Effect of integrated nutrient sources on fodder yield and quality of sweet sorghum 193 Effect of integrated nutrient sources on fodder yield and quality of sweet sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) moench.] and phillipesara (Phaseolus trilobus) intercropping system Shyam Singh 1# , Kewalanand 1 , Ramesh Chandra 1 and Anchal Dass 2 1 College of Agriculture, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar-263 145 (Uttarakhand) 2 Division of Agronomy, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi- 110 012 e-mail: shyamsingh15350@gmail.com Received : September 2014 ; Revised accepted : April 2014 ABSTRACT A field experiment was conducted during kharif seasons of 2007 and 2008 to evaluate the effect of ecofriendly source of nutrients on fodder production and quality of sweet sorghum and phillipesara intercropping system. The growth parameters, viz. plant height, dry matter accumulation, quality parameters, viz. crude protein content and yield, digestibility and green- and dry-fodder yield of sweet sorghum increased in both sole and intercropping systems due to application of all integrated sources of nutrients; significantly higher values of these parameters were recorded with application of 50% nitrogen through inorganic source + 50% through vermicompost. However, all growth parameters except plant height, and green- and dry-fodder yield of phillipesara were significantly higher under sole crop compared to its intercropping with sweet sorghum. Irrespective of nitrogen sources, intercropping system recorded LER of about 1.5 which indicates tremendous advantage of intercropping sweet-sorghum with phillipesara.Total productivity of the systems in terms of dry 'pachang' equivalent yield and gross returns were twice higher and B:C ratio was thrice higher in sole cropping of phillipesara than intercropping with sweet sorghum. Among nitrogen sources, supply of 50% of recommended N through inorganic source + 50% through vermicompost was most productive and remunerative. Key words: Sweet sorghum, intercropping, phillipesara, protein, digestibility, green fodder. Ann. Agric. Res. New Series Vol. 35 (2) : 193-199 (2014) The requirement of green fodder is generally met through fodder sorghum grown as sole and intercropped with legumes. Among different sorghums, sweet sorghum is capable of producing high dry matter and biomass in its shorter growth period, with high in vitro dry matter digestibility compared to fodder sorghum (Morris and McCormic, 1994). The green and dry fodder yields were higher with better quality when sweet sorghum was intercropped with cowpea (Thippeswami and Alagundagi, 2001). Rao and Willey (1980) also advocated the intercropping of legumes with cereal fodder for enhancing the production and quality of fodder over sole crop of cereals. However, information on forage production in relation to integrated nutrient management in sweet sorghum sole or intercropped with legumes is lacking. Hence, the present investigation was carried to work out suitable integrated nutrient sources for quality fodder of sweet sorghum grown as sole or intercropped with phillipesara. MATERIALS AND METHODS The experiment was conducted at G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, # Present address: Subject matter specialist, Agronomy, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, O/o Dy. Director Agriculture, Hathras-204 101, Uttar Pradesh