GRASSES AND LEGUMES

FOR
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GRASSES 'AND LEGUMES

FOR
TROPICAL PASTURES

B. K. Trivedi

'll1.q.'i'fl.31."fi.
IGFRI

Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute,

Jhansi - 284 003, India
 Supervision & Guidance:
Dr. P.S. Pathak
Director, IGFRI, Jhansi

Edited by:
S.A. Faruqui
G. Suresh
K.C. Pandey

Published : October, 2002

Published by :
Director
Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute
Jhansi-284 003 India

Printed at :
Mini Printers
Jhansi
Ph. :447831,446820

Front Cover (Background) Pasture developed in CPRs

Front Cover (Inset) Pasture Legume - Stylo
Back Cover 1. Sehima nervosum
2. Iseilema laxum
3. Vetiveria zizanoides
4. Heteropogon contortus
 CONTENTS

Page No.
Foreword

Preface

Introduction........................................................................................................................ 1

Techniques for nursery raising............................................................................................. 3

Package of practices

Grasses............................................................................................................................ 5

Legumes ·........................................................................... 31

Appendix
Important fodder species suitable fordifferent.. 47
agroclimatic regions of India
 FOREWORD

Grasslands and pastures play an important role in the sustenance and development of
animal husbandry, which is an indispensable part of Indian agriculture. But the main reasons for
the poor performance of livestock in the country are inadequate supply of nutritious forage and
feed on one hand and lower production potential of animals on the other. Therefore, the success
of livestock industry depends upon feeding sufficient quantity of quality forage to productive animals.
Thus, for achieving the goal, considerable efforts have been made at national level, to improve the
herbage quantitatively and qualitatively by growing potential and improved grass/legume species
on marginal, sub-marginal and degraded habitats.

Attempts made by Dr. B.K. Trivedi in compilation of important information on various range
grasses and legumes are appreciable. I hope this bulletin will be useful to all those engaged in
forage production, feed resource development and livestock management.

P. S. Pathak
Director
 PREFACE

According to livestock census of 1992 the total livestock population is 470.9 million heads
and this projected figure by the turn of century will reach to a value of 494 million heads. On the
other hand total available feeds from all resources are 800 m.t. while the total feed/fodder
requirement for existing livestock is 1350 m.t. To fulfill this large gap either we have to increase the
land area already engaged for the purpose or search for the technology for higher forage production
including promising varieties/cultivars of forage grasses and legumes. But due to human population
pressure, the expansion of land for forage is not possible for solving the forage deficit second
option is the only possible alternative.

In this field a considerable work has been done at Indian Grassland and Fodder Research
Institute, Jhansi and also in other parts of the country. The information on package of practices of
31 range grasses and 20 range legumes is compiled on following heads for the ready reference of
each species.

Botanical name, Synonyms, Common names, Description, Origin and distribution Climate
Soils, Management schedule, Cultural practices, Seed rate, Seed treatment, Fertilizer application,
Forage yield, Seed yield, Nutritive value, Utilization, Compatibility, Varieties/ cultivars.

In addition to this, the information on nursery raising has also been incorporated. It will be of
immense value to forage researchers and development agencies as well as to livestock managers.

I express my deep sense of gratitude to Dr. P. S. Pathak, Director, Indian Grassland and
Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi for his guidance and constant encouragement. I sincerely thank
Dr. M.M. Roy, Principal Scientist and Head, Grassland & Silvopastures Management Division for
help and providing the facilities for compiling the information. I am also thankful to Dr. K.C. Kanodia,
and Dr. Vinod Shankar G.M. Division for extending their valuable help during the course of
preparation Manuscript. I record my sincere thank to Dr. S.N. Tripathi and Dr. J.N. Gupta, Principal
Scientists, IGFRI for critical suggestions and going through the manuscript. Last but not the least,
I place on record the constant endeavor of publication committee for bringing out this bulletin.

