LPM 121: Fodder Production and Grassland Management (1+1)

PROPER TIME OF HARVEST

• Sorghum/Jowar - immediately after flowering and upto 50% flowering. For multicut varieties: 1^st cut two months after sowing and subsequently once in  35 to 40 days.
• Maize : Cob formation to milk stage ( 60 - 70 days).
• Bajra : Boot leaf stage to early flowering.
• For multicut varieties 1^st cut at boot leaf stage and subsequent at the intervals of 35 to 40 days
• Harvest at the above period produces forage of good quality with higher nutrients to animals and also highly palatable stage with higher forage production.
• Yield :
  • Green fodder yield varies greatly with crop and variety. The average yield of fodder sorghum and fodder maize is about 35-40 t/ha. The average yield of bajra ranges from 30-35 t/ha.
  • The yield of ragi varies from 15-20 t/ha. For other small/minor millets the yield variation is between 10 and 20 t/ha.

Comparative yield of small millets:

S. No	Crop	Duration (days)	Green fodder (t/ha)	Crude protein (%)
1	Arisipillu (Brachiaria ramosa)	54	18.70	13.53
2	Kudiraivali (Echinochloa colona)	53	18.20	11.93
3	Tenai (Setaria italica)	53	14.57	9.95
4	Varagu (Paspalam scrobiculatum)	64	13.92	9.95
5	Ragi (Eleusine coracana)	66	13.00	9.95
6	Samai (Panicum miliare)	46	9.46	9.76