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KERALA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
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Guinea grass is a popular fodder grass of the tropics suited to the agro-climatic conditions of Kerala. It can be profitably grown as a component of agro-forestry systems and comes up well under coconut and other trees. As an excellent fodder it is much valued for its high productivity, palatability and good persistence.
It is a perennial bunch grass, 0.5 to 4.5 m high. The stem is stout to slender, erect
or ascending, glabrous or hairy. Leaves are 10 to 100 cm long and 3.5 cm wide.
Panicle loose and much branched, the lower most branches being in a distinct whorl. The
small seeds are enclosed in smooth glumes. The seeds shatter. The root system is deep,
dense and fibrous.
The important varieties are Makueni, Riversdale, Hamil, PGG-4, FR-600, Haritha, Marathakom and Harithasree. Makueni is a drought resistant cultivar suited to rainfed situations in the state.
Guinea grass thrives well in warm moist climate. It can grow from sea level to 1800 m altitude. It is frost sensitive. It thrives between a temperature range of 15 to 38 ºC. The grass tolerates shade and grows under trees and bushes and is best suitable as an intercrop in coconut gardens. The grass is adapted to a wide range of soils. It usually grows on well-drained light textured soil, preferably sandy loams or loams, but is better suited to medium to highly fertile loams. It cannot tolerate heavy clays or prolonged waterlogging.
Under Kerala conditions, the best season of planting is with the onset of southwest monsoon during May-June. As an irrigated crop planting can be done at any time of the year.
Seeds and slips can be used as planting material. Since seed germination is poor
vegetative propagation is preferred. To
obtain slips for planting, old clumps are
uprooted and slips with roots are separated. For planting one hectare, 1.25 lakhs of
slips are required. If seeds are used (3 kg
ha-1), it should be sown in nursery and the
seedlings transplanted in the main field.
The grass requires thorough cultivation to prepare a weed-free seedbed for establishment. For this, two or three ploughings and one levelling are sufficient. In the prepared field, trenches of 10 cm width and 20 cm depth are made. In these trenches, FYM should be applied along with phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. Mix with soil and cover the trenches and form ridges of 15 cm height for planting slips. In acid soils, application of lime @ 500 kg ha-1 in alternate years is desirable.
Slips are planted on ridges @ three slips per hill. The spacing of 40 cm x 20 cm is followed when grown as an intercrop. For a pure crop, a wider spacing of 60 cm x 30 cm is required.
A basal dose of 10 tonnes of FYM, 50 kg
P2O5 and 50 kg K2O
ha-1 (applied in trenches) is recommended. For top
dressing, use 200 kg N ha-1 in two split doses, the
first dose immediately after-first cutting and
the second dose during the northeast
monsoon period. If irrigation facilities are available, topdressing can be given in
more splits. The fertilizer may be applied on
either side of the plants, along the row
and earthed up.
At planting two irrigations are required within seven to ten days for quick establishment. The crop should be subsequently irrigated depending upon the rainfall and soil type. Usually irrigation once in 7-10 days is required. Irrigation with cowshed washing or sewage water within 3-4 days after cutting gives better growth.
The delicate seedlings or newly emerged shoots from slips or cuttings require protection from weeds in the first two months. Two intercultivations should be given during this period. Later,
intercultivationmaybe necessary after three or four cuttings.
The crop is ready for harvest when it reaches 1.5 m height. Cutting at 15 to 20 cm above the ground level is advised. The first cut is usually ready in 9-10 weeks after planting and subsequent cuts are taken at 45 to 60 days intervals. About six to seven harvests can be made in a year.
Approximately 80-100 t ha-1 of green fodder is obtained per year.
Guinea grass can be grown mixed with leguminous fodder crops such as cowpea, stylo and siratro.
The grass is nutritious, palatable and
free from oxalates. It makes good hay and silage. The crude protein and the crude
fibre content of this grass vary from 8 to 14 per
cent and 28 to 36 per cent respectively.
Gamba grass is also known as `Sadabahar'. It is a tufted perennial
grass and the stems are usually 1-2 m high. The inflorescence is a large spathe or panicle.
The grass tolerates drought and suits
areas where dry season lasts for five months or so. In areas with less severe drought
it can remain green throughout the year. It
tolerates deep seasonal flooding. The grass avoids heavy soil, is resistant to grass
fires and develops new leaves and shoots a few days after burning. The crop comes up well
in partial shade and is a good intercrop
in coconut gardens. The crop can be propa-gated through rooted slips or seeds
lightly drilled.
