Uttar Pradesh

Maize is an ideal forage crop grown throughout the country. It is quick growing high yielding and supplies palatable and nutritious forage which can be fed at any stage of growth without any risk to animals. It can be fed as green or dry and makes excellent silage.

Maize produces good quality herbaceous fodder with high palatability. On average, it contains 9-10%CP, 60-64% NDF, 38-41% ADF, 23-25% Hemicellulose, and 28-30%Cellulose on dry matter basis when harvested at milk to early-dough stage.

Soil Conditions

Well-drained, leveled and fertile loamy soil with neutral to slightly acidic reaction is best suited for its growth. It is susceptible to water stagnation and moisture stress.

Varieties

Varieties	Areas of cultivation	Green fodder (t/ ha)
African Tall	Entire country	55-80
Vijai, Moti and Jawahar composite	Entire country	35-47
J-I006	Punjab	45-55
A-de cuba	North East	25-44
VL-54	Hilly areas	30-45

Cropping system

Cowpea is the preferred legume for mixed cropping with maize. For mixed crop 30 Kg maize+ 20 kg cowpea/ha should be sown in paired alternate rows (2:2). For mixed crop 35 Kg N+40 Kg P₂O₅/ha should be added at sowing time and another 35 Kg N at knee high stage of maize. Atrazine should not be used for weed control in mixed crop otherwise cowpea will also be killed.

Field preparation

One operation with soil turning plough followed by two cross harrowings and leveling are adequate to get a weed free and leveled seed bed.

Seed & Sowing

Maize has bold seed size. It requires 50-60 kg seeds depending upon size. Seed should be sown in lines spaced at 30 cm. For summer sowing in irrigated areas, last week of February to last week of March-April is the appropriate time. Rainy season crop is sown with the beginning of rains in June-July. Rabi crop is sown in October-November particularly in eastern and southern parts of the country. In hills sowing is taken up in May.

Nutrient management

100 Kg N+30 Kg P₂O₅ /ha is required for fodder maize. Half of the N dose should be given at sowing and remaining half at knee high stage of the crop. In zinc deficient soils (below 0.56 ppm Zn) 15-20 Kg zinc sulphate per hectare should also be broad cost at sowing.

Water management

The maize crop is comparatively MORE to sensitive to excess moist and stress. It requires 5-6 irrigations at 10-12 days interval during summer season, 3-4 during Rabi and 1-2 during rainy season when rainfall interval exceeds 12 days.

Weed management

At 3-4 weeks crop stage hoeing with weeder cum mulcher takes care of the weeds. Pre-emergence spray of Atrazine @ 0.75 to 1.0 kg a.i. /ha in 600 litres of water ensures effective control of weeds.

Disease management

Downey mildew, which can easily be identified with symptoms like narrow, chlorotic or yellowish stripe later developing in brown lesions. The disease is seed borne and may be escaped by seed treatment with Thiram@ 2g/kg seed. The bacterial stalk rot in which plant shows rotting from base of stalks upward or from the top downward. The soil trenching with bleaching powder@ 3g/10L water controls the disease. The brown spot in which lower parts of plants appear slightly bleached is caused due to water stagnation, drain of excess water controls the disease.

Insect pest management

The important & insects attacking the maize is shootfly shoot borer or cut warm. These can be controlled by spraying of Malathion.

Harvesting & Threshing

The crop is ready for harvest at silk stage for fodder purpose, which continues up to milk stage. The early harvesting though produce good quality fodder but yield is reduced. In case of late harvesting the fodder quality is impaired.

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Package of Practices of Napiar

Submitted by satyapriya on Fri, 12/04/2013 - 15:13

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Introduction

The hybrid Napier for fodder is highly valued for its abundant herbage yield, palatability and good herbage quality. It contains 8.7-10.2% CP, 28-30.5% crude fibre and 10-11.5% ash on dry matter basis. It provides nutritious and palatable fodder all the year round. It grows faster and produces more herbage and the stems are hard. It is triploid grass and thus does not produce seeds. The oxalate contain of some of the varieties may be high (> 3%). It can be mitigated if harvested at longer intervals (45-60 days). The grass is ideal for green fodder, silage and hay. Legumes fodder may be mixed with grass in the ratio of 1:2 to produce balanced silage. A combination of napier grass with berseem, lucerne or cowpea provide good quality palatable fodder for cattle. It is considered as a soil restoring crop also as grass leaves the soil richer in organic matter.

