Track 4-1-1: Plant Genetic Resources, Collection, Conversation, Evaluation and IPR Issues
Description
A serious drawback of sustainable livestock production system in Kerala is the inadequate seasonal distribution of fodder production. The quantity and quality of herbage available in the lean dry months from January to May is very low. Therefore it is imperative to develop a fodder production system that increases the availability and improves the quality of herbage in the dry summer months. Fodder cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) is a legume inherently more tolerant to drought than other fodder legumes (Fatokun et al., 2009) and considered as a crop capable of improving sustainability of livestock production through its contribution in improving seasonal fodder productivity and nutritive value. The dairy homesteads of Kerala are mostly experiencing light stress of varying intensities. V. unguiculata grows well in shade and is useful as a component crop of silvipastoral systems. Evaporative demand is greatly reduced in the shaded environment and soil water availability for the pasture will be maintained at a higher level than in open through the combined effect of less evaporation from soil and lower transpiration rates of the pasture. V. unguiculata grows well in shade and is useful as a component crop of silvipastoral systems (Bazil, 2011). It has shade tolerance, quick growth and rapid ground covering ability. Summer cowpea irrigated according to a schedule based on IW/CPE ratio of 0.8 recorded the maximum dry matter production (Subramaniam et al., 1993). Fodder cowpea varieties CO-5, COFC-8, UPC-618, UPC-622, Bundel Lobia-1 are high yielding and suitable for cultivation in Kerala (Gayathri, 2010). It is the most widely cultivated fodder legume in areas where rainfall is scanty and soils are relatively infertile. Most households that keep livestock raise fodder cowpea as an intercrop with other crops and fodder cowpea forms an integral component of crop livestock farming system (Singh and Tarawali, 2011). Keeping this in view, the present study was taken up with the objective of identifying the quality of fodder cowpea varieties suitable for the dry summer months.
Included in
Quality of Fodder Cowpea Varieties as Influenced by Soil Moisture Stress Levels
A serious drawback of sustainable livestock production system in Kerala is the inadequate seasonal distribution of fodder production. The quantity and quality of herbage available in the lean dry months from January to May is very low. Therefore it is imperative to develop a fodder production system that increases the availability and improves the quality of herbage in the dry summer months. Fodder cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) is a legume inherently more tolerant to drought than other fodder legumes (Fatokun et al., 2009) and considered as a crop capable of improving sustainability of livestock production through its contribution in improving seasonal fodder productivity and nutritive value. The dairy homesteads of Kerala are mostly experiencing light stress of varying intensities. V. unguiculata grows well in shade and is useful as a component crop of silvipastoral systems. Evaporative demand is greatly reduced in the shaded environment and soil water availability for the pasture will be maintained at a higher level than in open through the combined effect of less evaporation from soil and lower transpiration rates of the pasture. V. unguiculata grows well in shade and is useful as a component crop of silvipastoral systems (Bazil, 2011). It has shade tolerance, quick growth and rapid ground covering ability. Summer cowpea irrigated according to a schedule based on IW/CPE ratio of 0.8 recorded the maximum dry matter production (Subramaniam et al., 1993). Fodder cowpea varieties CO-5, COFC-8, UPC-618, UPC-622, Bundel Lobia-1 are high yielding and suitable for cultivation in Kerala (Gayathri, 2010). It is the most widely cultivated fodder legume in areas where rainfall is scanty and soils are relatively infertile. Most households that keep livestock raise fodder cowpea as an intercrop with other crops and fodder cowpea forms an integral component of crop livestock farming system (Singh and Tarawali, 2011). Keeping this in view, the present study was taken up with the objective of identifying the quality of fodder cowpea varieties suitable for the dry summer months.