Cultural operations and management are similar to that of guinea grass. In general about 50 to 80 t
ha-1 of green
matter is produced in the first year. From
the second year onwards there is a slight increase in green fodder yield. The grass has
excellent palatability with 5.5 per cent crude protein
and 32.6 per cent crude fibre.
Setaria anceps is also called as
Golden Timothy. The grass comes up well in the medium rainfall areas in the tropics and
subtropics.
Important varieties are Nandi, Narok
and Kazungula.
The grass is a tufted perennial with
erect stems and grows 1-2 m in height. Leaves are
about 40 cm long, 8-20 cm wide and green
to dark green in colour. Panicle is dense,
cylindrical, about 10 to 30 cm long and
orange to purplish in colour. Spikelets are two in number, the lower one is the male or
sterile and the upper one is bisexual.
Usually the grass grows under an
annual rainfall of over 750 mm. It grows
vigorously under high annual rainfall ranging from
1000 to 1500 mm. It can also survive
long, hot and dry seasons. The grass grows
well at 20 to 25 ºC. It is more cold
tolerant than most of other tropical and
subtropical grasses. It can come up in a variety of
soil types.
This perennial grass requires thorough
land preparation; two or three ploughings/diggings followed by one levelling. The land should
be free from weeds. The grass flourishes in moist, but not
wet soils. Setaria plots should be well drained during rainy season. At establishment,
the crop requires two successive light irrigations in 7-10 days interval. Subsequent
irrigation should be given as and when necessary.
One or two weeding or intercultivation
is given in the first 2 to 3 months. To control weeds and to encourage fresh sprouts,
one or two intercultivation has to be carried out every year. The grass can be used as green cut
fodder, silage and hay. The grass gives
satisfactory silage with molasses. The
crude protein and crude fibre content of the grass range from 4.8 to 18.4 per cent and 24 to
34 per cent respectively.
Napier grass is also called as
elephant grass due to its tallness and vigorous
vegetative growth. The plants tiller freely and a single clump may produce 50 tillers
under favourable climatic and soil conditions. Unfortunately, the grass is
coarse-textured, the leaf blade and sheaths hairy, leaf
margins sharply toothed and stems less juicy and fibrous. In 1953, a cross was made in
India with bajra which is more succulent, leafy,
fine textured, palatable, fast growing and drought resistant than Napier to combine
these qualities with its high yielding potential. The popular hybrids are Pusa Giant
Napier, Gajraj, NB-5, NB-6, NB-21, NB-35, Suguna and Supriya. Planting is done with the onset of
southwest monsoon. Being a sterile hybrid, the grass is planted by rooted slips or by
stem cuttings. Cuttings of moderately mature stems (3 months old) and preferably from the
lower two thirds of the stem length sprout better than the older stems. The cuttings with
three nodes are stuck into the soil with the basal end down, either vertically or at an angle
to such a depth that two nodes remain within the soil and one above the soil surface.
The under ground nodes develop roots and shoots while the upper ones develop shoots only. The first cut is taken 9-10 weeks
after planting. Subsequent cuts are taken after
four to six weeks or when the plant attains a
height of 1.5 m. Annually at least six to eight
cuts are possible. In order to encourage quicker regeneration from the basal buds,
stubbles of 10-15 cm is left out at harvest.
Green fodder yield ranges 200-250 t
ha-1 per year from 6-8 cuttings.
The grass can be intercropped with
legumes such as cowpea,
Calapogonium, Centrosema and Glycine legumes.
Intercropping with legumes improves the quality of fodder. are softer and the margins less serrated
and hence the herbage is more palatable. It is juicier and succulent at all stages of
growth. It is less fibrous and more acceptable.
The oxalate content of some of the varieties may be high. It can be mitigated if harvested
at longer intervals (45 to 60 days). The fodder may be cut into pieces
using a chaff cutter and ensiled. Legume fodders may be mixed with the grass in the ratio
of 1:2 to produce balanced silage. The fodder can also be converted into hay during the
dry summer periods. The chaffed material is
exposed in the sun by spreading uniformly
for a day. Further drying is done under the shade to preserve colour. The quality of
the silage or hay remains more or less the same as green fodder.
This grass is also known
as buffalo grass, water grass, Angola grass and Mauritius grass. The crop
responds well to sewage irrigation and is usually grown near large sewage
disposal farms. The grass grows in moist, but not
in highly wet soils. It thrives best on highly fertile
clay loam to clayey textured soils with high
moisture retention capacity. It can be grown even on sandy soils with good irrigation
facility. It tolerates slightly acid to alkaline soils. It is highly tolerant to saline or
sodic soil conditions. It grows well on field
bunds, banks of streams and canals, lowlands and soils too wet for normal farm crops. Planting can be done at any time
other than winter months. The rainfed crop is planted with the first monsoon showers. Slips can be planted 50 to 60 cm
apart both ways between plants and rows. The growing runners quickly root at the joints,
tiller profusely and cover the field.