Climatic Requirements

It grow well at high temperatures, can withstand to drought conditions for fairly long spell. It grows in areas with rainfall of over 1000 mm but it cannot tolerate the flooding /water logging. The optimum temperature is 31⁰C but it performs well in areas having temperatures above 15⁰ C. Light showered alternated with bright sunshine are very congenial to the crop. It is a tropical grass which can withstand drought for a short spell and regenerate with rains.

Soil Conditions

It can grow on almost all type and fertility status of soils but being exhaustive species, well drained clay loam soils are preferred. The crop can bear soils acidity to limited extent (pH-5.5).

Varieties

Varieties	Area of cultivation	Green fodder yield (t/ha)
IGFRI Hybrid napier No. 3 and 6	Central India, north-east hills and northern hills	80
Pusa giant & NB 21	Whole country	100-160
Co 1, Co 2 and Co 3	Tamilnadu, Karnataka, AP and Gujrat	120-170
IGFRI 7	Hilly, sub humid, and sub temperate India	140-170
PBN 83	Punjab	125-170
IGFRI 10	Whole country	150 -180

Field preparation

It is a long duration crop, hence periodical tillage activities like other crops are not possible after the crop occupies the field. Generally 2-3 ploughing followed by planking is required to obtain the fine tilth.

Seed & Sowing

It is propagated by stem cuttings with two buds called rooted slips. About 25000 to 40000 rooted slips or stem cuttings/ha are needed. Planting can be done at any time of year except during winter months. February planting is most suitable in areas where assured irrigation facility is available. Under rainfed conditions July-August planting is preferred. Stem cuttings are placed into the soil at an angle of 45⁰, so that one node is pushed into the soil and one remains above the soil surface. Rooted slips are prepared by uprooting a clump, dividing it into rooted slips with small stem. They should be planted in to field with a spacing of 70x50 cm for sole cropping and 100x50 cm for intercropping. Irrigation should be done just after the planting of crop.

Nutrient management

Apply NPK fertilizers as per soil test values along with recommended FYM/compost. In absence of soil test results, 20-25 t FYM should be well mixed in soil at the time of land preparation. At sowing time a basal dose of 60kg N, 50 kg P₂O₅ and 40kg K₂O/ha should be applied in bands prior to planting. Subsequently 20kg and 10kg N should respectively be top dressed just after and 20 days after the cut. Alternatively, the crop may be fertilized with 40 kg N just after the cut.

Water management

The crop should be planted in well moist soil condition. The crop needs regular irrigation at an interval of 15-18 days in March to May, at 10-12 days interval I summer months. During monsoon seasons the irrigation is rarely needed in event of long monsoon failure.

Weed management

The gap filling may be done after 20 days of planting. Regular hand weeding/hoeing and ensures good aeration and crop growth as well as control weed growth.

Harvesting & Threshing

First cut at 60-65 days after planting and subsequent cuts are obtained at 25-30 days interval. At least 6-8 cuts are possible annually. In order to encourage quicker regeneration from the basal buds, stubbles of 10-15 cm are to be left out at harvest.

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Package of Practices of Guinea Grass

Submitted by satyapriya on Fri, 12/04/2013 - 15:02

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Introduction

Guinea grass is cultivated throughout the countryfor green nutritious fodder. This may be grown in partially shaded field (orchard). This can be prepared as hay or silage.

Climatic Requirements

Irrigated crop cultivated throughout the year whereas rainfed crop is cultivated only during monsoon season.

Soil Conditions

All types of soils with good drainage are preferred.

Varieties

Varieties	Area of cultivation	Green fodder yield (t/ha)
Macuenni	Kerala (rainfed)	60-80
Hamil	South, North, North-west and central India	90-130
PGG-1 and PGG-9	Hill, north west and central India	85-130
PGG-13 and PGG-14	Hills and central India	95-140
PGG-19 and PGG-101	Punjab	90-130
Guinea grass Co 1 and Guinea grass Co 2	Tamil Nadu	250-280

Field preparation

2-3 ploughing followed by planking is essential for good crop.

Seed & Sowing

Spacing- 50X30 cm or 90X45 cm

Seed rate- 20-25 days old nursery of 2.5 kg seed or 25000 to 66000/ha rooted slips are sufficient.

