant effect on fodder yield of M. pruriens. Horti-silvi-pasture system (P. persica + G. optiva + S. sphacelata +M. pruriens) supplemented with 120 kg N ha⁻¹ recorded Mucuna fodder yield to the tune of 17.92 and 27.33 t ha⁻¹ in the first and second year respectively. On the basis of total fodder and fodder yield (G. optiva or S. sphacelata or M. alba), silvi-pasture system with M. alba + S. sphacelata +M. pruriens gave maximum of 16.72 t ha⁻¹ and 25.61 t ha⁻¹ in first and second year followed by G. optiva + S. sphacelata + M. pruriens system.