Indian rainfed agriculture is highly vulnerable to climate change and other factors, including topography, land size, and soil management practices. Consequently, optimizing cropping patterns is crucial for enhancing resilience and profitability. The study employed the MOTAD model to explore alternative cropping strategies for crop-livestock dryland farms under varying climatic risks. The research focused on western Tamil Nadu, a drought-prone region in south India’s rain-shadow zone, where agrosilvipastoral systems incorporating Cenchrus ciliaris grass and Acacia spp trees support livestock rearing. Based on a survey of 180 farmers, a representative six-hectare farm was optimized across different risk levels. The results revealed that under optimal cropping patterns, high-risk farms have a maximum of 60% area allotted to silvipasture, about 26% for profitable black gram, and only 9 and 6% to the sorghum and horse gram, respectively. This strategic land allocation adjustment significantly improves farmers’ net returns compared to existing practices, offering insights into risk-informed farm planning for enhanced sustainability.

Variations in plant morphology and reproductive characteristics, along with the pollination mechanism, were studied in Lasiurus sindicus, a key forage species in the arid conditions of the Thar Desert. The pollen viability and stigma receptivity were highest during anther indehiscence (82.40 and 96.33%) and dehiscence phases (79.54 and 92.71%). The pollination syndrome observed is anemophily. Breeding experiments revealed that L. sindicus is a cross-fertilization species. The grain set (%) was highest in open pollination (100%), followed by geitonogamous (nearly 15%) and self-pollination (nearly 3%). The study will be helpful in a range of genetic investigations and improvement programs aimed at conserving and managing this distinctive plant species, particularly for rangeland management programs.

The seasonal variations in the nutritional characteristics, mineral composition, and vitamin profile of field elm and blackthorn leaves were investigated over a two-year period (2022-2023) in the Thrace region of southeastern Europe. Both species, commonly utilized as browse by small ruminants, exhibited pronounced seasonal shifts in forage quality. Spring emerged as the period with the most favorable nutritional attributes, reflected in higher protein levels, reduced fiber fractions, and enhanced relative feed value. The progressive transition from spring to autumn resulted in measurable declines in digestibility parameters, energy values, and selected vitamins, most notably α-tocopherol. In contrast, summer showed elevated concentrations of β-carotene and ergocalciferol. Overall, the findings highlight the importance of these browse species as valuable supplementary feed resources, particularly during spring and summer, and underscore their potential contribution to sustainable ruminant nutrition and forage management in subtropical regions.

Lablab bean is one of the important legume crops of tropical and subtropical parts of the world. Its green pods possessed high nutritive value, while green foliage and vines provide hay and silage. Characterization of germplasm is the foremost step for genetic improvement of any crop. In the present study, 135 accessions of lablab bean, along with two checks, were characterized for eight qualitative and eleven quantitative traits, as well as three forage biochemical traits (total chlorophyll, total carotenoids, and total phenolics). Wide variability was observed among the lablab bean genotypes for all the agro-morphological and biochemical traits. In the majority of genotypes, growth habit was spreading, followed by semi-erect and erect. Narrow-leaf shape showed predominance over oval and hastate shapes. The green color of veins was predominant over purple color, while smooth pods were predominant over hairy pods. The leaves, flowers and pods showed wide color variation. The phenotypic coefficient of variance (PCV) was slightly higher than the genotypic coefficient of variance (GCV) for all the quantitative and forage biochemical traits. Traits such as plant height, number of branches, pod length, number of seeds per pod, green forage yield, and total phenols exhibited high estimates of all variability components, including GCV, PCV, broad-sense heritability, and genetic advance over the means. The best genotypes for total carotenoids were ICO411027 and ICO411085 (208.6 μg/g each), while for total phenols were ICO411060 and ICO411127 (29.7 mg/g each). The genotypes characterized here can be utilized to strengthen future lablab breeding programs.

The study investigated dependence on forests for fodder security, the economic valuation and socio-economic determinants of fodder extraction in the Gurez Himalaya. Multi-stage random sampling technique was employed to select the sub-divisions (03), villages (18) and households (337). Data were collected using structured interviews, non-participant observation, focus group discussions (FGDs) and rapid market assessments (RMA). Results revealed that the total collection of green forest fodder was 1577.75 tonnes/year @ 4.68 tonnes/household/year, of which 1290.59 tonnes/year were consumed for subsistence and 287.15 tonnes/year were sold for cash income. The economic value of the fodder extracted from forests was Rs 12622000/-year @ Rs 37454/-household/year. It included Rs 10324796/-year as subsistence and Rs 2297204/-year as cash income. The forest dependence index (FDI) was intermediate (mean=0.348, SD=0.155) while the relative forest income (RFI) was low (mean=0.074, SD=0.070). Socio-economic variables such as education, family size, family labour, herd size, on-farm income, off-farm income, land holding, wealth status and annual income had significant effect on the forest fodder dependence.

The inheritance pattern of oat’s resistance to powdery mildew (caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. avenae), one of the most destructive foliar diseases, was investigated. The segregation pattern of resistance was studied in progenies of F1, F2 and BC1 generations, derived from different cross combinations of three resistant oat genotypes viz., JPO-46, Palampur-1 and KRR-AK-26 with susceptible genotype HJ-8. Progenies were grown under natural epiphytotic and controlled conditions in the humid, sub-tropical climate of Palampur, located in the northwestern Himalayas. The resistant reaction of the F1 plants, derived from different cross combinations, suggested the dominance of resistance over susceptibility to powdery mildew in oat genotypes. F2 segregation of each cross showed a close fit to a 3:1 (Resistant: Susceptible) ratio as determined by significant chi-square value, both under field and controlled conditions, representing true genetic segregation. Backcross combinations (BC1) of each cross further agreed with the dominant behavior of the resistance, as shown by the segregation pattern of a 1:1 ratio. Hence, this study confirmed the single dominant gene-governed resistance of three genotypes, viz., JPO-46, Palampur-1, and KRR-AK-26, against powdery mildew. These lines can be utilized in breeding programs as valuable donors of resistance to powdery mildew for incorporation into the cultivated varieties of oats.