B.K. Trivedi
 INTRODUCTION

India is basically an agricultural country with more than 70 per cent of its total population
living in the rural areas. The rural population is dependent mainly on agriculture and animal
husbandry for their sustenance. India with about 2 per cent of the total world's geographical area
sustains as much as 15 per cent of the total world's livestock population which plays an important
role in country's rural economy and in meeting the demand for milk and milk products, meat, wool,
hides and bone manures etc. In recent years the population growth of both human and livestock
has created a tremendous pressure on our land resources. The area under agriculture has
increased by 18.6 per cent and the livestock population by 61.2 per cent between 1951 and 1992
(Directorate of Eco. & Stat. 1992). The livestock population has been increasing continuously
whereas the land under permanent pastures has shrinked. This has further complicated the
situation. About 4.9% of total cultivable land (AICRPFC 1995) and culturable wasteland is put for
fodder crops which is occupying nearly 101.0 m h. This is being utilized for growing forage grasses
and legumes and so called grasslands and pastures.

There are various reasons for the enormous increase in the livestock population of the
country. One of the reasons is social attitude of the people. In villages, maintaining a large number
of cattle is considered as a status symbol, though they may be unproductive and uneconomical to
maintain. Limited fodder resources of the country are unable to meet the requirement of ever
increasing livestock population. Thus livestock is under fed. Moreover present land utilization in
India does not permit any more good land to be put for fodder production. The solution to the
problem lies in increasing the productivity of our grasslands, improving the degraded rangelands,
manipulating the livestock population and adopting the principles of grazing management.

Grassland agriculture is a farming system that emphasizes the importance of grasses and
legumes to the livestock and land management. The main feature of grassland agriculture is its
dependence on herbaceous plants such as grasses, legumes and forbs and in many situations
the leaves, buds, and stem tops of shrubs and woody vegetation.

Grass yields more starch equivalent and protein per acre than any other crops. Good
grasslands, if effectively grazed, may have a starch equivalent of 66 per cent and a protein equivalent
of 15 per cent. These pastures will produce 2000-3000 Ib of total digestible nutrients (TON) per
acre. The out put of the best feeding pastures in terms of liveweight increase per acre per annum
may be as high as 15 c wt. (or 900 Ib per acre per annum of meat) when intensively farmed
although a more usual figure for first class permanent pasture would be 3-3 1/2 cwt. liveweight
increase (200-300 Ib meat).

There are about 620 and 650 genera and 10000 and 18000 species of grasses (Poaceae)
and legumes (Leguminoseae) respectively in the world. Of these only about 40 grasses and legumes
are used to appreciable extent in the establishment of sown pastures. Moreover, it has been found
that livestock prefer indigenous forage species in comparison to selected varieties of grasses and
legumes despite the fact that indigenous species may be low in productivity and nutritive value.

On the basis of following characters the grasses are considered suitable as forage plants for
grazing or mowing.

1. Grasses (members of Gramineae/Poaceae) have wider range of adaptability than the species
of any other family, being found in humid tropics, arid areas and alpine peaks.

2. Reproduction of fresh shoots by tillering provides a means of recovery from grazing or cutting.

3. Many grasses maintain continuous vegetative growth interrupted only by drought or cold.

GRASSES AND LEGUMES FOR TROPICAL PASTURES

4. Many grasses spread by rhizomes or stolons, which readily form adventitious roots and give
rapid ground coverage.

5. New tissues produced during growth, arise chiefly at the base of the leaves where these are
least to be damaged by cutting or grazing.

6. The root system binds the soil particles together forming a sod and brings to the surface
layer nutrients, which have been leached into the sub soil by heavy rainfall.

7. In addition to above while selecting the species for pasture, the qualities desired are
productivity, palatability, high nutritive value and adaptation of the species with local soil and
climatic conditions.

ACRONYMS

E- English 0- Or.iya
G- Gujrati P- Punjabi
H- Hindi S- Sanskrit
K- Kannada T- Tamil
MI- Malyalam Te - Telugu
Mr- Marathi CP- Crude protein

2 GRASSES AND LEGUMES FOR TROPICAL PASTURES

 TECHNIQUES FOR NURSERY RAISING

The seed is the prime material for establishing the grasslands /pastures. In forage species
particularly grasses, the seed production varies from species to species. When seed becomes a
Iimit~ng factonseedlmqs,' rooted sups are.the lonly altemate souroe for establishing the pasture.
These seedlings are raised in nursery.

