Unit 6: Crop Production Package of Practices for Kharif Forage Crops

I. Orientation — Principles of Kharif Forage Production

Kharif forage crops are grown mainly during the warm, rainy season, generally from June to October in India. Their production aims at obtaining abundant, nutritious and palatable biomass at the proper growth stage rather than maximizing grain yield.

• Production objective: High green-fodder yield, rapid regrowth, good leaf-to-stem ratio, palatability and adequate protein content are the principal goals.
• Crop groups:
  • Cereal fodders: Sorghum and maize provide energy-rich biomass.
  • Perennial grasses: Napier and guinea grass supply repeated cuttings.
  • Leguminous fodders: Cowpea and cluster bean improve protein content and contribute biologically fixed nitrogen.
• Cropping principle: Cereal-legume mixtures, such as sorghum + cowpea, produce more balanced fodder than a cereal grown alone.
• Harvest principle: Very early harvesting reduces yield, whereas delayed harvesting increases fibre and lowers digestibility.
• Quality considerations: Fodder quality is assessed through crude protein, digestibility, leafiness, succulence and absence of harmful compounds.
• Safety considerations: Young or drought-stressed sorghum may contain dangerous hydrocyanic acid; nitrate accumulation can also occur under excessive nitrogen or moisture stress.
• Conservation: Surplus fodder may be converted into hay or silage to bridge seasonal feed shortages.

II. Sorghum and Maize — Major Cereal Fodders

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and maize (Zea mays) are fast-growing C4 cereals valued for high biomass production, efficient water use and carbohydrate-rich fodder.

A. Origin

The two crops originated in different centres but became widely established in tropical agriculture.

• Sorghum: Originated in northeastern Africa, particularly the Ethiopia-Sudan region; its domestication dates back several millennia.
• Maize: Originated in Mexico and Central America from teosinte and was introduced into India after contact with the Americas.
• Botanical family: Both belong to Poaceae, but sorghum is generally more drought-tolerant than maize.

B. Geographical Distribution

Both crops are globally distributed, with sorghum dominating drier areas and maize occupying relatively favourable environments.

• Sorghum: Important in Africa, India, the United States, Australia and parts of Asia; major Indian states include Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana.
• Maize: Extensively grown in the Americas, China, Europe and India; important Indian regions include Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and the Himalayan foothills.
• Forage adaptation: Multicut sorghum is common in irrigated plains, while fodder maize is cultivated in both rainfed and irrigated systems.

C. Economic Importance

Their principal forage value lies in rapid production of large quantities of palatable, energy-rich herbage.

• Sorghum uses: Fed green, conserved as silage or used as stover; multicut cultivars provide several harvests.
• Maize uses: Produces highly palatable green fodder and excellent silage because its cobs supply fermentable carbohydrates.
• Livestock value: Both support dairy production, but their relatively low protein content is improved by mixing with cowpea or another legume.
• Industrial relevance: Grain, starch, ethanol and crop residues provide additional value in mixed farming systems.

D. Soil and Climatic Requirements

Warm temperatures and well-drained soils favour both crops, although sorghum withstands stress better.

• Temperature: Germination and growth are satisfactory around 25-35°C; frost seriously damages both crops.
• Rainfall: Sorghum tolerates intermittent drought and approximately 400-700 mm seasonal rainfall; maize requires more uniform moisture.
• Soil: Fertile loam to clay loam with good drainage is suitable; maize is particularly sensitive to waterlogging.
• Soil reaction: A near-neutral pH of about 6.0-7.5 is generally favourable.
• Field condition: A fine, firm and weed-free seedbed ensures uniform establishment.

E. Varieties

Variety selection depends on cutting system, disease resistance, regional adaptation and fodder quality.

• Sorghum varieties: MP Chari, UP Chari-1, UP Chari-2, Pusa Chari-6, Pusa Chari-9 and multicut hybrids such as CSH 20MF are recognized fodder types.
• Maize varieties: African Tall, J-1006, Vijay Composite and Pratap Makka Chari-6 are used for fodder production.
• Selection criteria: Prefer non-lodging, leafy cultivars with thin stems, rapid regrowth and resistance to foliar diseases.

F. Cultural Practices

Timely sowing, adequate plant population and balanced fertilization determine fodder yield and quality.