The requirement of slips for
planting ranges from 27000 to 40000 per ha. The
seed rate recommended is 2.5 to 3.5 kg
ha-1.
The crop is highly responsive to
irrigation with cattle-shed washing or sewage
water. Apply 40 tonnes of FYM or compost along with 30 kg
P2O5 and 30 kg K2O per ha
as basal dose. Topdressing N 40 kg ha-1
after each harvest is found to enhance the forage production. As para grass herbage dries slowly
when cut, it is not suitable for hay-making. However, it can be used for ensiling. It is
a nutritious high yielding and palatable forage grass. The grass appears to be free of
any toxic effect. Nutritive value is comparatively less. The crude protein ranges from
2.8 to 16.1 per cent and crude fibre from
28 to 34 per cent.
Seed yields are generally low. It is
observed that shorter or longer day lengths hasten flowering. The correct stage of
harvest is soon after the end of anthesis.
Germination is affected if the seed is
harvested late. There is no post-harvest
dormancy for seed.
Congosignal can be grown as a sole
crop in open areas and as an intercrop in coconut gardens. It is a creeping perennial with
dense foliage and therefore can be used for soil conservation purpose as strip crop. It
grows to a height of about 50 to 100 cm and produces 30 to 40 tillers on an average.
It prefers a warm moist tropical
climate. It can be grown in almost all types of soils
but cannot tolerate waterlogging. It also tolerates shade. So it is recommended as
an intercrop in coconut garden. It can be grown either as a pure crop or mixed with
other grasses and legumes.
Basal application of 5 t ha-1 of FYM
along with 50 kg ha-1 each of
P2O5 and K2O is
recommended. Nitrogen @ 100-150 kg ha-1 may be applied in two or three splits.
Intercultivation during early growth
stages is advisable to check weed growth.
It can also be grown as a crop
mixture with leguminous fodder crops.
The first harvest can be done 50 days
after planting and subsequently at 30-40
days interval. Rainfed crop yields about 35-45 t
ha-1 of green fodder whereas the yield will be
increased to about 50-100 t
ha-1 under
irrigated conditions.
Subabul is also known as leucaena or ipil-ipil. It had its origin from Mexico and
is now widely spread throughout the tropical and subtropical countries of the world.
It is a perennial hardy evergreen shrub.
It has deep and strong taproot and even the seedlings are deep rooted. The leaves are
bipinnate, 15 to 20 cm long with 10 to 15 pairs of pinnate leaves. Inflorescence is
globular and the flowers are white. There are four types of subabul.
Hawaiian type: The plants are short
bushy and remarkably drought tolerant. It is
suited to hilly terrains in drought prone areas. It is
a prolific seed producer and is good for
fodder purpose. K-341 is a Hawaiian variety.
Salvador type: Tall, tree like and fast
growing having maximum annual biomass production. Possesses large leaves, pods
and seeds than Hawaiian types. Responds to high fertilization. Variety K-8 is useful for fodder. Cunningham: It is a cross between
Salvador and Peru types. A seed rate of 3-4 kg
ha-1 is recommended. Sowing is preferably done
during February-March in a nursery or polythene bags or
in situ at 2-3 cm depth. Give irrigation if there is no rain. Seedlings (1.5 to
3 months old with 6-8 leaves) are planted in the main field. A
spacing of 1 m x 0.1 m is recommended for a pure crop of fodder, 1.5 m
x 0.2 m for planting in boundaries and borders of coconut gardens
and 2 m x 0.2 m when raised along boundaries.
It can grow under a wide range of
conditions as a range plant, roadside plant,
in pastures etc. The land should, however, be cleared of bushes, ploughed and levelled before sowing.
A basal application of
N:P2O5:K2O @ 20:50:30 kg
ha-1 is recommended. Leucaena combines well with many grasses like guinea, pangola, dinanath,
Hybrid Napier etc. Subabul starts flowering at 125-150
days after planting. First cutting is done after 5-6 months at a height of 70-80 cm from
the ground level at a time when the plants reach a height of 1.5-1.75 m. Subsequent
harvests can be made at 50-60 days interval depending on the re-growth. When planted in
boundaries, the main shoot is not cut;
only side branches are cut for fodder, leaving the top three branches.
In gravelly soil and in low rainfall areas,
a yield of 25-30 tonnes per ha per year may be obtained. The irrigated crop may produce 100 t ha-1 of green fodder per year in
seven to eight cuttings.