Establishment of Nursery

Nursery beds should carefully be preapared and cleaned from all rank growth including
weeds by pulling out and burning. Generaly the nursery is raised during May and for this 6m x 6m
beds are common. The bed is thoroughly ploughed and 30 kg Farm Yard Manuare, 0.250 kg urea,
0.5 kg Singly Super Phosphate and 50g BHe may be mixed thoroughly as a basal dose in each
bed. The bed is watered for 4 to 6 days, so weeds would come up which are to be removed. About
2 g Bavistin is mixed with sun dried seeds. For proper sowing sand is mixed with seeds and then
the seeds are sown 5-6 mm deep in line. The distance from line to line should be 10 cm. After
sowing it may be covered with a thin layer of soil immediately and the bed may be mulched with
straw/wet gunny bags or any locally available material for a period of 4-6 days continuously to
allow the seed germination. Watering may be done twice a day at morning and evening with rose
can. The germination starts from 3rd day and should be completed with in a week. After full
germination mulch/gunny bags are removed. In places where day temperature is very high, it may
be necessary to provide shade to seed beds in order to protect delicate seedlings The shade may
be removed after 30 days of sowing but the beds are watered every alternate day with necessary
weeding and hoeing.

Germination of dehusked seeds is recored as 94-98 per cent as compared to husked seeds,
which is 35-42 percent. The stored seeds show better germination as compared to freshly collected.
About 40-50 g of grass seeds are used for each bed. Such 12 beds are required to provide
seedlings for a hectare land. For better growth of seedlings the crop should be top dressed with
Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (10 kg N/ha). Grass seedlings will be ready for transplanting after 4 to
6 weeks when they attain 15 to 25 cm height.
Planting Technique
Seedlings/rooted slips are transplanted in well prepared field immediately after the onset of
monsoon. Land preparation is done through desi plough, two to three ploughings are sufficient.
Farm Yard manure @ 10-12 cartloads per hectare and BHC (10%) are mixed at the time of last
ploughing.

The nursery beds are watered copiously before pulling out the seedlings. The seedlings are
pulled out with ease and without damage to their root systems. Timely planting is necessary for
good growth and yield. Two seedlings are transplanted per hull at a distance of 50 x 30cm between
rows and plants respectivley. The soil, around the seedlings should be pressed gently to remove
the air.

Through weeding and hoeing is essential during the initial year of establishment as the
grass is unable to compete with other forbs, care should be taken to remove dried seedlings/
clumps and gap filling should be done immediately to maintain the optimum plant population.

Tropical forage species and their package of practices

Raising of grasses or pastures is an important activity. For this purpose, a set of cultivation
practices is required on priority for the development of grasslands. Based on a large number of
experiments. the practices evolved at IGFRI, Jhansi and elsewhere in the country are provided in

GRASSES AND LEGUMES FOR TROPICAL PASTURES 3

the following pages for the important tropical grasses and legumes. Out of a vast spectrum of
grasses found in the world and nearly 3000 species in India, only a few have been selected, on the
basis of fodder value, soil and water conservation purpose and perenniality for tropical and sub
tropical regions of the country.

However, before dealing with the cultural practices of major perennial species, which play
varying degree of fidelity among the population aswell as with the habitat, it was felt essential to
provide their important characters, so as to recognize these in the fields under different habitat
conditions. An attempt is also made to provide their common and local names in different languages
as well as notes on their origin, distribution, botanical description and habitat factors (climate and
soils).

4 GRASSES AND LEGUMES FOR TROPICAL PASTURES

GRASSES
.
 Axonoptis compressus (Swartz) Beauv.

Common names : Broad-leaf carpet grass, done @ 6 kg/ha during late summer. It also
Savannah grass (E.) spreads more quickly by stolons and rhizomes
under favourable conditions. Normally it does
Description: It is a glabrous, perennial, 25-75 not require fertilizer.
cm high robust and stoloniferous plant. Leaves
are 5-20 cm long and 9-12 mm wide with obtuse Fertilizer application: This grass responds well
apex and form a dense mat over the surface of to fertilizer and common dose of (30kg N + 20
the ground. The inflorescence consists of two Kg P2 0 S ) is economic.
to three slender, sessile and erect spikes. The
spikelets are 2.2-2.5 mm long. There are about Forage yield: From a fertilized pasture (56 kg
297000 numbers of seeds in one kg. N/ha) about 51.9 t dry matter/ha was recorded.

