Extraction of high-quality DNA from brown-midrib (BMR) pearl millet (Cenchrus americanus (L.) Morrone) is challenging due to high levels of phenolics, lignin derivatives, and polysaccharides that interfere with cell lysis and downstream molecular analyses. In this study, four SDS-based lysis buffers (SLB-1 to SLB-4) and a standard CTAB method were evaluated for DNA isolation from BMR leaf tissues. Among these, SLB-3 (2% SDS, 3% PVP-40, 900 mM NaCl, 100 mM Tris-HCl, 25 mM EDTA, and 0.5% β-mercaptoethanol) produced significantly higher DNA yield (649.1 ± 123.2 ng/μL), improved purity (A260/280 = 1.87 ± 0.03; A260/230 = 2.13 ± 0.10), and intact high-molecular-weight DNA. Successful amplification of the extracted DNA with the SSR marker confirmed the integrity and amplifiability of the DNA, indicating its suitability for downstream molecular analyses. The SLB-3 protocol demonstrated advantages over CTAB and other SDS buffers in terms of simplicity, cost efficiency, and reproducibility. This optimized method may be suitable for routine molecular breeding and genetic studies in phenolic-rich and recalcitrant pearl millet tissues.
This study evaluates the water requirements and biomass yield of five forage crops employed in sheep production systems under arid environmental conditions. For this, two forage crops, i.e., pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), were assessed with three perennial forage grasses, i.e., napier hybrid bajra (P. purpureum), sewan (Lasiurus sindicus), and Dhaman (Cenchrus ciliaris). These crops were evaluated in a randomized block design (RBD) with four replications during kharif 2022. The results demonstrated significant variation in growth performance and resource-use efficiency. Cowpea yielded the highest fresh biomass with the lowest water productivity. Conversely, sewan grass recorded the highest dry matter yield along with superior water productivity, highlighting its adaptability to arid conditions and efficiency of utilization of available moisture. Napier hybrid bajra and pearl millet recorded the highest plant height, measuring 200.35 and 167.20 cm, respectively, with corresponding water productivity values of 1.72 and 1.57 kg m-³. To tested their effects on livestock performance, dry fodder of napier, lasiurus and cenchrus were fed with cowpea in a 50:50 ratio in the evening hours and bajra dry fodder along with concentrate in morning hours, respectively, to lambs of G1, G2, and G3 groups (a total 21 lambs of 3 months age, average weight 14.4 kg) using a randomized block design. The feeding schedule continued over a five-week period. Significant differences (p <0.05) were observed in dry matter intake and water consumption per kilogram of feed. Lambs on a cenchrus-based diet (G3) had the lowest water intake among the tested groups. The highest body weight gain (p <0.01) was recorded in this group with the least virtual water requirement per kilogram of body weight gain (4,966.94 ± 268.50 L) and was followed by diet Lasiurus (G2) at 5,188.06 ± 190.44 L. The water requirement of the napier-based diet (G1) at 6,724.98 ± 394.20 L was found the highest. Overall, these findings highlight that C. ciliaris, in particular, demonstrated high water-use efficiency and strong potential for supporting sustainable livestock farming under water-limited conditions.
This study examined the long-term (1901-2021) spatio-temporal rainfall trends across 13 districts in the Bundelkhand region of central India. Gridded rainfall data of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) were analyzed using both parametric (Mann-Kendall, Spearman’s Rho) and non-parametric (Simple Linear Regression) approaches, to detect monthly, seasonal and annual rainfall trends. Statistical tests showed a significant decreasing trend of rainfall in the region. The months of April to June have significantly increasing trends, while in the rest of the months, only decreasing trends were significant. Also, only decreasing trends were significant in seasonal rainfall and annual rainfall. The study area as a whole had a significant decrease in monsoon and annual rainfall. The Sen’s slope indicated declining monsoon and annual rainfall at the rate of -1.064 and -1.316 mm/year (p <0.001), whereas the slope of linear regression depicted a declining monsoon and annual rainfall of the region at the rate of -0.894 mm/year (p <0.1) and -1.031 mm/year (p <0.05), respectively. The results reveal the growing vulnerability of agriculture and the need for climate-resilient adaptation strategies in the semi-arid region of Bundelkhand. The decline in rainfall observed highlights significant practical and policy implications for water and agricultural management and planning in this region.
