Theme 3-2: Livestock Production Systems--Poster Sessions

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Hortipasture systems have huge potential to mitigate climate change via sequestering carbon along with sustaining fodder and fruit supply especially in semi-arid regions. Therefore to evaluate climate change mitigation, fruit and fodder production potential of 10 year old rainfed based Hortipasture system (Psidium guajava (Guava) + Cenchrus ciliaris + Stylosanthes hamata) established at Central Research Farm of ICAR-Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute (Bundelkhand region, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India), carbon stock of tree and under storey pasture components was quantified along with fruit and forage production. The experimental site is drought prone semi arid region characterized by poor soil quality, harsh climate and erratic rainfall. Two cultivars of Guava (Lalit and Shweta) integrated with C. ciliaris + S. hamata were pruned to enhance fruit yield of 10 year old trees. The Cv. Lalit produced higher (10.40 %) fruit yield compared to Shweta and medium pruned trees produced highest fruit yield (Lalit: 15.46 t ha-1 & Shweta: 14.87 t ha-1) compared to unpruned and highly pruned trees. The under storey pasture production (C. ciliaris+ S. hamata) was 5.6 t DM ha-1. Total tree carbon stock in Guava ranged between 7.92 to 11.34 t ha-1 (Cultivar: Shweta-10.24 t ha-1and Lalit-9.20 t ha-1). Under storey pasture carbon stock ranged from 4.26 t ha-1 to 4.43 t ha-1. Total carbon stock potential of system (in biomass) ranged from 12.23 t ha-1 to 15.77 t ha-1 with 78.90−84.70 % and 15.30−21.10 % contribution of above and below ground biomass respectively to total carbon stock. Therefore in semi arid regions of India, where 90% of people depend on livestock for their livelihood security, establishment of Guava + C. ciliaris+ S. hamata based hortipasture system can enhance economic returns of the farmers and mitigate climate change via carbon sequestration in biomass leading to the offsetting of green house gases emission from livestock sector.

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A Guava-Based Hortipasture System for Mitigating Climate Change and Sustaining Fodder & Fruit Supply in Semi-Arid Regions of India

Hortipasture systems have huge potential to mitigate climate change via sequestering carbon along with sustaining fodder and fruit supply especially in semi-arid regions. Therefore to evaluate climate change mitigation, fruit and fodder production potential of 10 year old rainfed based Hortipasture system (Psidium guajava (Guava) + Cenchrus ciliaris + Stylosanthes hamata) established at Central Research Farm of ICAR-Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute (Bundelkhand region, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India), carbon stock of tree and under storey pasture components was quantified along with fruit and forage production. The experimental site is drought prone semi arid region characterized by poor soil quality, harsh climate and erratic rainfall. Two cultivars of Guava (Lalit and Shweta) integrated with C. ciliaris + S. hamata were pruned to enhance fruit yield of 10 year old trees. The Cv. Lalit produced higher (10.40 %) fruit yield compared to Shweta and medium pruned trees produced highest fruit yield (Lalit: 15.46 t ha-1 & Shweta: 14.87 t ha-1) compared to unpruned and highly pruned trees. The under storey pasture production (C. ciliaris+ S. hamata) was 5.6 t DM ha-1. Total tree carbon stock in Guava ranged between 7.92 to 11.34 t ha-1 (Cultivar: Shweta-10.24 t ha-1and Lalit-9.20 t ha-1). Under storey pasture carbon stock ranged from 4.26 t ha-1 to 4.43 t ha-1. Total carbon stock potential of system (in biomass) ranged from 12.23 t ha-1 to 15.77 t ha-1 with 78.90−84.70 % and 15.30−21.10 % contribution of above and below ground biomass respectively to total carbon stock. Therefore in semi arid regions of India, where 90% of people depend on livestock for their livelihood security, establishment of Guava + C. ciliaris+ S. hamata based hortipasture system can enhance economic returns of the farmers and mitigate climate change via carbon sequestration in biomass leading to the offsetting of green house gases emission from livestock sector.