It is a small shrub, 2 to 3 m tall and
roughly resembles leucaena. It is a native of
tropics and subtropics of the new world,
palatable, aggressive, persistent and tolerant to
heavy grazing. It has 22 per cent protein in
leaves and 10-15 per cent in stems. It is highly
productive, yielding about 40 to 70 tonnes
of green fodder per ha per year. No poisonous principle is observed in the foliage.
Because of its pithy stem, the harvesting is easier. It is an ideal plant for wasteland
development.
GAMBA GRASS (Andropogon gayanus)
(Ad hoc recommendation)
SETARIA GRASS (Setaria anceps)
(Ad hoc recommendation)
Propagation is through rooted slips as well as through seeds. Seedlings can be raised
in nursery and transplanted during rainy
season under rainfed conditions. If
irrigation facilities are available, planting can be
done at any time between February and
November.
As a pure crop it is planted at 50 cm x 30 cm spacing. The row-to-row distance
may be increased to 60-70 cm when the soil is poor and irrigation facility is absent. For
intercropping with legumes, 100 cm x 30 cm
spacing is followed. If seeds are used,
seed rate varies from 3.5 to 4.0 kg
ha-1. In case of rooted slips, the number of slips required
varies from 33500 to 67000 per
ha.Organic manure, either FYM or compost @ 10 t
ha-1 may be applied at the time of land
preparation. The crop responds well to
application of fertilizers especially N. The
fertilizer requirement depends on the initial nutrient status of the soil.
The crop is ready for harvest by 9-10 weeks. Subsequent cuts can be taken
after every 40 to 60 days depending on the crop growth. At harvest, a stubble height of
about 8 to 10 cm is left for good regeneration.
Generally, about 25-40 t ha-1 of green
fodder can be harvested per year under rainfed situation. Irrigated crop yields
about 75-150 t ha-1 per year.
Seed yields are low due to prolonged emergence of panicles, prolonged
flowering of the same panicle, early shedding of
spikelets, bird damage etc. Denser stands give more uniform panicle emergence
than widely spaced plants. Fertilizer application is compulsory in seed production.
HYBRID NAPIER (Pennisetum typhoides x P. purpureum)
(Ad hoc recommendation)
Compared to Napier grass, Hybrid Napier produces more tillers and numerous
leaves. It grows faster and produces more herbage but the stems are hard and the plants
less persistent. Pusa Giant Napier has larger leaves, softer and less persistent hairs on
leaf blades and sheaths and less sharp leaf
edges. The stems are also less fibrous than
Napier. The tillers are more numerous and grow faster.
The grass grows throughout the year in the tropics. The optimum temperature is
about 31ºC. Light showers alternated with
bright sunshine are very congenial to the crop.
Total water requirement of the grass is about 800-1000 mm. Hybrid Pennisetum can grow on
a variety of soils. Light loams and sandy soils are preferred to heavy soils. The grass
does not thrive well on waterlogged and flood
prone lands. Phenomenal yields are obtained from very deep fertile soil rich in organic
matter. It tolerates pH ranging from 5 to 8.
Hybrid Napier requires a deep, thorough weed free and compact seedbed. Three
or four ploughings followed by disc harrowing is ideal.
A spacing of 60 cm x 60 cm is recommended for pure crop of Hybrid Napier.
In intercropping system, spacing is adjusted to accommodate the companion crops.
The planting rate depends upon the spacing and the weight of the cuttings or rooted slips
used. It is modified in crop mixtures or intercropping with other forage crops.
Farm yard manure @ 25 t ha-1, and
P2O5 and K2O @ 50 kg
ha-1 each may be applied at the time of land preparation. Apply N
@ 200 kg ha-1 in two or three split doses
followed by gentle raking, if possible.
The field should be provided with good drainage during the rainy season, as the
crop cannot withstand water stagnation.
Frequency of irrigation depends upon the
rainfall and weather conditions.
Early intercultivation once or twice is necessary before the plants establish
and grow vigorously. Subsequently, intercultivation should be given as and
when necessary.
Hybrid Napier is superior in quality than Napier grass and contains about 10.2
per cent crude protein and 30.5 per cent crude
fibre. The leaves are larger and greener, the sheaths
The grass is ideal for green fodder, silage and hay.
PARA GRASS (Brachiaria mutica)
(Ad hoc recommendation)
It is a coarse, trailing perennial that spreads by surface runners which root
profusely at the nodes with flowering stems 1 to 2 m high. The culms are erect,
leafy, hollow, succulent and glabrous with hairy nodes. The leaf blades are dark
green in colour, 25 to 30 cm long and 1 to 2 cm broad. Inflorescence is a
panicle. Flowering is hastened in shorter photoperiods.