Antibiotic resistance is a pressing global crisis fueled by overuse in medicine, farming, and agriculture, producing superbugs like MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and extended-spectrum-lactamase (ESBL) E. coli, causing prolonged and untreatable infections. Essential oils (EO) provide a natural alternative, offering broad-spectrum antibacterial potency with reduced risk of rapid resistance. Present study assessed the antimicrobial efficacy of 71 essential oils against 144 clinical bacterial isolates by determining their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) as compared with 14 standard antibiotics. Twelve EOs such as thyme, holy basil, lemon grass, cinnamon, oregano, rosewood, cassia, rose, clove, palmrosa, carom seeds and betel leaf showed remarkable potency. Out of 12 Eos, thyme, cinnamon, cassia, oregano and carom seeds were found to be most effective and categorized as strong while holy basil, lemongrass, rosewood, palmrosa, rose, clove and betel leaf were considered as moderate effective EOs. Notably, oregano achieved the lowest MIC (0.039 μL) against E. coli and the lowest MBC (0.156 μL) against Klebsiella pneumoniae. EOs demonstrates powerful antibacterial effects against multidrug-resistant pathogens, frequently surpassing conventional antibiotics in efficacy. Judicious use of these natural oils as feed additives can effectively contribute to the livestock health.
Fodder production and utilization play a crucial role in sustaining livestock productivity and enhancing dairy income. The present study assessed the level of awareness, utilization patterns, and constraints faced by livestock farmers regarding fodder cultivation and management practices. The findings revealed that a majority of respondents (82.50%) had a medium level of awareness and an overall awareness index of 45.95. While respondents were highly aware that fodder seeds and planting materials are not commonly sold by seed companies (96.66%) and that fodder cultivation is cheaper than food crops (77.50%), awareness was considerably low regarding leguminous fodder benefits, soil fertility improvement, and milk yield enhancement. Traditional practices such as manual chaffing and direct feeding were moderately adopted, whereas improved technologies like urea treatment, silage making, hay making, and fodder enrichment practices were never used by the respondents. The major constraints identified included the non-availability of quality fodder seeds and planting materials in local markets, a lack of extension services and inadequate information about improved varieties and cultivation practices. The study highlights the urgent need for strengthened extension interventions, improved input supply systems, and capacity-building programs to enhance fodder production and scientific utilization practices.
A field experiment was conducted during the kharif season of 2022 to evaluate the effect of fertilizer levels on the fodder yield and quality of sorghum genotypes in a randomized block design. Treatments consisted of two single-cut forage sorghum cultivars (HJ 541 and Duggi) and seven different fertilizer treatments comprising control, 50% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), 100% RDF, 150% RDF, RDF minus N, RDF minus P, and RDF minus K. Sorghum variety HJ 541 demonstrated superior characteristics for parameters like green fodder yield (GFY), crude protein (CP), crude fat, Neutral detergent fibre (NDF), Acid detergent fibre (ADF), crude fibre (CF), hemicellulose, cellulose, lignin, phosphorus, potassium, iron and calcium. Fertilizer levels also played a crucial role, with higher CP and crude fat and lower NDF, ADF, and CF recorded at 150% RDF, on par with 100% RDF. The variety HJ 541 performed better than Duggi (a local cultivar) in yield and quality parameters under the experimental conditions studied. The present study provides better insights into their performance and enables the effective utilization of the outcome, contributing to the ongoing research in this area.
