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PRINT ISSN : 2319-7692
Online ISSN : 2319-7706 Issues : 12 per year Publisher : Excellent Publishers Email : editorijcmas@gmail.com / submit@ijcmas.com Editor-in-chief: Dr.M.Prakash Index Copernicus ICV 2018: 95.39 NAAS RATING 2020: 5.38 |
Subabul is an important protein rich tree fodder which its lopping is extensively used as cattle fodder. It is drought resistant tree, generally grown as border or bund crop in farmers and its lopping is cut for green fodder for animals. For this purpose tree fodder cultivating seems to be a promising strategy for livestock farmers. A field experiment was conducted to find out the relative performance of tree fodder growth at various stages of cutting and suitable lopping interval of subabul (Leucaena leucocephala) during 2019-2020, at Institute of Animal Nutrition, Kattupakkam, TANUVAS, Chennai. The experiment was conducted on sandy loam soil laid out with Randomized Block Design with three replications. There were six treatments viz., T1: lopping once in 2 months, T2: lopping once in 4 months, T3: lopping once in 6 months, T4: lopping once in 8 months, T5: lopping once in 10 months and T6: lopping in 12 months. The results showed that lopping at shorter time interval that is once in 2 months or 4 months resulted in more number of branches (10.90 and 7.84), leaves (427.6 and 461.3) , leaf weight, leaf branch ratio (1.42 and 1.09) and increased fodder yield (19.07 t-1 ha-1year-1 and 17.72 t-1 ha-1year-1). Further, early lopping resulted in succulent leaves and branches which were highly suitable for the animals to consume.