The grass prefers hot and humid climate of the tropics and subtropics with high
annual rainfall ranging between 1000 and 1500 mm. It can withstand short term
flooding and waterlogging but cannot be grown in dryland in arid and semi-arid regions. It is sensitive to cold. It makes
no growth during winter months.
Prepare the land thoroughly by three or four ploughings and remove weeds.
Stem cuttings or pieces of creeping shoots 15 to 30 cm long with about three joints
are generally planted in a slanting position. In order to save time and labour, the
planting materials are scattered in the field and
covered by ploughing crosswise during monsoon season. Seeds can also be used
for direct sowing or sowing in nursery for
transplantation. However, poor seed setting
usually discourages seed propagation.
Two or three light irrigations are to be provided for the initial establishment of the
crop. Later on, irrigation once in 10 to 15
days in summer is advantageous.
The land should be kept weed free for the first two months. Since it is a sturdy
and aggressive grass, once it gets established,
the weeds that appear later are suppressed.
The competitive vigour of para grass interferes with the co-existence of legumes.First harvest is done about three months
after planting when the grass attains a height of about 60 to 75 cm. Subsequent cuts
are taken at 30 to 40 days interval. Annual yield of about 70 t
ha-1 is obtained.
The crop is generally planted in May-June and September-October with the onset
of rains. Prepare the land by ploughing one or two times,
removing weeds and levelling. Both seeds and slips can be used. A
seed rate of 2-5 kg ha-1 is recommended. For
sowing, a fine seedbed is required and seeds are broadcast at 1-2 cm depth. To
protect the seeds from ants, dusting carbaryl 5
per cent DP at the time of sowing is effective. When slips are used, they are planted at
a spacing of 40 cm x 20 cm.
FODDER TREES
SUBABUL (Leucaena leucocephala)
Peru: Tall and extensively branching type and is ideal for fodder purpose.
Subabul is best suited for warm regions and grows well between 22 and 30ºC in
regions of 500 to 2000 mm annual rainfall. Because of its strong and deep root
system, the tree is highly drought resistant. It is
restricted to elevations below 500 m but
it withstands variations in rainfall, sunlight, windstorm, slight frost and drought. It
cannot withstand waterlogging. It requires a deep well drained neutral soil and can tolerate saline and acid soil. It can also
be grown in steep slopes, hilly terrains, gravelly areas and sandy loams.
Planting of seedlings can be done with the onset of rains in May-June or
September-October.
Seed viability is high, but possess
dormancy because of hard seed coat.
To hasten germination seeds are to be dipped in concentrated sulphuric acid for four
minutes and then washed or put in hot water at
80ºC for four minutes. Sundry the seeds
afterwards for about one hour before sowing.
Since the early growth of the crop is slow, the tender plants are to be protected
from aggressive weeds. Two or three inter-row cultivation is essential to check weeds in
early life. Once established, even vigorous
grasses seldom smother the plants.
Subabul is a highly nutritious leguminous tree fodder with 27-34 per cent protein. The
fodder is rich in carotene and vitamin A. Pro vitamin
A content is the highest among all plant species. The foliage contains an uncommon amino
acid, mimosine, which is toxic to non-ruminants at levels of about 10
per cent of the diet.
The outstanding feature is its
extremely fast growth rate, especially during the
first three to four years. Average wood yield of 20 to 25
m3 per ha is commonly achieved. It is easy to propagate by direct
seeding. Prolific nodulation and extremely large
nodules are its characteristic features. Cattle
relish both its leaves and pods. After cutting, shoots re-sprout with vigour. It is not toxic
to cattle. It can be planted very densely
@ 3000 stems per ha. It has been viewed
as a source of pulp for paper industry. Leaves contain 36 per cent crude protein.
Agricultural crops continue to grow well when
intercropped with S.
grandiflora whose open crown allows sunlight to pass. It
is adapted to the moist tropics with annual
rainfall in excess of 1000 mm.
SHEVRI (Sesbania aegyptica)
(Ad hoc recommendation)
It is a promising perennial fodder
shrub for both dry and wet areas. The sub-marginal lands that are not suited for agricultural
purposes can be used for growing this
fodder plant. The leaves and young twigs
form nutritious forage to animals. The
plants can be sown at a spacing of 100 cm x 50 cm. When cut at 50 cm height at 60 days
interval, green fodder yield of 12 tonnes
per ha per year can be obtained.
A number of varieties like Karnataka
local, RS-9, UPC-1956, UPC-5287
and UPC-9805 are recommended for cultivation for fodder purpose.
Cowpea is best suited for moderately
humid areas of the tropics and subtropics.
