Assessment of Suitable Grass and Legume Fodders for the Development of Pastures under Coconut Garden

Aim: The study was conducted for the evaluation of suitable grass and legume fodders for the development of pastures under coconut garden.

Study Design: Randomized Block Design.

Place and Duration of Study: The field experiment was carried out in Farmer’s coconut field, Pollachi, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu during 2021-2022.

Methodology: Ten different fodder crops were selected which includes six grasses and four leguminous fodders. Stem cuttings of grass fodders and seeds of legume fodders were raised in three replications. 90 Days After Planting (DAP) the observations were taken for the growth parameters of plant height, establishment percentage, green fodder yield. The crop was cut at 90 DAP followed by subsequent cuts at 120 DAP (i.e. 30 Days interval between two cuts). The fodder growth and development were observed in field as well as nutrition dynamics along with other quality parameters which include crude fibre, ash content were analyzed in laboratory.

Results: Panicum maximum recorded higher values of plant height (205.00 cm), establishment percentage of 100 % and green fodder yield of 183 t ha-1 year-1. Other grasses includes Brachiaria mutica, Brachiaria ruziziensis and Brachiaria decumbens had good establishment and yield. Among legumes Desmodium giganticum was found to be performed well under shade with plant height of 181.00 cm and green fodder yield of 125 t ha-1 year-1 followed by Macroptilium atropurpureum with 148.00 cm height and green fodder yield of 98.0 t ha-1 year-1. Dichanthium annulatum had poor establishment under shaded environment. Ash content was high in Macroptilium atropurpureum with 21.90%. Crude fibre was observed high in Dichanthium annulatum with 41.15%.

Conclusion: Panicum maximum and Brachiaria sp in grasses as well as Desmodium giganticum and Macroptilium atropurpureum among legumes were found to perform well under shade in coconut garden.