Distribution: It is native of South and Central Nutritive value: It is poor in nutritive value and
America, West Indies and now distributed in during dry season 7.6 per cent C.P. was found
Australia, India, tropical Africa, Indonesia and in 8 weeks old forage crop while during wet
Philippines. season the C.P. was 11.4 per cent at same age.

Climate: It is adapted to humid and sub-tropical Utilization: Due to low C.P. content and coarse
conditions with an annual rainfall 1,140 mm or in nature, it is less palatable and not fit for hay
more. and silage. It provides good ground cover,
therefore, it is used against the erosion for
Soils: It prefers moist, sandy or light textured stabilizing the banks of dams. It is also used for
soils of low fertility where moisture is available lawn purposes.
throughout the year.
Special Feature: It has an active nitrogenase
Cultural practices : For pure pasture a well system and over a period of 9-12 weeks, fixes
prepared field is required and surface sowing is 13 kg N/ha.

Bothriochloa intermedia (R.Br.) A. Cam

Syn. B. bladhii (Retz.) S.T Blake.

Common names: Forest blue grass (E), Bada Cultural Practices : After proper land
Phulwa, Fulkara (H) preparation the seed is broadcasted @ 4kg/ ha
or seedlings/ rooted slips are transplanted at a
Description: Perennial, tufted, erect, 2 m tall, distance of 50 cm from plant to plant and 75 cm
5-7 noded, nodes glabrous or upper bearded. from row to row preferably in a drizzly day. One
Blade linear, 30 cm long tapering. Panicles or two weeding are required in the first year.
narrow, 10-25 cm long. Racemes 12-38 mm
Fertilizer application : Recommended
long. Pedicelled spikelets.
economic fertilizer dose is 120 kg N + 60 kg
Distribution: Pacific Island, N.E. Australia, P2 0 / h a .
Tropical Asia, China and Tropical Africa. In India Forage yield: In normal conditions the grass
distributed throughout tropical to sub-tropical produces 2.4 tlha dry metter and with the
parts from Punjab to West Bengal. application of fertilizer the yield is 7.8 tlha.
Climate: It is a grass of semi-arid regions and Nutritive value: It contains 6.0 per cent crude
prefers 900 mm average annual rainfall. protein (CP) at flowering stage in natural
condition.
Soil: It occurs mainly on heavy clay loam to
clayey soils and heavier alluvial soils. Utilization: It provides good hay to animals.

GRASSES AND LEGUMES FOR TROPICAL PASTURES 5

 Bothriochloa pertusa (L.) A. Camus

Common names: Sour grass, Indian blue Soils: It grows well on coarse sand to fine
grass (E), Phulwa (H), Jirgi (Mr.), Chiana Karai textured sandy loam to loamy soils.
(T), and Janu Gaddi (Te).
Cultural practice: It can easily be established
Description: Perennial, bunchy grass, 1 m on poor soils with minimum tillage through
tall, nodes bearded with spreading hairs, inter- broadcasting seeds @ 4 kg/ha.
nodes smooth and shiny. Inflorescence purplish, Fertilizer: A common dose of 40 kg N + 25 kg
aromatic, made up of a cluster of 3-8 spikes. Pp/ha is recommended for higher forage yield.
Spikelets are in pair, one sessile and awned and
the other pedicelled and awn less. The glume Forage yield: Production potential of this grass
is 44 t/ha with 73.0 per cent dry matter in October
of the spikelets has one prominent pit. Seed
under zero fertilizer. Under rainfed and
count is about12, 1O,OOO/kg.
unmanured condition it provides good forage in
Distribution: lt is distributed in South east Asia two cuts at 60 days intervals i.e. end of July and
and tropical Africa. In India it is found widely September.
distributed in U. P. and other northern and Nutritive value: C.P. value under zero fertilizer
southern states up to 2000 m altitude. ranges from 7.1 to 2.4 per cent in July and
November respectively.
Climate: It prefers drier habitats in the rainfall
zones ranging from 300 to 1200 mm in arid and Utilization : It is utilized mainly for forage
semi arid climatic conditions. purposes.

Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst ex A. Rich) Stapf

Common names: Congo signal grass, conditions and any time in the irrigated
Palisade grass, Ceylon sheep grass (E). conditions as well as in heavy rainfall regions.

