Evaluation of fodder varieties for green fodder yield, quality assessment and its impact on farming community in southern Karnataka

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted in farmers field during 2013-15 at Ramanagara district, Karnataka with an objective to evaluate and asses the performance of newly notified high yielding fodder varieties on growth, herbage yield, nutrient composition and farmer’s perception. On the basis of pooled data of two years, significantly highest green fodder yield (GFY) 220.6 t/ha/year, stem height (249.8 cm), number of tillers per culm (25), leaf width (5.3 cm), stem circumference (7.2 cm) and more number of leaves per culm (190.5) was recorded in DHN-6. Significantly higher leaf stem ratio (1.0) was recorded in CO-3 and DHN-6. Among fodder crops tested, crude protein, crude fat and crude fiber contents varied from 6.80 to 7.31%, 0.8 to 1.1%, and 32.4 to 33.7%, respectively. Based on farmer’s perception on qualitative parameters, DHN-6 was superior in quality, more acceptable to cattle (palatable), high yielding and less pubescence. Various extension activities like on farm testing, demonstrations, trainings and collaborative programmes with development departments adopted by KVK, created awareness about new fodder varieties, enhanced the availability of green fodder round the year to livestock and improved quality life in the farming community.