Fertilizer and irrigation effects on forage protein and energy production under semi-arid conditions of Pakistan.

Highlights: [•] Two cropping systems (common and drought adopted) were compared for fertilizer and irrigation effects on forage quality. [•] Irrigation water use efficiencies for crude protein (CP) and metabolizeable energy (ME) were also studied. [•] Fertilizer and irrigation did not affect the quality parameters significantly. [•] Drought adopted system proved more water efficient for CP and ME production. [•] Nutritional quality of both systems was in acceptable range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]