Description: It is tufted, semi-erect, spreading, Management schedule: It can be heavily

1.20 m high, drought-resistant and perennial grazed if used as a monospecific sward and
grass. Leaves are deep green. The seeds regularly fertilized with nitrogen. If grown with
remain viable for about 3 years. legumes, the grazing system must favour the
legume and adequate phosphorus must be
Distribution : It is an exotic grass, originally maintained.
belongs to East Africa and was introduced in
India in 1950 from Australia. In India it is found Fertilizer application & forage Yield: It
in coastal regions. responds well to fertilizer application and yielded
3.0,4.0 and 120 tlha under control, 60 kg Nand
Climate: It requires warm and humid climate. 120 kg N/ha respectively in two cuts.

Soils: This grass thrives well on loamy soils. Nutritive value: It is used for hay making for
lean period. It contains 9.6 and 8.1 per cent C.P.
Cultural Practices: In a well prepared, fertilized
in July and October respectively.
and levelland small rooted slips with 2-3 nodes
are transplanted. The pasture can also be Utilization: The grass remains green for major
established by direct seedlings in lines at 30 cms part of the year even under the rainfed conditions.
apart at the onset of monsoon season in dryland It is much relished and is quite palatable.

6 GRASSES AND LEGUMES FOR TROPICAL PASTURES

 Brachiaria mutica (Forsk.) Stapf

Common names: Para grass, Buffalo grass, nodes and erect shoots are produced and thus
Water grass (E) Pani Wali ghas (H). whole field is covered with surface runners. The
first cutting is therefore delayed.
Description: It is an exotic, hairy and perennial
grass, spreading rapidly by surface runners, Fertilizer application: A basal dose of 5 tonnes
profusely rooting at nodes. Stems rhizomatous of FYM/compost followed by a top dressing of
with ascending branches; culms hollow, 90 kg N/ha, through Ammonium sulphate or
succulent and glabrous with hairy inter-nodes. Diammonium phosphate after every 2-3 cuttings
Leaf blade linear, dark green, 30 cm long and which ensures higher fodder production.
6-16 mm broad. Inflorescence is open panicle
Management schedule: It should not be
and 6-20 cm long. Seeds count about
grazed too closely and first grazing should be
10,OO,OOO/kg.
deferred till the grass is 30-60 cm high and well
Distribution : It is native to Brazil and was established. Controlled/ light grazing ensures
introduced to India in 1894 at Poona. It grows rapid growth.
well in water logging conditions on river and
Forage yield : Generally para grass is ready
canal banks.
for the first cut in 3 months from planting and
Climate: It is a grass of tropical climate and subsequent cuts are possible at monthly
grows well in warm humid situations climate of intervals. The green forage production ranges
high rainfall areas but in protected areas it can from 1950 to 2755 t/ha.
persist with rainfall as low as 900 mm per year.
Nutritive value: The grass is less nutritive with
Soils : It performs well in clayey/silty/peaty/ 7 per cent C.P., 0.76 Ca and 0.49 per cent.
sewage farm soils. phosphorus.

Cultural practices: In a well prepared and Utilization: The grass is used as green fodder,
levelled field, shoot bits of 30 cm length each soiling and even for hay. It can withstand
with 2-3 nodes are planted in lines at about 60 moderate grazing. It is highly profitable to grow
cm distance; under irrigated conditions best time on submerged or low lying as well as saline soils
of planting is in March while under rainfed where nothing else survives.
conditions at the onset of monsoon.
Compatability : The grass performs well with
In the early stage of establishment, the legumes like Centrosema, Calpogonium,
grass sends out surface runners, which root at Lotononis sp., Vicia and Aeschynomane

Cenchrus ciliaris Linn.

Common names: Buffel, African foxtail grass Madagascar and eastwards to Burma and
(E), Anjan (H), Pillu and Koluka Hai (T) and Kusa Ceylon. In India it is a natural species largely
(Te). found in Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Gujarat
and parts of western U.P. and Tamil Nadu state.
Description: Perennial, tufted, 0.3-1.2 m tall.
Leaf blade linear, 2.8 to 24.0 cm long and 2.2 to Climate: It grows well in rainfall zones ranging
8.5 mm wide. Inflorescence dense, cylindrical, between 125 to 1250 mm in arid and semi-arid
2.0 to 12.0 cm long. Seed count 4,50,000 to regions of the country. It can withstand drought
7,03,OOO/kg. Seeds remain viable for 2 to 3 and can also grow very well under irrigation.
years.
Soils: It comes up best on well drained, light to
Distribution: The Buffel grass is an inhabitant medium textured soils which is red in colour and
of dry sandy areas throughout Africa, calcareous in nature. Its establishment on