Nutrient management

Water management

The grass should be planted in well moist soil condition. The crop needs regular irrigation at an interval of 15-18 days in March to May, at 10-12 days interval I summer months. During monsoon seasons the irrigation is rarely needed in event of long monsoon failure.

Weed management

The gap filling may be done after 20 days of planting. Regular hand weeding/hoeing and ensures good aeration and crop growth as well as control the weed growth.

Harvesting & Threshing

First cut at 60-65 days after planting and subsequent cuts are obtained at 25-30 days interval.

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Package of Practices of Jowar

Submitted by satyapriya on Fri, 12/04/2013 - 14:48

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Introduction

Jowar is the most important forage crop of Northern India and can be grown over a wide range of soils. It is nutritious and palatable and can be fed as green, dry or as conserved fodder in the form of silage or hay.

Sorghum is most important fodder of tropical climate. On average it contains 9-10%CP,65-65%,NDF 37-42% ADF,32% Cellulose and 21-23%.Hemicellulose on dry matter basis when harvested at 50% flowering stage since it is largely grown for grain & solver is used for feeding the animals. Its stover contains 6-6.4%, cp and 32-36%, crude fibre.

Climatic Requirements

Single or double cut varieties are sown during June-July, while multicut types are sown during March-April with irrigation and provide four cuts till October-November in Northern Indian. In Southern India, where minimum temperatures do not fall below 15°c, it is grown during Rabi season also. To overcome the possible danger of HCN poisoning, the crop should be properly irrigated during summer and harvested only after 40-45 days of growth.

Soil Conditions

Well-drained sandy loam to loam soils with a pH range of 6.5 to 7.5 are ideally suited for its growth. The field should be thoroughly prepared and leveled for weeds free sowing. The crop stand and growth is obtained better on well-prepared soils.

Varieties

The following varieties of fodder sorghum are recommended for cultivation in different areas of the country.

Varieties	Areas of cultivation	Green fodder (t/ha)
Single cut
PC-6,9,23 HC- 171, 260 (Early to medium duration)	Whole country	35-50
U.P. Chari- 1 & 2	U.P., Maharashtra, A.P. & Tamil Nadu	35-45
HC-136, Raj. Chari- 1&2	Whole country (long duration)	37-50
Double cut
CO-27	Tamil Nadu	45-65
AS-16	Gujarat
Multicut Types
SSG-988, 898, 855	Whole country	75-105

Field preparation

One ploughing followed by two (crosswise) harrowing are sufficient to get a good seed bed. The crop can not tolerate longer water stagnation hence, good drainage facility is important.

Seed & Sowing

Sowing should be done by drill at distance of 25 cm row to row using a seed rate of 30-40 kg/ha. For small seeded sudan types, a seed rate of 30 kg/ha is sufficient. Broadcasting of seeds should be avoided. The seed should not be put more than 2-2.5 cm depth during sowing.

For summer sowing of multicut types mid March to mid April is the best period, while for monsoon season crop sowing should be done preferably between 25^th June and 10^th July. In southern India it is grown during Rabi season also for which sowing is done in October-November.

Nutrient management

The field should be manured with 10 t FYM to meet requirement of secondary and micro nutrients. Basal application of 60:40:40kg N: P2O5-K2O should be given at sowing time followed by top dressing with 30kg N/ha one month after sowing. In low rainfall and rainfed areas 60 Kg N/ha is applied at sowing time. It has been observed that if possible 20-30 N/ha may be applied coincided with rainfall at 30-35day stage If crop suffers dry spell spraying of 2% urea solution should be done after release of stress. In S deficient soils (below 10 ppm available S) the application of 40-60 Kg S/ha is advantageous not only improving biomass but quality also particularly in summer crop.

Water management

July sown rainy season crop may also need l-2 irrigations depending upon distribution of rains. For summer sown crop 5-6 irrigations are required due to high evaporative demand of atmosphere. In Southern region Rabi season crops needs about 4 irrigations.

Weed management

One hoeing through weeder cum mulcher at 3-4 weeks' crop stage is very effective to control the weeds. Pre-emergence application of atrazine @ 0.50 kg a.i. ha in 600 litres of water is also very effective. This should be applied only in pure crop of sorghum. For sorghum sown inter cropped with legumes, pre emergence spraying of alcohol @ 1.0mg a.i. should be done.