It usually grows in latitude between 30º N
and S and up to 1500 m elevation. The plant
cannot withstand frost, excessive and
prolonged waterlogging, while some
varieties are resistant to heavy rains. The optimum temperature required for its growth
varies from 15 to 27ºC. Cowpea can be grown on
a wide range of soils from heavy to sandy loam with a pH range of 5.0 to 6.5. Saline,
alkaline or waterlogged soils should be avoided. Heavy clays encourage vegetative
growth with less seed production.
Cowpea for fodder purpose can be
grown in any month if irrigation facilities exist.
In Kerala, it is raised as a rainfed crop during May and also as summer crop in rice
fallows. For rainfed crop, at the time of land
preparation, FYM @ 10 t ha-1 is applied and
basal application of N, P2O5
and K2O @ 25, 60 and 30 kg
ha-1 is recommended. For irrigated crop in addition to the basal dose of 40:
30: 30 kg N: P2O5:
K2O ha-1, topdressing of N and
K2O each at 10 kg ha-1 after each cut
is to be given.
A pre-sowing irrigation is important
for the proper germination of the crop. If there is lack of soil moisture, shallow irrigation
at 3-4 cm depth once in 15 days during summer and once in a month during
post-monsoon period is good. As a fodder crop, the first cutting can
be given 45 days after planting and subsequent two cuttings at 30 days intervals. A
single cut crop yields 25 to 30 t ha-1 whereas
green matter yield of 40 t ha-1 is obtained from
multi-cut cowpea. Cowpea is a self-pollinated short
day plant. The percentage of hard seed is low and viability under storage lasts for 3 years.
The genus Stylosanthes consists
entirely of herbs and small shrubs. Usually they have
a crown of growing points near the soil
surface. This enables the plants to
overcome the excessive damage caused by grazing animals. They have indehiscent seeds,
regulating dormancy. The seed has hooks for
dispersal through animals. The seeds can also pass through the digestive system of
animals. In some species due to the presence of
viscid hairs, they are not eaten in some
seasons of the year. The plant thrives well
in light soils due to its deep rooting system. In humid tropical environments,
S. guianensis thrives very well and can
withstand flood and drought lasting for short periods. Germination and growth are
favoured at high temperatures.
In less fertile soils like sandy coastal
soils, phosphorus fertilizer should also be added along with sowing of seeds so as to help
the development of root nodules.
Sowing is to be done with the onset
of southwest monsoon during May-June.
Irrigation is required if there is no proper soil moisture at the time of sowing.
The following are the perennial types
of stylosanthes, ideally suited for growing in the state. Caribbean stylo (Stylosanthes hamata
cv. Verano): This is a short-lived perennial
legume similar to Townsville stylo. It is slow growing and develops a flat crown
under grazing. Erect stem may grow up to 80 cm. The stems of Verano are smooth. As
against the bristly stems of Townsville stylo it has
a line of very fine, short white hairs on one side only. The flowering spike of Verano Prepare a fine seedbed. Seeds are
mixed with sand when sown as a pure crop or mixed
with grass seeds for mixtures. Seeds
are sown broadcast and covered with thin layer of soil or dibbled at a spacing of 30 cm
between rows. The depth of sowing should be 5-10 mm. Seeds germinate within a week. Gap filling may be done 15 days after
sowing. First weeding is given 45 days
after sowing. A second weeding and hoeing may also be done after the first harvest. Gentle raking
of the interspace after the application of fertilizers in the subsequent years may be done.
Maize grows best in warm climate
where the day temperature is fairly light. Heavy rains and dry hot winds are not
suitable. Favourable annual rainfall is 60-100 cm.
The crop comes up well in soils with good drainage and fair moisture status. Hybrid varieties are Deccan, Ganga-5,
Ganga safed-2, and Ganga-3 and
composite variety Vijay.
Seed rate for broadcasting is 80 kg
ha-1 and for dibbling 40-60 kg
ha-1 (to be dibbled at 5-6 cm depth @ two seeds per hole).
Sunn hemp (Crotalaria
juncea)
It is a vigorous growing green
manure crop, which can be incorporated at 10 weeks after sowing. It does not withstand
waterlogging. The seed rate is 25-35 kg
ha-1. The green matter yield is 15-20 t
ha-1. Quantity of nitrogen fixed by the crop is 75-80 kg
ha-1.
Daincha (Sesbania aculeata
and S. rostrata)
Sesbania aculeata It is a green manure crop, which has
nodules both on the stem and root. It thrives well under waterlogged condition. The
normal seed rate is 30 to 40 kg per ha. To get
early, uniform germination and vigorous seedlings, seeds have to be scarified with
concentrated sulphuric acid for 15 minutes and then washed thoroughly with fresh water and sown
immediately. A green matter yield of 15 to 20 t
ha-1 equivalent to 150-180 kg N
ha-1 is
obtained within a period of 8 to 10 weeks.
