Importance of crop residues in crop–livestock systems in India and farmers’ perceptions of fodder quality in coarse cereals

The mixed crop–livestock systems of India are underpinned by the crop residues which contribute on an average 40–60% of the total dry matter intake per livestock unit. There is however considerable regional variation in the dominant type of crop residue: rice and wheat straws in irrigated regions co...

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Autores principales: Parthasarathy Rao, P., Hall, A.J.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Elsevier 2003
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/200
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author Parthasarathy Rao, P.
Hall, A.J.
author_browse Hall, A.J.
Parthasarathy Rao, P.
author_facet Parthasarathy Rao, P.
Hall, A.J.
author_sort Parthasarathy Rao, P.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description The mixed crop–livestock systems of India are underpinned by the crop residues which contribute on an average 40–60% of the total dry matter intake per livestock unit. There is however considerable regional variation in the dominant type of crop residue: rice and wheat straws in irrigated regions compared to coarse cereal straws and hay from leguminous crops in the drier, semi-arid regions. This paper synthesizes a series of recent studies on the role and importance of crop residues and farmers’ perceptions of fodder quantity and quality in coarse cereal and groundnut based feeding systems. Crop improvement programs for sorghum, pearl millet and groundnut have traditionally focused on grain/pod yield improvement, pest and water stress tolerance. Only relatively recently have dual-purpose (grain and fodder) plant types been developed. While the nutritive value of fodder from dual-purpose crops can be determined through in vivo and in vitro analysis, such experimental procedures cannot necessarily capture the often-subjective quality attributes that farmers (and their animals) value. Results indicate that farmers perceive a range of quality traits, some of which could be screened for relatively easily, whereas others may be more difficult to assess. These findings highlight the importance of farmer participatory evaluation of fodder traits in the development of improved dual-purpose varieties. However the impact of these varieties on poor farm households will be contingent on the complementary improvement in the effectiveness of seed systems.
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spelling CGSpace2002025-12-08T10:11:39Z Importance of crop residues in crop–livestock systems in India and farmers’ perceptions of fodder quality in coarse cereals Parthasarathy Rao, P. Hall, A.J. The mixed crop–livestock systems of India are underpinned by the crop residues which contribute on an average 40–60% of the total dry matter intake per livestock unit. There is however considerable regional variation in the dominant type of crop residue: rice and wheat straws in irrigated regions compared to coarse cereal straws and hay from leguminous crops in the drier, semi-arid regions. This paper synthesizes a series of recent studies on the role and importance of crop residues and farmers’ perceptions of fodder quantity and quality in coarse cereal and groundnut based feeding systems. Crop improvement programs for sorghum, pearl millet and groundnut have traditionally focused on grain/pod yield improvement, pest and water stress tolerance. Only relatively recently have dual-purpose (grain and fodder) plant types been developed. While the nutritive value of fodder from dual-purpose crops can be determined through in vivo and in vitro analysis, such experimental procedures cannot necessarily capture the often-subjective quality attributes that farmers (and their animals) value. Results indicate that farmers perceive a range of quality traits, some of which could be screened for relatively easily, whereas others may be more difficult to assess. These findings highlight the importance of farmer participatory evaluation of fodder traits in the development of improved dual-purpose varieties. However the impact of these varieties on poor farm households will be contingent on the complementary improvement in the effectiveness of seed systems. 2003-10 2009-12-17T10:47:30Z 2009-12-17T10:47:30Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/200 en Limited Access Elsevier Parthasarathy Rao, P. and A.J. Hall. 2003. Importance of crop residues in crop–livestock systems in India and farmers’ perceptions of fodder quality in coarse cereals. Field Crops Research 84(1-2): 189-198
spellingShingle Parthasarathy Rao, P.
Hall, A.J.
Importance of crop residues in crop–livestock systems in India and farmers’ perceptions of fodder quality in coarse cereals
title Importance of crop residues in crop–livestock systems in India and farmers’ perceptions of fodder quality in coarse cereals
title_full Importance of crop residues in crop–livestock systems in India and farmers’ perceptions of fodder quality in coarse cereals
title_fullStr Importance of crop residues in crop–livestock systems in India and farmers’ perceptions of fodder quality in coarse cereals
title_full_unstemmed Importance of crop residues in crop–livestock systems in India and farmers’ perceptions of fodder quality in coarse cereals
title_short Importance of crop residues in crop–livestock systems in India and farmers’ perceptions of fodder quality in coarse cereals
title_sort importance of crop residues in crop livestock systems in india and farmers perceptions of fodder quality in coarse cereals
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/200
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AT hallaj importanceofcropresiduesincroplivestocksystemsinindiaandfarmersperceptionsoffodderqualityincoarsecereals