Insect pest management

Sorghum is attacked by number of insects &disease pathoggens. Some of the important diseases are Anthracnose, sooty stripe and zonate leaf spot, among insects shootfly stem borer &sorghum midge is important. The shoot fly &stem borer can be controlled with spray of carbofuran/Malathion@ 125 ml/ha, whereas sorghum midge can be controlled with spray of endosulphan@ 0.075.To control the diseases seed treatment with Thiram@ 3g/kg seed takes care of almost all diseases. Spray of carbendazim@ 5g/l water control Anthracnose diseases in early stages. Summer sown crop is very susceptible to shoot fly. For this carbofuran 3G@ 3-4 kg/ha may be applied in trench at sowing time. Phosphamidon @ 0.02% after one week of crop emergence is very effective. To avoid attack of stem borers, crop should be sown during July as it is not attacked by the borers during rainy season. Spraying the crop 2-3 times with endosulfan @ 0.05% at 10-15 days interval is also effective.

Harvesting & Threshing

The crop should be harvested at 60-75 days of sowing (50%, flowering stage) in case of single cut varieties and first cut at 40-45 days and subsequent cut at 30 days of intervals incase of multicut varieties.

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Package of Practices of Cowpea

Submitted by satyapriya on Fri, 12/04/2013 - 13:41

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Introduction

Cowpea is a quick growing leguminous forage crop usually grown mixed with cereal fodders and grasses to improve the nutritive value of the herbage. It is an excellent cover crop, which suppresses weeds and enriches the soil. Cowpea can be grown under partial shade conditions. It can be grown in kharif as well s in zaid reason.

Cowpea fodder is very rich and nutritious fodder. It contains 20-24% crude protein, 43-49%neutral detergent fibre, 34-37% acid detergent fibre, 23-25%,cellulose and 5-6% hemicelluloses on dry matter basis. The digestibility of cowpea fodder is above 70%.

Soil Conditions

Cowpea can be grown on variety of soils. The plants preference light soils. Loam and sandy loam soils with good drainage are conducive to good crop growth.

Varieties

Varieties:

Varieties	Areas of cultivation	Green fodder (t/ha)
IGFRI-450	North India	30-40
UPC-5287	North India	35-40
IFC-8503, EC-4216	North, west and central India	30-40
UPC-5286	Whole country	30-45
IFC-8401	Whole country	30-45
UPC-4200	North-East region	35-45
GFC-1,2 & 3	Gujarat	25-35
Sheweta	Maharashtra	30-35

Field preparation

Field should be prepared by two crosswise harrowing and planking so as to get a levelled and weed free seed bed for quick germination and faster initiate growth.

Seed & Sowing

Seed rate and sowing method: The sowing should be done in lines at an inter row spacing of 25-30 cm using a seed rate of 35-40kg/ha.The seed should be sown with seed drill or behind the plough at 2-3 cm depth. Thinning operation may be done after germination to maintain interrow spacing of 5-8 cm between plants.

Sowing Time: Cowpea requires warm climate with good atmospheric humidity. ItsSowing time extends from March to middle of July. In irrigated areas sowing can be done during summer while in rainfed areas, it can be done after commencement of rains. In southern region, sowing of crop for fodder may be done throughout the year.

Nutrient management

Cowpea is a leguminous crop and capacity to fix atmospheric nitrogen. However, for good growth 20 Kg N+60 Kg P₂05/ha should be applied at time of sowing for good crop growth. In sulphur deficient soil (below 10ppm) 20-40 kg Sulphur per hectare is recommended for quality fodder biomass.

Water management

Summer sown crop requires 6-7 irrigations at 8-10 days interval. Normally the monsoon crop does not require irrigation except in case of long dry spells in which the crop should be irrigated at an interval of 10-12 days.

Weed management

In general kharif crops are densely infested with weeds due to conductive wealth for growth. In cowpea, the weed problem is severe in early stages. After 30 days the crops cover the area and problem is minimized.

Mechanical control: one manual weeding or hoeing with weeder cum mulcher at 3 weeks crop stage is effective to check weed growth.

Chemical Control:Pre-plant soil incorporation of trifluralin @ 0.75 kg a.i. /ha has been found useful to arrest weed growth.

Harvesting & Threshing

Summer crop should be harvested after 70-75 days of sowing. Rainy season crop is harvested after 50-60 days of sowing at 50% flowering stage.