Guinea grass (Megathyrsus maximus (Jacq.) Simon & Jacobs.) exhibits wide ploidy variation and diverse reproductive behavior, making it a valuable model for studying protein expression dynamics during reproductive development. In the present study, protein expression profiles were comparatively analyzed across different developmental stages and ploidy levels of M. maximus using SDS-PAGE as a preliminary profiling approach. A diverse ploidy series (3x, 4x, 5x, 6x, 7x, 8x, 9x and 11x) derived from a 4x progenitor was evaluated at pre-meiotic, meiotic, and post-meiotic stages. Protein extraction from inflorescence tissue followed by SDS-PAGE analysis identified protein polymorphism across ploidy levels and developmental stages, revealing stage-specific and ploidy-dependent variations in protein expression. The meiotic stage exhibited the highest protein polymorphism, suggesting an active meiotic regulation, while the post-meiotic stage showed a decline in meiosis-specific proteins, indicating regulatory transitions in gamete maturation. Higher ploidy levels (7x, 8x, 9x and 11x) demonstrated greater protein polymorphism, suggesting ploidy-dependent regulation of meiosis-associated proteins. Cluster analysis, based on Jaccard’s similarity coefficient, grouped samples according to similarity in protein banding patterns across developmental stages and ploidy levels. The findings provide a comparative description of protein expression variation associated with reproductive development and ploidy differences in guinea grass and establish a baseline for future studies employing advanced proteomic and functional validation approaches.
This study conducted in Medchal-Malkajgiri district, Telangana, India, delves into the dynamics of agroforestry systems and planting patterns, emphasizing their impact on productivity, carbon sequestration, and economic viability. The study involved surveying 9 villages (out of 108 villages) in Medchal-Malkajgiri district of Telangana State with a sampling intensity of 5%. Villages were selected using simple random sampling and 3 agroforestry practicing farmers from each category - marginal, small, semi-medium and medium - were chosen as purposive random sampling from each village. Nine agroforestry systems were identified, with boundary + scattered planting emerging as the most popular. The research extensively evaluated biomass growth, crop yield, carbon sequestration, and economic returns across different systems. Boundary + scattered and bund + boundary planting, were found to be the prominent agroforestry systems. Whereas there were significant variations in tree height and volume across different agroforestry systems. Scattered planting trees had greater height and volume. There were no significant changes in straw yield and the sole crop produced higher grain yield comparable to agroforestry systems. Block + boundary + bund planting showed the highest net returns and B:C ratio. In terms of carbon storage, block + boundary + bund planting had numerically higher above ground carbon stock. Additionally, the study unveiled rich indigenous biodiversity and highlighted the role of farmer categories in shaping agroforestry practices. The findings highlight the significance of specialised agroforestry practices for long-term and resilient agricultural ecosystems.
Limited knowledge of seasonal genetic divergence in single-cut fodder sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), particularly under summer conditions, hinders the identification of stable and superior parental lines. To address this gap, genetic diversity among 55 elite single-cut fodder sorghum genotypes was evaluated at CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, across the summer and kharif seasons of 2024 using 10 morphological, 8 biochemical, and 5 biotic stress-related traits. Multivariate analysis based on Mahalanobis’ D² statistics and modified Tocher’s clustering revealed substantial genetic variability, grouping genotypes into five clusters during summer and seven during kharif. High inter-cluster distances indicated significant genetic divergence, suggesting strong potential for heterotic hybridization. Cluster mean performance and divergence patterns identified key genotypes for targeted breeding, viz., CSV 19 SS for high biomass and micronutrient content (Zn, Fe), SH 2032 and SH 2136 for stable performance across seasons, and CSV 53F, CSV 44F, and HJ 1514 for high yield, better nutritional quality and lower HCN content. Genotype S 490, forming a singleton cluster in the kharif season, exhibited resistance against sooty stripe, shoot fly dead hearts and stem borer dead hearts, indicating its potential utility in resilience breeding. Seasonal comparison revealed greater genetic divergence under summer conditions, highlighting its importance for identifying highly discriminating genotypes under stress environments. Overall, the integration of yield, quality, and biotic stress traits across seasons provides a robust framework for selecting diverse and complementary parents. By elucidating genotype divergence across seasons, this study facilitates the selection of superior parental lines to develop climate-resilient, nutrient-rich fodder sorghum for sustainable livestock and bioenergy systems.
