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

Desmanthes

HEDGE LUCERNE

Variety: Velimasal-local varieties

• Season: Grown throughout the year under irrigation and during June - October as a rainfed crop.

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 12.5 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 50 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 10:60:30 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.
• Sowing
  • Pure crop: Sow the seeds at 20 kg/ha in solid stand on the side of the ridges over the lines where fertilizers are applied at a depth of 2 cm and cover with soil.
  • Mixed Crop: Sow the Velimasal seeds in one row and plant cumbu - napier hybrid grass in the subsequent three rows in the ratio of 1 : 3
• Water Management
  • Irrigate immediately after sowing, life irrigation on the third day and thereafter once in a week.
• Weed Management
  • Hoeing and weeding are given as and when necessary.
• Harvesting
  • Pure Crop: First cut on 90th day after sowing at 50 cm height and subsequent cuts at intervals of 40 days at the same height.
  • Mixed Crop: First harvest on 60th day after sowing. Subsequent cuts at intervals of 45 days at 50 cm height of Velimasal which is maintained throughout

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