(Tephrosia purpurea)
It is a slow growing green manure crop
suitable for light soils. It resists drought but does not withstand water stagnation.
The seed have a waxy, impermeable hard seed coat and do not quickly germinate. To
hasten germination, the seeds are to
be abrased with sand or steeped in hot water at 55ºC for two to three minutes. The seed
rate is 20-25 kg ha-1 and the green matter
yield varies from 8 to 10 t ha-1. When kolingi
is sown in an area for two or three seasons continuously, scattered seeds will give
rise to volunteer plants and there is no need for further sowing.
Subabul
(Leucaena leucocephala) Propagated by seeds. During
flowering tree is topped (stem and branches cut)
and loppings used for green leaf manuring.
Citation: 14th Edition. Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur.
360p.
FODDER LEGUMES
FODDER COWPEA (Vigna unguiculata)
Cowpea is the most important
leguminous fodder crop suitable for both summer
and rainy seasons, mainly due to its quick
growing habit and high yielding ability.
Cowpea is indigenous to Africa and
India. It has been cultivated from very early times for human consumption. Fodder
cowpea can be profitably grown as a
summer crop in rice fallow of sandy
loam soils where water is not available to raise a
subsequent crop. It can be considered as
a complementary crop in the rotation sequence of rice-rice-cowpea because of the
leguminous organic residues available for fertility enrichment.
Cowpea is grown as a seasonal crop, which is bushy, trailing or climbing.
Stems are 1 to 3 m long, glabrous or slightly
hairy. Leaves are trifoliate, inflorescence
auxiliary having a few to several flowers. Pods are
linear and cylindrical.
Two to three ploughings are required to produce a coarse seedbed for the crop.
Shallow furrows at 3 m apart for leading
irrigation water may also be provided. It can be broadcasted or drilled in lines. For seed
crop, line sowing is preferred. Seed rate
recommended is 40 to 50 kg
ha-1 for a broadcast crop and 15 to 40 kg
ha-1 for drill sown crop. For drilling, spacing of 30 to 40 cm
between rows and 6 to 15 cm between plants is recommended.
One or two weeding may be required in the early growth stages to combat weed
problems. Usually high seed rates are
effective in smothering weeds.
Cowpea is tolerant to moderate shade. So it can be successfully grown as intercrop with
maize, sorghum, bajra, guinea grass,
Napier grass etc to get high yields. In Kerala cowpea is also raised as an intercrop in
coconut gardens.
Cowpea is used as fodder crop for green feeding, hay-making, grazing and also
for ensiling in mixtures with sorghum or maize. The grains are used as human food as
well as animal feed. Cowpea is also used as green manure crop and as cover crop in
plantations. The feeding value of cowpea forage is
high. It is superior to other legumes like soybean because of its low fibre content and
minimum wastage in feeding livestock. It has about 16 per cent crude protein and 20
per cent crude fibre.
Stylosanthes is a genus of summer growing perennial pasture / fodder
legumes. Most of its species are native of south
and central America and the Caribbean Islands. This is a fodder cum leguminous cover
crop, which is suited for intercropping in coconut gardens, either alone or in combination
with other fodder grasses. The crop controls soil erosion by giving a protective soil cover.
It also helps to smother weed growth.
The crop is suited for growing in warm, humid tropical climate. It is fairly drought
resistant and shade tolerant. It can be
cultivated in areas receiving less than
1000 mm of rainfall and in less fertile soil, acid soils, gravelly sandy soils and also in
ill-drained soils.
Brazilian lucerne (Stylosanthes
guianensis): This is used as a pasture
legume in a number of tropical countries;
Varieties are usually erect to
semi-erect. They are generally not profusely
branched at the base. It can grow up to 1.5 m in height,
particularly when it gets support from the
associate grasses. The trifoliate leaves
are long, rather narrow and pointed. The stems are coarse and hairy. In some of the
varieties the leaves are sticky. The flowers are small and yellow producing single
seeded pods. It does not tolerate shade and can
grow very well in areas receiving 900 to 4000 mm of rainfall. It is very tolerant to low
fertility, but responds well to phosphate and is
sensitive to copper deficiency. Stylo seed should not be sown below 7 to 13 mm. A seed
rate of 2 kg ha-1 is usually satisfactory. Although
Stylo is usually nodulated by naturally occurring Rhizobium strains, these
however, will not be as effective as the
commercial strains. The main variety commercially
grown is Schofield. This is an erect variety and
very late in flowering. Other varieties are Cook, Endeavour and Graham.