The biology of fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) was studied on fodder maize cultivar African Tall under room temperature in 2023. The average incubation period was 2.29 ± 0.16 days and the larval duration was 12.95 ± 1.03 days. The larvae underwent five molts, resulting in six instars, and exhibited a total feeding period of 12 days. The pupal period averaged 7.62 ± 0.17 days for males and 8.29 ± 0.57 days for females. Longevity studies revealed that males lived an average of 7.52 ± 0.23 days with food, while females lived 9.65 ± 1.30 days; survival was significantly reduced in the absence of food. The average fecundity per female was 942.8 ± 90.28 eggs, with total life cycle durations of 33.20 ± 2.47 days for females and 30.38 ± 2.66 days for males. Morphometric measurements were also taken. The field experiment was conducted at Dharwad during kharif 2023 to screen 15 dual-purpose maize inbreds along with the cultivar African Tall against FAW. Three inbreds, viz., C 79, PML 36 and PML 46, were categorized as resistant; ten inbreds, CDM 1330, PDI 639, PML 96, PDI 649, PDI 12, PML 105, DDM 2309, CML 565, C 46, PML 85 and African tall, as partially resistant and two inbreds, DDM 2207 and PML 93-2, as susceptible. The resistant inbreds exhibited the lowest larval populations and minimal leaf damage, apparently due to high trichome density, low total soluble sugar and high phenol content. Conversely, susceptible inbreds displayed the opposite biochemical and physical profiles.
A study of seven Stylosanthes seabrana genotypes was conducted during the 2022-23 kharif and rabi season at ICAR-Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Dharwad. Additionally, the effect of dormancy-breaking treatments on seed quality was assessed at the Seed Testing Lab of NSP/BSP Unit, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad. Prominent variability was observed in plant height, growth habit, green fodder yield/plant, dry matter yield/per plant and 1000 seed weight. Notably, S. seabrana-11595 (G4) excelled in morphology, germination rate (33.28%), minimal hard seed percentage (62.72%), and seedling attributes, while S. seabrana-2534 (G2) had the highest hard seed percentage (77.53) and least favorable seedling characteristics. For dormancy breaking, several treatments, including FeNPs and concentrated H2SO4, were applied to freshly harvested seeds to improve germination and other seed parameters. S. seabrana -11595 (G4) showed the highest germination rate (67.1%) and lowest hard seed percentage (27.59%), benefiting significantly from FeNPs treatment (80 ppm for 12 hours), which effectively reduced hard seed percentages and enhanced seedling length and vigor index. Biochemical analyses indicated that FeNPs treatment increased total dehydrogenase and α-amylase activities in S. seabrana-11595 (G4) and S. seabrana -104710 (G3). The findings highlight the substantial genotypic variability, with G4 demonstrating superior potential across various traits and benefiting from effective dormancy-breaking treatments.
In tropical and sub-tropical countries, agriculture is predominantly crop-livestock-based mixed farming, influenced by climate change events. However, for various reasons, livestock productivity in these countries is considerably lower as compared to temperate countries. Regional and seasonal deficits in nutritious fodder availability are a significant constraint in sustainable and profitable livestock production. Globally, the primary impediment to enhancing fodder production and sustainable grassland management is the timely unavailability of quality seeds and planting materials, especially improved cultivars. Tropical countries encounter several issues in the range grass seed production, such as poor germination, seed dormancy, non-synchronous flowering, seed shattering, poor ovule-to-seed ratio, low seed yield, etc., due to extreme climates and lack of domestication of tropical forage species. Effective utilization of high-quality seeds or planting materials coupled with proper agronomic management practices can increase forage yield by 30 to 40%. However, comprehensive seed production information on tropical range grasses is still lacking among farmers and other stakeholders. This review not only underscores the constraints, principles, and opportunities for seed production in tropical range grasses but also systematically elaborates on various advanced management practices, such as suitable planting methods, optimal sowing times, water and nutrient management, cutting practices, and harvesting management to enhance quality seed production. This, in turn, will aid in utilizing existing and forest wastelands for sustainable seed production of tropical range grasses, consequently boosting the supply of green fodder and ecosystem services.
