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

STYLOSANTHES
(Stylosanthes scabra)

 

• Stylosanthes  is an erect growing forage legume native of Brazil. It grows 0.6 to 1.8 m tall. Stylo is adapted to tropical climate and tolerant to low fertility, drought, acidic soils and poor drainage.
• Stylosanthes is a promising legume which is performing well under South Indian Agro- climatic region. Stylosanthes plants are drought resistant legumes coming up well in areas receiving a minimum rainfall of 450 - 840 mm annually. These can be grown in a wide range of soils. The crude protein content of stylos ranges from 15 to 18% . Stylosanthes scabra can be raised as an intercrop with Cenchrus in the ratio of 1:3 under rainfed conditions.
• Season: June - July to September - October.
• Varieties
  • S. hamata
  • S. scabra
  • S. guianensis ( Schofield stylo)
• Ploughing
  • Plough the field two to three times to obtain good tilth.
• Application of FYM
  • Apply and spread 10 t/ha of FYM or compost and incorporate the manure into the soil during ploughing.
  • Forming Beds Form beds of size 10 m² or 20 m^2.
• Application of Fertilizer
  • Apply NPK fertilizers as per soil test recommendation as far as possible. If the soil testing is not done follow the blanket recommendation of 20 : 60 : 15 kg NPK /ha.
  • Apply full dose of NPK basally
• Sowing
  • Seeds are to be treated with cowpea group rhizobium culture.
  • For line sowing (30 x 15 cm), the seed rate is 6 kg/ha and for broadcasting 10 kg/ha.
  • Care should be taken that seeds are sown at a depth of 1 cm since any form of deep coverage is disastrous.
  • Stylosanthes seeds possess hard seed coat. So acid scarification is to be done by dipping the seeds in concentrated sulphuric acid for three minutes and washing thoroughly with tap water. Acid scarified seeds are again to be presoaked in cold water overnight. Seeds can also be scarified in hot water. Immerse the seeds for 4 minutes in hot water of 80^ºC. Scarified seeds are again to be presoaked in cold water overnight.

• Water Management
  • It is a rainfed crop. But during the period of establishment, care should be taken to provide sufficient moisture.
  • Weed Management Hand weeding may be given as and when necessary.
• Harvesting
  • First harvest can be taken 75 days after sowing at flowering stage and subsequent harvests depending upon the growth.
• Yield
  • It is to be noted that during the first year, the establishment after sowing is very slow and the yield is low.
  • Later on when the crop establishes well due to self seeding it yields 30 to 35 t/ha/year from the third year onwards.