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Package of Practices of Gwar

Submitted by satyapriya on Fri, 12/04/2013 - 11:43

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Introduction

Clusterbean/Gwar is an annual, erect herb growing to a height of 1-2 m with trifoliate leaves and rose coloured flowers. It is indigenous to India and cultivated in all parts of India. It is a drought resistant vegetable cum fodder crop suitable for cultivation in arid and semi-arid regions. It is a soil restorative crop, especially suitable for light sandy or alluvial soil.

Being leguminous in nature it produces much palatable green fodder. 17-20% C.P., 42-48% neutral detergent fibre, 37-42% acid detergent fibre, 23.5-25.3% cellulose and 8-12% hemi cellulose.

Soil Conditions

Light textured sandy to sandy loam soils with adequate drainage are ideally suited for its growth.

Field preparation

The field should be prepared by 2-3 harrowing to ensure a leveled and weed free soil surface.

Seed & Sowing

Seed rate and sowing method:

Sowing is done in lines 25 cm apart using a seed rate of 35 kg/ha. In dryland semi arid regions, where moisture stress is common phenomenon sowing is recommended in 30-40 cm apart rows with reduced seed rate of 25-30 kg/ha to have a low plant population. The seed should be sown with Kaira under irrigated conditions and Pora in drylands.

Sowing time:

Summer crop is sown in March-April under irrigated conditions Kharif sowings is done in June-July with the onset of monsoon, under north Indian conditions for a lush higher fodder yields. However, in southern parts of the country Rabi sowings can be done in October-November.

Nutrient management

Gwar should be fertilized with 20 Kg N + 50 Kg P₂O₅/ha at sowing time.

Water management

Summer crop needs 3-4 irrigations whereas rainy season crop generally does not require any irrigation. However, if long dry spell prevails, one or two irrigation may be provided. Rabi season crop in southern India needs 3-4 irrigations.

Weed management

Mechanical: One operation with weeder cum mulcher at 3-4 weeks crop stage is very useful for checking weed growth.

Chemical: Pre-plant soil incorporation of Nitralin @ 0.75 kg a.i. /ha has been found effective.

Harvesting & Threshing

The crop should be harvested at bloom to pod formation stage (60-75 days after sowing).

Yield

A good crop of cluster bean yield 30-35 tons green fodder yield /ha.

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Package of Practices of Berseem

Submitted by satyapriya on Fri, 12/04/2013 - 10:26

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Introduction

Berseem or Egyptian clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) is popularly Known as the king of fodder crops for irrigated condition of Northern India because It is available for 6-7 month from November to May, give 4 to 6 cuts during winter, spring and early summer seasons and provides nutrition, succulent and palatable forage, milch animals yielding up to litres of milk can be maintained with a little supplement of concentrate mixture. The green forage can also be converted in to excellent hay and utilized for enrichment of poor quality roughages like kadbis and straw. Besides, Berseem has got a soil building characteristics and improves the physical, Chemical and biological properties of the soil resulting in better growth and yield of crops in rotation. Thus, the crop is very important from the view point of conservation framing and important and imparts sustainability to soil productivity and crop production system as a whole.

Climatic Requirements

Berseem is adapted to cool and moderately cold climate. Such conditions prevail during winter and spring seasons in north India which is considered as favourable and productive zone for this crop. The optimum temperature at the time of sowing berseem is 25⁰C. For Iuxuriant vegetative growth temperature range of 25⁰C to 27^oC has been found ideal. Uniformly high temperature in south Indian conditions limits the cultivation of berseem.

Soil Conditions

Well drained clay to clay loam soils rich in humus, calcium and phosphorus are suitable for good crop of berseem. However, it can be grown on sandy loam soil but requires frequent irrigations. Comparatively heavy textured soils considered better due to greater water retaining capacity and congenial edaphic environments for crop persistency.

Cropping system

Berseem finds its place in different cropping systems in the following ways:

In sequential cropping systems with annual grain crops.

In overlapping cropping systems with perennial grasses.

In parallel cropping system with rabi grain crops

The first two cases imply to intensive forage production systems in milkshed areas to meet the forage requirement round the year. These systems are adopted on specialized dairy farms to harvest green nutritious forage with twin objectives of:

Stabilizing milk production over the periods

Reducing the concentrate mixture on animal ration

Economizing on use of fertilizer nitrogen in cropping systems

The third system may be adopted by small farmers who intend to produce food and forage concurrently from the limited land area. In this system two approaches could be applied:

Association cropping in space and time

Grain and forage cropping in proportionate area

However, berseem in intensive forge cropping system offers the following advantage:

Growing of berseem ensures effective utilization of land during dormant phase of perennial grass component.