A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the influence of nitrogen levels, planting geometry and harvesting stages on fodder yield and quality of barnyard millet. The treatments included three nitrogen doses (40 kg N ha-1, 60 kg N ha-1 and 80 kg N ha-1), two planting geometries (30 × 10 cm and 22.5 × 10 cm) and two harvesting stages (earhead emergence and physiological maturity). Among the nitrogen levels, 80 kg N ha-1 yielded the maximum green fodder (15.73 t ha-1) and dry fodder (3.97 t ha-1). The closer spacing of 22.5 × 10 cm resulted in markedly higher yield of green fodder (14.99 t ha-1) as well as dry fodder (3.60 t ha-1) compared to the wider spacing of 30 × 10 cm. Harvesting at the ear head emergence stage gave the maximum green fodder (16.26 t ha-1), whereas the dry fodder (3.60 t ha-1) yield was greater when harvested at physiological maturity. Increased nitrogen dose (40–80 kg ha-1) decreased hemicellulose content (24.3–21.5%) and other fibre fractions (ADF, NDF and lignin), while improvement in total digestible nutrients (64.1–70.0%), dry matter digestibility (66.4–70.0%) and protein (crude) content (6.26–7.30%) together with crude protein yield (170–293 kg ha-1) was observed with the higher doses of nitrogen. Early harvesting enhanced crude protein (8.17%), total digestible nutrients and dry matter digestibility, whereas physiological maturity led to higher crude fibre (32.29%), ADF (28.61%), NDF (53.2%) and lignin (3.5%) contents. Planting geometry did not significantly affect fodder quality attributes. The results specified that 80 kg N ha-1 together with harvesting at earhead emergence phase is optimal for obtaining higher fodder yield with better nutritive quality of barnyard millet under rainfed conditions.
The study was conducted in the intensive crop-livestock farming areas of the Bale highland to look into feed availability and nutrient content. Using multi-stage purposive sampling, 156 households of the three wealth groups were selected. Structured questionnaires, focus group discussions, field visits, and feed sample chemical analyses were the methods employed. The nutrient balance was estimated based on the livestock maintenance demand and supply. Descriptive statistics and one-way ANOVA tests were used to analyze the data. The mean land holding was significantly (p <0.001) different between wealth groups, while more land is used for crop cultivation (83.9%). Cattle were the dominant (84.3%) of livestock herds owned by farmers. Major feeds mean DM contributions were 66.7, 13.0, and 12.4% from cereal straws, crop aftermath and private natural grazing, respectively. Roughage feeds have lower Metabolizable Energy (ME) and Digestible crude protein (DCP). The mean in-vitro digestible organic matter in the dry matter (IVDOMD) of the dominant feeds (cereal straw and native pasture) ranges from 49.9 to 62.6% across the wealth groups. Average deficit of ME (24.2%) was observed for the better group, while DCP satisfied only 33.3% of the requirement for the same group and the situation suggests searching for a solution for the thrilling feed shortage associated with quality. Therefore, quality feed supply and promotion of farm-level feed production and improvement technologies should be practiced wisely to increase livestock productivity.