• Land preparation: Give two or three cultivations, incorporate farmyard manure and level the field.
• Sowing time: Sow with the onset of monsoon, normally June-July; irrigated crops may be staggered for continuous supply.
• Seed rate and spacing:
  • Sorghum: About 35-40 kg seed/ha in rows 25-30 cm apart.
  • Maize: About 40-50 kg seed/ha in rows approximately 30 cm apart.
• Nutrients: Apply roughly 80-120 kg N/ha with phosphorus according to soil test; split nitrogen in multicut sorghum after each harvest.
• Water and weeds: Irrigate during prolonged dry periods and control weeds within the first 20-30 days.
• Harvesting: Cut single-cut sorghum near 50% flowering and maize at tasseling to milk stage. Avoid feeding very young sorghum, especially under drought stress.

G. Yield

Yield varies with cultivar, fertility, moisture and number of cuttings.

• Sorghum: Single-cut crops commonly yield about 35-50 t green fodder/ha; multicut types may produce 70-100 t/ha annually.
• Maize: Well-managed fodder maize generally yields approximately 40-60 t green fodder/ha.
• Quality-yield balance: Harvesting after flowering may increase tonnage but raises stem fibre and reduces digestibility.

III. Napier and Guinea Grass — Perennial High-Biomass Grasses

Napier grass (Cenchrus purpureus, formerly Pennisetum purpureum) and guinea grass (Megathyrsus maximus, formerly Panicum maximum) are perennial C4 grasses managed through repeated cutting.

A. Origin

Both grasses originated in tropical Africa and later spread through tropical livestock-production regions.

• Napier grass: Native to sub-Saharan tropical Africa and named for its tall, elephant-grass growth habit.
• Guinea grass: Originated in tropical Africa and became naturalized throughout warm, humid regions.
• Growth habit: Napier forms tall clumps with robust canes; guinea grass forms leafy tussocks and tolerates partial shade better.

B. Geographical Distribution

These grasses are concentrated in frost-free regions with sufficient moisture.

• Global range: Cultivated across Africa, South and Southeast Asia, Latin America, Australia and Pacific islands.
• Indian distribution: Common in southern, eastern and northeastern India and in irrigated dairy belts elsewhere.
• Production niche: Napier occupies fertile, intensively managed fields; guinea grass suits orchards, plantations and silvopastoral systems.

C. Economic Importance

Their perennial nature lowers repeated establishment costs and ensures a regular supply of green fodder.

• Napier value: Produces exceptionally high biomass and responds strongly to manure, nitrogen and irrigation.
• Guinea value: Provides leafy, palatable fodder and performs under moderate shade.
• Feeding: Young herbage is fed by cut-and-carry systems; mature stems become coarse and less digestible.
• Farm role: Both reduce pressure on grazing land and may supply fodder for several years after establishment.

D. Soil and Climatic Requirements

Warm, moist conditions maximize growth, but permanent stagnation and severe frost are unsuitable.

• Climate: Optimum growth occurs around 25-35°C; irrigation supports production during dry months.
• Napier soil: Deep, fertile, well-drained loam or clay loam is preferred.
• Guinea soil: Adapted to well-drained soils and moderate acidity, but performs poorly in prolonged waterlogging.
• Rainfall: About 800 mm or more, well distributed, favours sustained growth.

E. Varieties

Improved varieties combine high tillering, leafiness, persistence and disease resistance.

• Napier varieties/hybrids: NB-21, CO-3, CO-4, CO-5, Pusa Giant Napier and IGFRI-3 are important examples.
• Guinea varieties: Hamil, Riversdale, PGG-1, PGG-9 and Bundel Guinea-1 are cultivated types.
• Choice: Select cultivars recommended locally because persistence and pest response vary across environments.

F. Cultural Practices

Vegetative establishment and regular nutrient replacement are central to perennial-grass management.

• Planting material: Napier is planted using rooted slips or stem cuttings; guinea grass may be established using seed or rooted slips.
• Planting geometry: Napier is commonly planted at about 60 × 60 cm; guinea grass may use approximately 50 × 50 cm spacing.
• Nutrition: Apply farmyard manure before planting and about 100-200 kg N/ha annually in splits after cuttings.
• Irrigation: Irrigate immediately after planting and subsequently according to soil and season.
• Weeding: Keep the field weed-free during early establishment; established clumps suppress many weeds.
• Cutting: Take the first cut after roughly 60-90 days and later cuts at intervals of about 40-60 days, leaving a 10-15 cm stubble.

