Seed production performance of fodder sorghum in a Gliricidia sepium based Silvopastoral system

Sorghum (Jowar) is an important fodder crop and it is fed to livestock as both green and dry fodder. The acute shortage of quality green fodder and forage seed remains a major constraint to livestock productivity in India. This study evaluated the seed production performance of fodder sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.)] variety Co(FS)29 grown under a Gliricidia sepium based silvopastoral system in degraded wasteland conditions at Institute of Animal Nutrition Kattupakkam, Tamil Nadu. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design with two sowing methods viz., Line sowing (60 × 15 cm) and Broadcasting replicated four times and assessed over three successive harvests. Results indicated that line sowing consistently produced higher seed yield across all harvests with total seed yield of 129.4 kg ha⁻¹ compared to 83.2 kg ha⁻¹ under broadcasting. Growth parameters such as plant height, tiller number and dry fodder yield were higher under line sowing. Seed yield declined with successive harvests, with the first cutting recording the highest yield and superior growth attributes. Economic analysis revealed that line sowing generated higher net returns (Rs. 38,566 ha⁻¹) compared to broadcasting (Rs. 11,984 ha⁻¹). The study demonstrates that line sowing of fodder sorghum under a Gliricidia sepium silvopastoral system is a viable and economically sustainable approach for improving forage seed production.