This study was conducted during 2021 and 2022 in Bingöl Province (Türkiye) to determine the effects of different doses of sheep manure on forage yield, forage quality, and macroelement contents in natural rangeland areas. The study used a randomized block design with six different doses of sheep manure (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 t ha-¹) applied to the rangeland areas. According to the two-year average results, green forage yield ranged from 3.80 to 10.60 t ha-¹, dry matter yield from 1.50 to 4.04 t ha-¹, and crude protein yield from 0.216 to 0.633 t ha-¹. The highest green forage yield (10.60 t ha-1) was obtained at the 25 t ha-¹ rate, the highest dry matter yield (3.57, 3.93 and 4.04 t ha-1) at the 15, 20, and 25 t ha-¹ rates, and the highest crude protein yield (0.603, 0.555, 0.633 and 0.610 t ha-1) at the 10, 15, 20, and 25 t ha-¹ rates. In terms of forage quality, the highest crude protein content (18.1%) and the lowest NDF (44.0%) and ADF (30.3%) values were obtained at the 10 t ha-1 application rate. The macro element contents (P, K, Ca, and Mg) were not significantly affected by the application rates. Yield parameters were higher in the second year, while quality parameters were higher in the first year. The study inferred that the application of 10 t ha-¹ of sheep manure is the ideal rate for optimizing the yield and quality of rangeland forage.
Tree insurance is an emerging risk management tool that provides financial protection to tree and plantation growers against economic losses arising from natural disasters such as floods, cyclones, and droughts. This review highlights the significance of tree insurance in promoting environmental protection, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development. The paper discusses six types of insurance policies offered primarily by private companies, with 35% participation from the General Insurance Corporation of India. Various commercially important species like Casuarina, Eucalyptus, Dalbergia, Poplar, Rubber, and Coconut are covered under different policies based on premium rates and risk factors such as species, age, location, and policy type. Tree insurance, usually valid for one year, offers both direct benefits—such as economic stability and employment generation—and indirect benefits like climate change mitigation and social security. The review also suggests policy improvements, including flexible payment structures, wider species and geographical coverage, increased government support, and enhanced public awareness to make tree insurance more accessible and effective.
Low nutritional value, poor voluntary intake and digestibility limit the utilization of maize stover in livestock feeding. Different microbial treatments (Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma viride, Saccharomyces cerevisae and Pseudomonas fluorescens) were evaluated for improving the quality and digestibility of 24 genotypes of maize stover. Treatment of maize stover with P. fluorescens and S. cerevisiae resulted in increase of CP content (11.82% and 10.56%) compared to control (8.54%). Out of four microbial strains T. viride has a positive effect on enhancing the total carbohydrate content, where maize stover (Vivek) exhibited significantly highest increase in total carbohydrate content (21.81%). Treatment of maize stover with T. harzianum reduced the NDF content to 65% in African Tall while treatment with P. fluorescens reduced it to 65.8% in Palam Shankar Makka in comparison to control (69 and 67.2%, respectively). Reduction in lignin content of maize stover (3.00% in PMG-52-1) was observed after treatment with T. viride in comparison to control (7.20%). Treatment of maize stover with T. viride and P. fluorescens was most effective in reducing the total phenolic content of PMG-97 and PMG-95 and African Tall genotypes of maize stovers, respectively. Treatment with T. harzianum and P. fluorescens reduced total tannins contents most effectively in Palam Shankar Makka and PMG-93-1, respectively. P. fluorescens followed by S. cerevisiae treatment resulted in a decrease in silica content of maize stover to the extent of 0.87% and 0.6% in maize stover of PMG-95 genotype, compared to control (1.8%). Digestibility of maize stover improved with all biological treatments, the highest significant increase (69.2%) was observed with T. harzianum treatment compared to control (52.1%). The results of the study revealed that T. viride is the most promising fungi for improving the quality and digestibility of maize stover of different genotypes, followed by T. harzianum. The bacteria P. fluorescens was found to be equally efficient in improving the quality and digestibility of maize stover. The genotype x treatment interaction was found to be significant for all the traits indicating that the microbes could efficiently enhance different quality traits in maize stover.
