Livestock contributes enormously in food and nutritional security apart from livelihood security to rural population all over the world. India has the largest number of livestock, representing over 17% of world population. Availability of forage legumes is essential for better animal health, production and increasing the nutritive value of forage-based rations, besides providing a source of biological nitrogen fixation for enriching soil, reducing land degradation and mitigating climate change. However, supply of quality green fodder in India is extremely precarious, and the gap is huge against demand. The major fodder legume crops cultivated in India are Medicago sativa, Trifolium alexandrinum, Vigna unguiculata, Vigna umbellate and range legumes are Stylosanthes spp., Desmanthus virgatus, and Clitoria ternatea. Indian subcontinent represents wide spectrum of eco-climates and reported diversity of 21 forage legumes genera viz., Desmodium, Lablab, Stylosanthes, Vigna, Macroptelium, Centrosema and browse plants Leucaena, Sesbania, Albizia, Bauhinia, Cassia, Grewia, etc. Diversity of forage legumes were collected (>3200 accessions), evaluated and sources for different biotic and abiotic stress tolerance were identified, apart from >50 cultivars developed. Considering these aspects, tropical legumes for livestock production, soil health and ecosystem services, diversity, evaluation and breeding for improved varieties are discussed in this chapter.

This study evaluated 5 annual and 11 perennial Indian pasture legumes species for their nutritive value, dry matter and mineral contents and in vitro fermentation parameters. Legume species differed significantly (p < 0.05) in various nutritional aspects such as organic matter, crude protein (CP), ether extract, fibres and protein fractions. Perennial Clitoria ternateaa had higher (p < 0.05) buffer soluble protein (477), while neutral detergent soluble protein was highest in annually grown Lablab purpureus (420 g/kg CP). Atylosia scarabaeoides (AS) had higher levels of nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs) (392 g/kg dry matter (DM)) than structural carbohydrates (SC) (367 g/kg DM). Its rapidly degradable fraction (51.7 g/kg (total carbohydrate) tCHO) was lower (p < 0.05) than other fractions of carbohydrates. Total digestible nutrients, digestible energy and metabolisable energy varied, with Desmodium virgatus (DV) having higher values and Stylosanthas seabrana (SSe) having the lowest. Predicted dry matter intake, digestible dry matter and relative feed value also showed significant differences (p < 0.05). Annual grasses such as Dolichos biflorus, Macroptilium atropurpureum, Rhynchosia minima (RM) were found to be better balanced with micro minerals. In vitro dry matter degradability, partition factor, short-chain fatty acids and microbial protein production of legumes varied significantly (p < 0.05). Gas and CH₄ production (mL/g and mL/g (digestible DM) DDM) also varied, with Clitoria ternatea-blue having the highest gas production and C. ternatea -white (CT-w) and AS having lower CH₄ production. Methane in total gas was low for DV, RM and CT-w (8.99%, 9.72% and 9.51%). Loss of DE and ME as CH₄ varied (p < 0.05) among the legumes. Each legume offers unique benefits, potentially allowing for tailored combinations of annual and perennial legumes to optimize rumen feed efficiency.

Cenchrus is important genera of grasses inhabiting tropical pastures and the Indian grasslands system. Its forage value is well established to sustain nomadic livestock and wildlife. This study deals with the evaluation of the representative set of global Cenchrus germplasm collection with 79 accessions belonging to six species (C. ciliaris, C. setigerus, C. echinatus, C. myosuroides, C. pennisetiformis, and C. biflorus) at flowering stage. Crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), cellulose, and lignin values were in the range of 61.1–136, 640–749, 373–490, 277–375, and 35.6–75.50 g kg⁻¹DM, respectively, while sugar contents varied from 11.6 to 101 mg g⁻¹ DM. From the evaluated germplasm, 14 accessions of C. ciliaris having >70 mg g⁻¹ DM sugar contents were selected and further evaluated for protein, fiber, carbohydrate and protein fractions, palatability indices, in vitro CH₄ production, and ensiling traits. Protein contents were lower in EC397323 (61.8) and higher in IG96-96 (91.5), while the NDF, ADF, cellulose, and lignin contents varied between 678–783, 446–528, 331–405, and 39.6–62.0 g kg⁻¹DM, respectively. The carbohydrate and protein fractions of selected accessions differed (p < 0.05), and the sugar contents varied (p < 0.05) between 74.6 and 89.6 mg⁻¹g DM. Dry matter intake (DMI) and relative feed value (RFV) of accessions varied (p < 0.05) and were in the range of 1.53–1.77% and 58.2–73.8 g kg⁻¹ DM, respectively. The total digestible nutrients (TDNs), digestible energy (DE), and metabolizable energy (ME) of selected accessions varied between 362–487 g kg⁻¹ DM, 6.62–8.90, and 5.42–7.29 Mj kg⁻¹ DM, respectively. In vitro gas and CH₄ production (24 h) varied (p < 0.05) between 73.1 to 146 and 7.72 to 21.5 ml/g, respectively, while the degraded dry matter (g kg⁻¹ DM) and CH₄ (ml/g DDM) ranged between 399–579 and 17.4–47.2, respectively. The DM contents at ensiling, silage pH, and lactic acid contents of accessions differed (p < 0.05) and ranged between 185–345 g kg⁻¹ DM, 5.10–6.05, and 1.39–23.3 g kg⁻¹ DM, respectively. Wide genetic diversity existed in germplasm and selected C. ciliaris accessions for protein fiber, energy, sugar, and other nutritional traits. Silage prepared from EC397366, IG96-96, IG96-50, and EC397323 had pH and lactic acid contents acceptable for moderate to good quality silage of tropical range grasses.

Berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum) is a winter season legume fodder crop widely cultivated in the central and northern parts of India. It is considered the ‘King of fodder’ for its high quality green...

Berseem or Egyptian clover (Trifolium alexandrinum) comprises 3 ecotypes, Miskawi, Fahli and Saidi, with Miskawi being the most widely cultivated. The narrow genetic base coupled with low availability and utilization of genetic resources is hindering genetic improvement of Berseem in India. Exploitation of new and diverse sources of variation is essential for the genetic enhancement of the cultivated genepool of Berseem. In the present study 7 populations of the 3 T. alexandrinum ecotypes were evaluated over 2 years to analyze the patterns of biomass accumulation, phenology, nutritional value and seed yield. Results indicate that Fahli and Saidi populations accumulated higher biomass per unit area than the tested populations of Miskawi and were earlier maturing. While crude protein (CP) concentration in forage was higher for Miskawi, Fahli and Saidi ecotypes contained more than 17% CP at 50% flowering. Further, seed yields of Fahli and Saidi populations were significantly higher than those of Miskawi. It is possible that genetic improvement of cultivated populations of Miskawi could be achieved by incorporating genes for dry matter yield and seed yield from the populations of Fahli and Saidi ecotypes.