Combination cropping of berseem and grasses helps in balanced utilization of plant nutrients from different soil depths.

Berseem improves physical, chemical and biological properties of soil and thus improves its fertility status.

Berseem provides nitrogen nutrition to companion grasses on one hand and cowpea is grown on residual phosphate fertility of berseem on the other. Thus there is considerable saving of fertilizer nutrients.

Berseem in winter acts as live mulch and protects the grass tussocks from damage by prom age by providing moist soil conditions.

The system provides opportunities for rational use of water as extra irrigation are not required for the establishment of grass in standing berseem crop.

Intercropping perennial grasses with forage legumes has been reported to reduce anti quality constituents like oxalates in hybrid napier, besides providing balanced and nutritious herbage to animals.

There is almost continuous flow of green forage throughout the year from the same piece of land which is important for farmers with small size of holding.

Field preparation

Land preparation:

The land should be perfectly leveled to obtain even distribution of irrigation water and to avoid water stagnation Berseem can be grown in saline sodic soils if salt concentration is not allowed to accumulate above certain critical level through field flooding and leaching to provide optimum conditions for seed germination and crop establishment. Once established, the crop can tolerate fair amount of salt concentration. Moreover, rice- berseem rotation is recommended to reclaim such soils as these crops require frequent and heavy irrigations which cause considerable leaching of salts from root zone.

Seed & Sowing

Seed cleaning:

     Usually (Chicorium intybus) is found admixed with berseem seed. Since the size of chicory seed resembles with berseem seed; it becomes difficult to separate them by ordinary methods.

      However, the seed of berseem is oval while the seed of is conical. To remove chicory seeds, 10% common salt solution is used. The chicory seeds being lighter in weight then berseem seed float on the surface while berseem seeds settle down at the bottom of container. In this way chicory seeds may be drained off and berseem seed collected.

Seed inoculation:

     Being a leguminous crop, berseem enriches the soil with sizeable quantities of nitrogen through symbiotic nitrogen fixation with the help of Rhizobium bacteria .Therefore, berseem seed should be inoculated with culture of Rhizobium trifollii to enhance the process of biological nitrogen fixation in root nodules especially in soils where berseem is being grown for the first time

Seed rate:

      Under normal condition, the optimum seed rate of berseem has been found to be 25 kg/ha. When the sowing is taken up earlier than the appropriate time, the quantity of seed used is increased by 15to20%to compensate the loss of seedling mortality occurring due to prevailing high atmospheric temperature.

Sowing time:

       Sowing time is an important factor governing germination, seedling survival, number of cuts and herbage production. Berseem should be sown when the temperature is in the range of 25-27^oC. Thus, the optimum sowing time of berseem in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh (the bowl cultivation) is the entire month of October. In Bengal and Gujarat sowing is taken up only in the month of November. Sowing can continue upto first week of December in eastern region. Delayed sowing results in loss or one of two cuttings. Timely sowing extends the period of forage availability and thereby increases the total yield.

Sowing method:

       The seed bed for berseem sowing is prepared by filling the water to a depth of 4-5cm, raking the soil and creating the muddy condition by light puddling (mechanical manipulation of soil at high moisture content). Then the over night soaked seeds are broadcast in standing muddy water in crosswise directions to obtain uniform seed distribution. The sowing should be done towards the evening or during non windy periods of the day.

Nursery Preparation

Seed bed preparation:

The land should be opened with soil inversion plough followed by 2or 3 operations by desi plough/cultivator. The preparation of good seed bed is an essential component of cultivation practices to obtain desired level of tilth. Fine seed bed is required especially when berseem is to be grown as seed crop in rows without pudling to facilitate weed removal and rouging for quality seed production. When the crop is to be sown in puddle beds thorough cultivation is not required, only cross harrowing /ploughing are needed to remove established weeds, stubbles of the previous crop and to open the soil for leveling by planking.

