Harnessing pruning regimes to drive forage productivity in Terminalia chebula based silvopastoral systems in the subtropical zone of the north western Himalayas
摘要
The present study investigated the impact of different pruning intensities of Terminalia chebula on the growth, yield, quality attributes, soil properties, and economic returns of forage grass species under a silvopastoral system. The experiment comprised four pruning treatments (no pruning, 20%, 40%, and 60% pruning) along with an open condition (no trees only grasses), and four grass species viz., Napier grass, Guinea grass, Setaria (PSS-1), and Setaria (S-92). Results revealed that grass growth and productivity parameters such as plant height, number of tillers, leaf-to-stem ratio, and green and dry fodder yield were significantly enhanced under open conditions and progressively improved with increased pruning intensity. Among the treatments, 60% pruning consistently recorded superior grass performance due to better light availability, while unpruned tree canopies had a suppressive effect. Napier grass showed the highest average biomass yield (17.72 t ha−1) and crude protein yield (0.415 t ha−1), whereas Guinea grass recorded the highest average crude protein content (11.67%). Soil organic carbon and available N, P, K content were increased by 14.71%, 14.88%, 24.24% and 10.33%, respectively, under unpruned trees due to greater litter deposition, but productivity was lower due to excessive canopy shading and greater competition for light interception. Economic analysis demonstrated that the combination of 40% pruning with Napier grass yielded the highest net return and benefit–cost ratio, indicating an optimal balance between ecological and economic sustainability. The findings highlight the significance of moderate canopy pruning for enhancing forage production, improving soil fertility, and maximizing profitability in silvopastoral systems.