Townsville stylo (Stylosanthes
humilis): This annual type stylo is also found suitable
for growing in Kerala.
produces double seeds; the upper has a reduced hook about 3 to 5 mm long, while the
lower seed has no hook. Verano combines many of the virtues of both annuals and perennials.
Shrubby Stylo (Stylosanthes scabra): This is a perennial shrub. Its deep root
system enables the plant to remain green even in
very dry season. The recommended varieties of shrubby stylo are Seca and Fitzroy.
Seeds of stylo are very small. The seed rate is 2 to 3.5 kg
ha-1 when grown as an
intercrop in coconut gardens. For grass
legume mixtures, 1.5 kg
ha-1 is sufficient. Seeds are soaked in water overnight
and mixed with Rhizobium culture before
sowing.
The variety Cook produces seeds well.
A seed rate of 5 kg ha-1 is better for seed
production. Apply phosphorus @ 120 kg
and lime @ 375 kg per ha for maximum yield. For seed production, irrigate with 33 mm
of water once in 9 days during summer months from January to March. A total of 10
such irrigations are required during the period.
Recommended dose of N, P2O5 and
K2O for both annual and perennial stylosanthes
are 20, 80 and 30 kg per ha respectively. For perennial crops, phosphorus @ 80 kg
ha-1 and
potash @ 30 kg ha-1 may be applied in
subsequent years. Application of lime
@ 375 kg ha-1 is also recommended in
acid soils.
First harvest is taken 3-4 months after sowing and subsequent harvest at 45
days intervals or according to the growth of the crop. A maximum of 4-5 harvests can
be taken in a year for a perennial crop, which will remain in the field for 3 years. The
crop yields 25-30 t ha-1 green fodder per year.
FODDER CEREALS
FODDER MAIZE (Zea mays)
The optimum season for sowing is the
last week of June to second week of
July and September to October. The crop
can be raised throughout the year in areas where irrigation facilities are available.
The land is ploughed two or three times and beds and channels are formed. Seeds can
be either broadcasted or dibbled at a spacing of 30 cm between rows and 15 cm
between plants.
FYM @ 10 t ha-1 may be applied at the time of preparation of land as basal
dressing. N, P2O5 and
K2O at the rate of 120, 60 and 40 kg/ha respectively, may be given
as topdressing. Weeding may be done according to necessity.
First cutting of maize can be taken after 60 days of planting or at the milky stage
of the crop. A second cut can also be taken
if there is sufficient moisture in the soil.
Fodder sorghum is an ideal tropical
forage crop. It is fairly drought resistant and suited for areas where moisture is a
limiting factor for crop growth. The crop can be raised during both monsoons. All soils except sandy soils are suited for the crop. Apply
N, P2O5 and K2O fertilizers @ 60, 40 and 20
kg per ha, respectively. Important varieties are M.P.Chari, MPKV-1, JS-20, S-1049 and JS-3.
GREEN MANURE CROPS
(Ad hoc recommendation)
It is a quick growing succulent green manure crop, which can be incorporated
at about 8 to 10 weeks after sowing. This crop adapts to varying conditions of soil and
climate. It can be grown even under adverse conditions of drought, waterlogging,
salinity etc. Recommended seed rate is 20 to 25 kg per ha. The green matter yield is 10-20
tonnes per ha. Quantity of nitrogen fixed is 75 to
80 kg per ha.
Sesbania rostrata
Indigo / Bengal indigo
(Indigofera tinctoria)
Indigo resembles kolingi, but has more leafy habit. It shows resistance to
drought. Better yield is obtained when two
irrigations are given and when grown in clayey soil.
Seed rate is 20 kg ha-1. Green matter production
is 8-10 t ha-1.
GREEN LEAF MANURE CROPS
(Ad hoc recommendation)
Gliricidia (Gliricidia maculata)
It is a shrub, which takes up a tree habit under favourable conditions of soil and
climate. For green leaf purposes, the shrub should be kept low by pruning or lopping at
a height of 2-3 m. The shrub can be pruned two or three times a year and it
withstands repeated lopping. Within two years
after planting, the plants are ready for lopping.
Each plant gives 5 to 10 kg of green
leaves annually.
This species, a native of Central America, occurs as a branched shrub. It is a
promising forage tree crop, the leaves of which
contain about 3-4 per cent of N. Leucaena fixes about 500-600 kg N
ha-1 per year.
Cassia (Cassia auriculata)
Kerala Agricultural University. 2011.
Package of Practices Recommendations: Crops.