Nutrient management

Fertilizer schedule

In irrigated farming, fertilizer use is the most important factor influencing growth and productivity of the crops. Since berseem is a leguminous crop, it needs less nitrogen from fertilizer sources, because, its root nodules contain Rhizobium trifolii bacteria which fix atmospheric nitrogen for plant use. Therefore, fertilizer nitrogen is required only for establishment prior to the formation of root nodules. Experimental evidences have proved that 20kg N/ha at sowing is the optimum dose. When the crop is raised on poor soils without inoculums, top dressing of 10 kg N/ha is done after each cut in addition to 30 kg N/ha basal dose to encourage good regeneration, quick growth and high yield.

In general the responses to applied phosphorus vary widely with available soil phosphorus, soil pH, phosphate sources, application method, water supply and crop duration. The placement of P in the vicinity of root zone is desirable to reduce its fixation and to increase availability to young seedling. Placement of P has been found superior to broadcast in terms of forage yield and P uptake. In general, the crop responds significantly upto 80-90 kg P₂O₅/ha. As the requirement of P is especially critical at initial crop stage, basal application proved better than top dressing. The potassium requirement of berseem has been found to be 30 to 40 kg K₂O/ha in low potassium soils.

Water management

Water requirements

           Berseem requires huge quantities of water for producing high succulent biomass. For every kilogram of plant dry matter produced as much as 500 kilograms of more or water may be necessary in a dry climate. Therefore, adequate and timely water supply is one the basic inputs for obtaining potential crop yield which necessitates precise knowledge of irrigation techniques and approaches in berseem crop. On the basis of irrigation investigation at IGFRI, Jhansi over the years emerged the following useful information on irrigation management of berseem:

Parameter

Information

Optimum soil moisture regime in top 45 cm soil depth

75% available soil moisture (ASM)

2.
Irrigation interval

10-12 days

3.
Number of irrigations

16-18

4.
Irrigation requirement (delta of irrigation water)

710 mm`

5.
Water use efficiency

22 kg dry matter/ha/mm

On the basis of soil type and normal climatic condition the following irrigation schedules recommended in different seasons and soils

Season

Soil type

Clay and clay loan soil

Loam soil

October to February

14-16 days interval

12-14 days interval

March to April

10-12 days interval

8-10 days interval

Weed management

Weed control:

The weed management is one of the vital components of berseem production. The major associated weed of berseem crop is chicory (Chicorium intybus). The nature of this weed is such that it infests from field to seed and vice-versa. The intensity of field infestations could be minimized by treatment with 10% solution of common salt and deep summer ploughing with soil inversion plough after final harvest of the crop.

Disease management

Disease management:

During the month of December and January when the crop attains luxuriant vegetative growth and cloudy days persist for longer period, the heavy infestation of fungal diseases such as root rot caused by Rhizoctenia soloni and Fusanlum smitactum and stem rot caused by sclerotinia trifoliorum occur. If crop is cut the fungal growth in patches can easily be seen. As rotten stubbles. It has been observed that the problem is more acute under the following situation:

Field is heavily manured with undecomponsed farm yard manure and/or irrigated with sewage.

Water stagnated creation damp conditions.

Light penetration at the ground is curtailed due to delayed cutting.

Cloudy condition prevails for longer period.

Agronomic approaches to solve this problem include.

Avoiding the growing of berseem crop in the same field year after year and deep ploughing during summer.

Using well rotten manure in proper quantities.

Fertilizing the crop with heavy dose of potassium.

Leveling field properly to avoid water stagnation.

Avoiding too frequent irrigations during cloudy days.

Cutting the crop frequently to expose the ground for adequate light availability.

Harvesting & Threshing

Forage quality:

Berseem is highly nutritious, succulent and palatable forage for all types of livestock. It stimulates milk production of cows and buffaloes and is popular both for milch and draught animals. Berseem is a good source of crude protein, calcium, phosphorus and ether extract. The green forage of berseem on drymatter basis contains 17-22% CP, 42-49% neutral detergent fibre, 35-38% acid detergent fibre 24-25% cellulose and 7-10% hemicellulose.

Yield

Cutting management and Forage yield:

Forge yield potential of berseem crop is very high. The crop is capable of producing 1000 to 1200 q/ha of green forage under improved agronomic management practices and favorable weather conditions. Mixing Japan rape or Chines cabbage 2.25 kg seed/ha increases the yield by 20-25 per cent in first cut. The yield may further be increased by introducing early cutting.

Berseem Crop

Fig 1. Berseem Crop

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Uttar Pradesh

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Package of Practices of Maize (Fodder)

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Package of Practices of Guinea Grass

Package of Practices of Jowar

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Package of Practices of Berseem

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