Extractable soil nutrient effects on feed quality traits of crop residues in the semiarid rainfed mixed crop–livestock farming systems of Southern India
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Amare Haileslassie, Michael Blummel, Suhas Wani, Kanwar Lal Sahrawat, G. Pardhasaradhi, Anandan Samireddypalle. (30/11/2013). Extractable soil nutrient effects on feed quality traits of crop residues in the semiarid rainfed mixed crop–livestock farming systems of Southern India. Environment, development and sustainability, 15, pp. 723-741.
Abstract
In the mixed crop–livestock systems, while general relation among feed
quality, productivity and soil nutrient management have been reported, information on the
effects of extractable soil nutrients on crop residue (CR) feed quality traits is scarce (e.g. in
semiarid regions of Karnataka, India). In view of the increasingly important role of CR as
feed components, in these farming systems, generating such information is a relevant
research issue for sustainable development. Here, we report the occurrence and strength of
relationships among extractable nutrients in soils and CR feed quality traits, and the effects
of improved nutrients input on feed availability and feed quality of CR. Soil samples were
collected from farmers’ fields in the semiarid zone of Karnataka and analyzed for available
phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sulphur (S), zinc (Zn) and boron (B) using standard laboratory
methods. Soil test results were clustered as low, medium or high based on the level
of nutrient concentration. Four major farming systems involving nine crops and 419 farms
were selected for on-farm trials. Under every sample farm, a plot with farmer’s practice
(control) and improved fertilizer inputs (combined application of nutrients found deficient
by soil testing) were laid. Performance of crops was recorded. Samples were collected for CR feed quality trait analysis using Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy. The result
showed that for cereal and oil crops, extractable soil S was significantly negatively
associated with anti-feed quality traits such as neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent
fibre (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL) (P\0.01), but significantly positively related to
metabolizable energy (ME) and in vitro digestibility (P\0.01). Extractable B and K
levels were associated positively and significantly with NDF, ADF and ADL for oil crops
and cereals. Crop level associations, for most crops, showed similar trend. Improved
fertilizer inputs affected CR yield much more than it did the quality. It increased ME
productivity (ME ha-1) and thereof the potential milk yield ha-1 by as high as 40 % over
the control. Therefore, balanced nutrient inputs on crop land positively impact productivity
of the livestock compartment of mixed crop–livestock farming system, and this knowledge
can build on the currently perceived need and benefits of balanced nutrient replenishment
in crop–livestock system.
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Haileslassie, Amare https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5237-9006