Track 2‐6‐1: Developing Intensive and Extensive Forage Production with Environment Friendly Technologies and Adoption of Mechanization
Description
Cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica (L) Mill) is spineless and offers several benefits to both man and livestock. It is a succulent, xerophytic, spiny or spineless plant of multiple uses (Felker et al., 1997). Cactus is a drought resilient feed, introducing cactus as alternate livestock feed in dryland ecosystems fulfill the deficiency of feed to livestock. Cactus requires little moisture which used to gets from the rainy season to produce large quantities of forage. It has a higher carrying capacity than any other drought tolerant fodder in arid and semi-arid areas. It remains green and succulent during drought thus supplying the much needed energy, water and vitamins to livestock in drought periods. It withstands severe defoliation and has good regeneration ability. A unique anatomic and physiological character of cactus makes to withstand a wide range of soil types as well as harsh climatic conditions. Some of these unique features make it a perfect plant to incorporate into productive forage based systems. The soils of Budelkhand region of India are medium to low in fertility with low organic matter content and poor water holding capacity that limits the fodder and food productivity. Rainfall is also erratic, unreliable and scarce, so non-conventional forages are urgently required. Therefore, Cactus could be a good source of food and water for livestock during drought. Keeping this in view, ICARDA-IGFRI collaborative project is initiated to utilize the Opuntia species as an alternate source of feed and fodder in different land use management systems and enabling the stake holders to increase the agricultural production and profitability in dry areas.
Citation
Kumar, Sunil; Kumar, T. Kiran; Mishra, A. K.; Ahmed, Shahid; and Ghosh, P. K., "Evaluation of Cactus as Alternate Fodder Resource in Semi Arid Region of India" (2020). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 28.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/23/2-6-1/28
Included in
Evaluation of Cactus as Alternate Fodder Resource in Semi Arid Region of India
Cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica (L) Mill) is spineless and offers several benefits to both man and livestock. It is a succulent, xerophytic, spiny or spineless plant of multiple uses (Felker et al., 1997). Cactus is a drought resilient feed, introducing cactus as alternate livestock feed in dryland ecosystems fulfill the deficiency of feed to livestock. Cactus requires little moisture which used to gets from the rainy season to produce large quantities of forage. It has a higher carrying capacity than any other drought tolerant fodder in arid and semi-arid areas. It remains green and succulent during drought thus supplying the much needed energy, water and vitamins to livestock in drought periods. It withstands severe defoliation and has good regeneration ability. A unique anatomic and physiological character of cactus makes to withstand a wide range of soil types as well as harsh climatic conditions. Some of these unique features make it a perfect plant to incorporate into productive forage based systems. The soils of Budelkhand region of India are medium to low in fertility with low organic matter content and poor water holding capacity that limits the fodder and food productivity. Rainfall is also erratic, unreliable and scarce, so non-conventional forages are urgently required. Therefore, Cactus could be a good source of food and water for livestock during drought. Keeping this in view, ICARDA-IGFRI collaborative project is initiated to utilize the Opuntia species as an alternate source of feed and fodder in different land use management systems and enabling the stake holders to increase the agricultural production and profitability in dry areas.