G. Yield

Perennial grasses give their best yields under irrigation and repeated fertilization.

• Napier grass: Improved hybrids commonly produce 150-250 t green fodder/ha/year under intensive management.
• Guinea grass: Annual production generally ranges from 80-150 t green fodder/ha.
• Yield decline: Overmature cutting, nutrient depletion and overcrowded clumps reduce leafiness and persistence.

IV. Cow Pea and Cluster Bean — Protein-Rich Leguminous Fodders

Cow pea (Vigna unguiculata) and cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba), commonly called guar, are warm-season annual legumes valued for protein-rich fodder and nitrogen fixation.

A. Origin

Both crops have ancient domestication histories associated with dry tropical agriculture.

• Cow pea: Originated in Africa, with West Africa recognized as an important centre of domestication.
• Cluster bean: Considered to have developed in the African-Asian region, with India becoming its major centre of cultivation and diversity.
• Botanical family: Both belong to Fabaceae and form nitrogen-fixing root nodules with compatible rhizobia.

B. Geographical Distribution

Cow pea has broad tropical distribution, whereas cluster bean is concentrated in arid and semi-arid regions.

• Cow pea: Widely cultivated in Africa, Asia, the Americas and Mediterranean regions; grown throughout warm regions of India.
• Cluster bean: India is the leading producer, especially Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat and Punjab.
• Adaptation: Cow pea fits humid-to-semi-arid systems; cluster bean is particularly suited to hot, drought-prone tracts.

C. Economic Importance

These crops enrich livestock diets while improving soil fertility within crop rotations.

• Fodder quality: Green herbage commonly contains substantially more crude protein than cereal fodders.
• Cow pea uses: Grown for green fodder, hay, grain, vegetables and as a cereal-legume intercrop.
• Cluster bean uses: Supplies fodder, vegetable pods, seed and guar gum obtained from the endosperm.
• Soil benefit: Biological nitrogen fixation reduces dependence on nitrogen fertilizer and leaves useful residues for succeeding crops.

D. Soil and Climatic Requirements

Both crops require warmth and drainage, while cluster bean shows greater drought and salinity tolerance.

• Temperature: Warm conditions of approximately 25-35°C favour growth; frost is harmful.
• Cow pea soil: Well-drained sandy loam to loam with pH around 5.5-7.5 is suitable.
• Cluster bean soil: Sandy and sandy-loam soils are preferred; the crop tolerates moderate salinity and low rainfall.
• Moisture sensitivity: Waterlogging encourages root diseases and poor nodulation in both crops.

E. Varieties

Fodder cultivars should be leafy, quick-growing and capable of producing succulent stems.

• Cow pea varieties: C-152, UPC-5286, UPC-287, Bundel Lobia-1 and Bundel Lobia-2 are recognized fodder types.
• Cluster bean varieties: FS-277, HFG-119, HFG-156 and Bundel Guar-1 are used for fodder.
• Seed choice: Use certified, disease-free seed and regionally recommended cultivars.

F. Cultural Practices

Successful production depends on monsoon sowing, rhizobial inoculation and early weed control.

• Sowing: Sow during June-July in a fine, well-drained seedbed.
• Seed rate:
  • Cow pea: Approximately 35-45 kg/ha for sole fodder cropping.
  • Cluster bean: Approximately 30-40 kg/ha for fodder.
• Spacing: Maintain rows about 25-30 cm apart for dense, leafy growth.
• Seed treatment: Inoculate seed with the crop-specific Rhizobium culture, particularly where the legume is newly introduced.
• Fertilization: Apply a starter dose of about 15-25 kg N/ha and 40-60 kg P₂O₅/ha, guided by soil testing.
• Harvesting: Cut cow pea near 50% flowering and cluster bean at flowering to early pod formation for a suitable balance of yield and quality.

G. Yield

Green-fodder output is governed by rainfall, plant population, harvest stage and cultivar.

• Cow pea: Commonly produces about 25-40 t green fodder/ha under good management.
• Cluster bean: Generally yields approximately 20-35 t green fodder/ha.
• Mixture advantage: Combining either legume with a cereal improves crude protein and often supports better-quality silage than cereal fodder alone.