From: drmgj88 abcd [drmgj88@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, January 09, 2018 2:28 PM
To: Dairy Knowledge
Subject: Lucerne Seeds
Respected Sir/Mam, I Milind Jagdale from Pune Maharashtra wish to cultivate Fodder Lucerne for my dairy farm. Please provide me details about best suitable and high yielding Variety of Lucerne for Pune region in Maharashtra and seed providing institutions. Unfortunately RL-88 Lucerne Seeds at Mahatma Phule Agricultural University Rahuri not available. Please provide me details. Regards Milind Jagdale
Dear Shri Jagdaleji, For Pune region, RL 88, Anand Lucerne 3, Anand 2 are the suitable varieties of Lucerne.For fodder production purpose, seed of Lucerne variety Anand 2 are available with Baroda milk union, Gujarat.You may please contact Shri Kalpesh Patel (seed production officer) for procurement and further details at his mobile no. 9909900460.Lucerne seed will be sent against advance payment by union.No other agency is involved in Lucerne seed production in Maharashtra except MPKV, Rahuri. Regards, Digvijay Singh
I read that there is a hybrid fodder called CO-4 on agriculture apps and was wondering if it is safe for my cattle. Also how much water and nutrients are required in order to raise these fodder? How much days will it take to grow? What kind of sand does it need in order to be grown properly?
Dear Dinesh,
Hybrid Napier Grass is very high yielding fodder crop recommended for fertile soils with irrigation facility throughout the year.
It is perennial in nature and gives 6 cuttings in year at 45 to 60 days intervals. Total fodder yields are over 100 ton/hectare. Co-4 is one of the variety of this crop.
•Soils : Medium to deep soils with adequate fertility well drained soils
•Land preparation : One ploughing followed by two harrowing’s. The land should be leveled before ploughing and prepare ridges and furrows of 90 -100 cm .
•Seed rate : 18500 to 20000 rooted slips or stem cuttings per ha
•Seed treatment: Rooted slips should be inoculated with Azotobactor culture before planting.
•Sowing time : Sowing time is Kharif- June- July, and Summer- February- March .
•Spacing : The rooted slips should be planted on the ridges and furrows the ridges and furrows should be at 90 to 100 cm width and plant to plant distance should be 50 to 60 cm.
•Fertilizer application : Application of 10 t FYM before planting and set treatment of 250 g Azotobacter/1000 rooted slips with 180:60:60 Kg N:P2O5:K2O ha-1yr- 1.
–Application of nitrogen in six equal splits (30 Kg ha-1) at planting and after every cut and half P2O5 and K2O (30 kg each) at planting and six month after planting at earthing up.
•Irrigation : Kharif - 15-20 days, Rabi – 10-15 days and Summer – 8-10 days interval.
•Weed control : Two hand weeding are required, at the initial stage & one weeding after every 2-3 cuts.
•Harvesting time: For fodder production first cutting is done at 55-60 days after sowing, subsequent cuttings are taken after 60 days interval.
•Green forage yield: 120-150 ton/ha per year
•Varieties: Phule Jaywant, Co-4, BHN 10, CO-5
•Quality aspects: Hybrid Napier contains CP 10.0 %.
I will keep this in my mind...Thank you for sharing this.