Yield and economic evaluation of fodder grasses under Melia dubia-based Silvi-Pastoral System in PJTAU, Telangana

A study was conducted in Telangana, India, to evaluate the performance of different fodder grasses under a Melia dubia-based silvi-pastoral system. The objective was to assess tree growth, fodder yield, and economic viability. A randomized block design was used to compare sole cropping with intercropping of six fodder grasses and one multicut sorghum variety. The results showed no significant impact on Melia dubia growth parameters. Guinea grass and CO-5 performed best in terms of green fodder yield, with minor reductions of 7.2% and 10.8%, respectively, compared to sole cropping. Guinea grass also demonstrated superior economic performance with a net return of ₹66,909 ha⁻¹ and a B:C ratio of 2.63. The findings suggest that integrating high-yielding fodder grasses, particularly Guinea grass and CO-5, into Melia dubia plantations is a sustainable and profitable land-use system for semi-arid regions.