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Effect of Lopping Intensity on Prosopis Cineraria Leaf Fodder Production in Thar Desert

Jabrinder Singh and Mukul Bishnoi

Prosopis cineraria (L.) Druce is extensively lopped for fodder by farmers in the arid and semi arid areas of Rajasthan and Haryana. Generally, complete lopping is practiced. The effect of different lopping intensities on the leaf fodder yield of this species has been studied and the results are reported in the present paper. Based on the above study, it can be concluded that the fodder yield was generally more from the trees that are lopped annually as compared to those lopped once in two years or once in three years. It was also observed that, the yield of forage increases as the tree girth increases. The results obtained led to the conclusion that Prosopis cineraria trees should be lopped annually to gainmaximumfodder yield. It can also be concluded that the trees with an optimum girth (girth>60cms) should be lopped for higher returns in the form of fodder production.