Fodder Production and Grassland Management

Sehima-Dicanthium cover (Area: 17,400 sq.km.)

SEHIMA - DICANTHIUM

• This cover occurs all over tropical India below the tropic of cancer, comprising the Deccan plateau and extending from south Rajasthan, south Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh to Bihar and parts of West Bengal. The traits characterized by undulating hills with valleys interversing.
• All types of red and black soils are associated in this cover. The species of perennial grasses that are distinctive to this region are Sehima nervosum Chrysopogon montonus, Themada trandra, Heteropogon contortus. Annuals are Themanda quadrivalvies, Apluda aristata, Dicetmis spp. On grasslands that have got badly over grazed and deteriorated, annual species alone occur such as Aristida spp., Chloris spp., Andropogon spp. and the annual form of Heteropogan contortus.
• The best among these for forage are Sehima, Dicanthium, Chrysopogon, Iseliema and Ischaemum. In sandy soils, Sehema usually dominates where as in deep moist soils Dicanthium dominates.

Management:

• Sehima nervosum and Dicanthium annulatum are the typical species, on gravelly and well developed soils respectively.
• Since Sehima nervosum occurs in hilly situations, adequate soil conservation measures are necessary in any plan of management for this grass. Contour furrowing along with adequate manuring would be necessary.
• Sehima grassland quickly degenerates into inferior Cymbopogon cover as a result of burning and hence this practice should be discouraged. Post-monsoon period is the safest for grazing.