Fodder Production and Grassland Management

SESBANIA
(Sesbania grandiflora)

Sesbania - Agathi:

• The leaves of sesbania trees are highly palatable and mostly liked by goats. The protien content in this is about 25%.
• Season: Grown throughout the year under irrigation. Comes up in soils with good drainage

Preparation of the Field (Irrigated Crop):

• Ploughing the Field
  • Plough two to three times with an iron plough to obtain good tilth.
• Application of FYM
  • Apply and spread 25 t/ha of FYM or compost on the unploughed field and incorporate the manure into the soil during ploughing.
• Forming ridges and furrows
  • Form ridges and furrows 100 cm apart using ridger and irrigation channels across furrows.
• Application of Fertilizers
  • Apply NPK fertilizer as per soil test recommendations as far as possible. If the soil testing is not done, follow the blanket recommendations of 10:25:12.5 kg NPK /ha.
  • Apply full dose of NPK basally before sowing.
  • Open a furrow 5 cm deep on the side of the ridges and place the fertilizer mixture at the above rate along the furrows and cover with soil.
  • Top dress 12.5 kg Phosphorus once in two years.
• Sowing
  • Seed rate is 7.5 kg /ha , sow the seeds at a spacing of 100 cm x 100 cm (100 cm between ridges and 100 cm between plants within the ridge).
• Water Management
  • Irrigate immediately after sowing, and thereafter once in 15 days.
• Weed Management
  • Hoeing and weeding are given as and when necessary.
• Harvesting
  • First cut after 8 months subsequent harvests at an interval of 60-80 days. Green fodder yield of 100 tonnes per year is obtained from one hectare.