A study was conducted to assess the nutritional value of foliage of fourteen multipurpose tree species from the drought-prone southern semi-arid regions of India, with the aim of evaluating their potential as livestock feed during lean period. The total ash content in the foliage ranged from 6.25% in Tamarindus indica to 19.08% in Salvadora persica. Crude protein (CP) content varied significantly among species, with Morus alba exhibiting the highest CP (19.48%), while T. indica had the lowest (5.16%). The foliage of Ficus virens exhibited the highest carbohydrate content, whereas Leucaena leucocephala had the lowest. Crude fiber content was lower in Leucaena leucocephala, Moringa oleifera, Sesbania grandiflora, and Azadirachta indica compared to other species. With the exception of T. indica, all species had CP levels above 7%, meeting the minimum protein requirement for ruminal cellulolytic bacteria. Calcium content ranged from 75.64 mg in Gliricidia sepium to 189.89 mg in S. persica, while magnesium content varied from 7.23 mg in Gliricidiasepium to 38.80 mg in Crescentia cujete. M. oleifera foliage was particularly rich in iron (2.42 mg) and zinc (0.26 mg). Lignin content was high in A. indica, M. alba, S. grandiflora, and S. persica. Condensed tannin (CT) and total phenol (TP) contents varied significantly among the tree foliage. Total digestible nutrients (TDN), non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC) and forage nutritive value (FNV) also differed significantly among tree species. S. grandiflora had the highest TDN, while T. indica had the lowest. M. oleifera foliage showed the highest in vitro true digestibility (IVTD) and metabolizable energy (ME). The forage nutritive value (FNV) ranged from 14.51 in T. indica to 36.22 in L. leucocephala. Overall, foliage from these trees shows potential as an alternate nutritious fodder supplement during the lean period.

Globally though yellow maize is more popular, white maize has its own niche in specific parts around the world including Central America, southern United States, northern part of South America, Mexico, Africa and some parts of Asia. However, efforts on white maize improvement are very scarce, particularly in India. The aim of the study was to characterize white maize populations for yield traits and to establish heterotic patterns using molecular markers. Twenty seven white maize populations comprising of 16 from CIMMYT, Mexico, 6 from Srinagar and 5 from NBPGR were characterized for yield traits, viz., NRPE (number of rows per ear), NKPR (number of kernel per row) and HSWT (hundred seed weight), and also characterized using SSR markers. Six populations were identified for higher NRPE; four populations for higher NKPR and five populations with high HSWT. Structure analysis identified three major populations, viz., P1, P2 and P3 consisting five, eleven and ten pure sub-populations, respectively. Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) revealed that all the populations were distributed across the four quadrangles of the scatter plot. Efforts on heterotic grouping identified six populations for NRPE in HG-I (Heterotic Group-I), and three populations in HG-II (Heterotic Group-II). Further, all Indian populations were grouped in cluster A whereas CIMMYT populations are distributed in two different clusters (B and C). The populations were identified for different yield traits belonging to different heterotic groups. The inbred lines derived from these identified populations will have higher yield and will produce superior hybrids upon crossing inbreds from opposite heterotic groups.

An experiment was conducted during rabi season of 2020-21 to record the effect of different intercropping row ratios on feed and forage yield, land use efficiency and profitability. The experiment consisted of nine treatments viz. sole barley, sole berseem, intercropping of barley + berseem in 1:1, 2:1, 1:2, 2:2, 3:1, 1:3 and 3:3 row ratios. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with three replications. The results of the study revealed that in barley, maximum grain yield (3.46 t ha-1) was recorded with sole barley, which was at par with 2:1 row ratios of barley + berseem intercropping. Intercropping of barley + berseem in 2:1 row ratio also recorded maximum dry fodder yield (6.27 t ha-1), land equivalent ratio (1.21), relative crowding coefficient (3.73), phosphorus uptake (12.34 kg ha-1), net return (Rs 45834 ha-1) and benefit-cost ratio (2.44). Further, in forage berseem maximum green fodder yield (49.03 t ha-1), crude protein (18.27%), TDN content (64.08%), dry matter intake (2.71%), digestible dry matter (66.41%) and relative feed quality (141.16%) were recorded with sole berseem treatment followed by 1:3 and 1:2 row ratio of intercropping.

Understanding the genetic control of forage yield and related traits can decide breeding strategies for high-biomass cultivars. In this study, generation mean analysis was used to evaluate gene effects and non-allelic interactions for forage yield and its component traits in pearl millet using two experimental crosses developed by using two high-yielding inbreds IP 18168 and IP 22419 and their six generations (P1, P2, F1, BC1, BC2 and F2) were independently evaluated during Kharif season 2022. Significant variability and the inadequacy of an additive-dominance model highlighted the role of epistasis, with additive × dominance interactions prominent for forage yield and plant height. Dominance and epistatic effects were also crucial for traits like leaf and internode number, leaf length and leaf width. These findings indicated one or two generations of selfing followed by recurrent selection in advanced generations will be useful in enhancing the frequency of genes with increasing effects on green forage yield. Our findings could be helpful in designing the forage pearl millet breeding programs in India.