Although homegarden agroforestry systems are essential for conserving biodiversity, research on the contribution of these systems to woody species conservation remains limited, particularly in northwestern Ethiopia. This study evaluated the species preferences of farmers in the homegardens, as well as the diversity of woody species and management techniques. Data were collected from 96 households, with detailed woody species inventories conducted in a representative subsample of 48 homegardens. The study identified 32 woody species from 21 families, of which 69% (22 species) were indigenous and 31% (10 species) were exotic. The highest woody species diversity (1.53) was recorded from poor households, while the lowest (1.14) was recorded from rich households. Wealth status significantly influenced species diversity, with poorer households managing a higher number of woody species compared to wealthier groups. Key management practices included weeding, pruning, fertilizing, watering, fencing, coppicing, and hoeing. The top three preferred indigenous and multipurpose species were Rhamnus prinoides, Cordia africana, and Olea europaea, valued for their economic benefits and ecological roles. Respondents indicated that most woody species in home gardens are retained or planted for income. The study highlights the significant role of homegardens in conserving indigenous woody species, supporting biodiversity, and providing socio-economic benefits in northwestern Ethiopia. Policies should focus on conserving species, sustainable management, development integration, and farmer training.
Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), a dual-purpose crop, helps bridge the feed gap and integrate crop-livestock systems, especially in places with significant forage deficiencies. To address the need for superior dual-purpose sorghum lines with improved fodder quality and high grain production, this study evaluated 121 sorghum lines during kharif 2022 in Ludhiana and Faridkot, Punjab, India, using an alpha lattice design to assess genetic variability, heritability, and trait correlations among agro-morphological and quality traits. High (≥80%) genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variation were observed for traits such as number of tillers/plant, 100-grain weight, and plant height, with high heritability (broad sense) observed for 100- grain weight and flavonoids (mg/g) content. The identification of high-performing lines like SCL4, ICS 14334, IS 8282, SL 44, SSV 84, and SCL 2, which combine high crude protein content (>8.0%) and increased grain production (>650 g/plot), highlights the potential of developing dual-purpose sorghum lines with improved nutritional and yield characteristics. Significant positive correlations were observed between crude protein (CP) and growth parameters, including leaf width, plant height, and dry matter yield (DMY). Furthermore, DMY was significantly associated with flavonoids and starch, underscoring the intricate balance between nutrient uptake, biomass production, and protein synthesis. These findings provide a strong foundation for breeding programs aimed at improving both production and nutritional quality in forage sorghum, addressing the growing need for sustainable dual-purpose crops.
The efficacy of selected chemicals, botanicals and biopesticides against fall armyworm (FAW; Spodoptera frugiperda) on fodder maize var. African Tall was conducted from 2019 to 2021 at five locations in India. The pooled data revealed that at 3 days after spraying, the FAW population was lowest (16.53% infestation of plants) in T1 treatment (Emamectin benzoate 5 SG @ 5 ml/10 L of water), significantly superior to the rest of the treatments. In addition, the other best treatments were T2 (chlorpyriphos 20 EC @ 20 ml/10 L; 26.36%) followed by T8 (Metarhizium rileyi (Nomuraea) 1.15% WP@ 75 g/10 L; 30.73%), T4 (M. anisopliae 1.15% WP @ 75 g/10 L; 31.30%), T6 (Beauveria bassiana 1.15% WP@ 75 g/10 L; 32.13%), and T5 (B. bassiana 1.15% WP@ 50 g/10 L; 32.96%). Moreover, a similar trend was observed at 7 and 10 days after spraying. The highest green fodder yield (GFY; 37.49 t/ha) was recorded in treatment T1 as compared to the control (22.42 t/ha). Likewise, T1 was the best economical treatment (BC ratio: 1:1.55), followed by T2 (BC ratio: 1:1.31) and T8 (BC ratio: 1:1.23).