GRASSES AND LEGUMES FOR TROPICAL PASTURES 7

heavier soils (clay or lateritic) is not successful The pasture is more productive during 2nd to
especially on soils deficient in lime. 4th year, afterwards for its sustained production
the pasture should be burnt moderately or
Cultural practices: In well levelled land the ploughed.
sowing is to be done in lines using 4 or 5 kg
seeds/ha after first shower in monsoon. Six Forage yield: Depending on rainfall the yield
weeks old seedlings/rooted slips can also be varies greatly and in arid tract with less than 300
transplanted in a drizzly day at 50 cm row mm rainfall a well established pasture produces
spacing and 30 cm plant to plant. Thus about 9.0 to 11.0 t/ha green matter while in semi-arid
33,000 seedlings or rooted slips are required tract of 950 mm rainfall, the dry matter yield
for one hectare area with 2 seedlings at each ranged from 6.0 to 11.4 Uha.
spot. But for undulating area the seeds are to
be broadcasted at a bit higher rate before Seed yield: For seed production 75 cm spacing
monsoon. In all these sowing is done at very is advocated from line to line in order to avoidover
shallow depth i.e. 0.5 to 1.0 cm. After sowing, a crowdingthrough self seeding. A well established
small twig of a tree is dragged over the land to pasture yields around 125 kg seeds/ha.
cover the seeds with a thin film of soil. One Grass-legume mixture: For quality forage after
weeding in the form of interculturing is helpful every two rows of grass spaced at 50 ern, one
for better crop. row of legume viz., Siratro or Caribbean stylo
Fertilizer: In the first year a basal application could be planted. For this, the legumes to be
of 5 tones of Farm Yard Manure (FYM) alongwith sown first at 1.5 m interval and then the grass
40 kg Nand 20 kg P20/ha is to be mixed seedlings are transplanted after the legumes
thoroughly in the soil at land preparation. have germinated. Such practice minimises the
Afterwards 20 kg N/ha is topdressed at one competition between the legume and grass
month crop stage. However in subsequent years seedlings for establishment and growth.
40 kg N + 20 kg P20/ha needs to be top dressed Nutritive value: The grass is relished by all
as a single dose at the onset of monsoon. For classes of livestock. It contains 11.0per cent C. P.
higher tonnage another dose of 20 kg N/ha may at young stage with suitable ratio of Ca and P.
be applied after the first harvest.
Utilization : The grass is mostly used as cut
Management Schedule: In the first year of and carry fodder but also well suited to grazing.
establishment only one cut is to be taken in mid This provides very good hay since it retains its
October. From first year onward this grass gives nutritive value even when ripe fully. For silage the
3-4 cuts and more can be had if irrigation is grass shouldbe harvested at flowering or seeding
available. The first cutting should be taken at stage. Cultivars, S-262 and S-358 are found
60 days interval and subsequent cuttings after suitable for soil conservation purposes also.
30-45 days intervals depending on the rainfall.
Cutting height may be kept 5-10 cm from ground Varieties: Mallapo, Buttel, IGFRI No.3108,
level to ensure good regrowth in following years. 3132, CAZRI-358, Marwar Anjan (75).

Cenchrus setigerus Vahl

Common names : Bird wood grass (E), less developed than C. ciliaris. Seed count
Dhaman (H), Black Kolukattai (T). 3,50,000/kg.

Description : Perennial, forming cullns from Distribution: It occurs throughout hotter parts
bulbous base, 0.2 to 0.9 m tall, leaf blade 2 to of Africa, Arabia and India. It is also found in
20 cm long and 1.8 to 6.9 mm wide. Australia and South Amercia and introduced as
Inflorescence compact, spike 2 to 20 cm. long, an experimental forage grass in many parts of
0.4 to 1.0 cm wide. The root system is generally the country. In Indian sub-continent it is

8 GRASSES AND LEGUMES FOR TROPICAL PASTURES

naturalised in Sindh, Punjab, Rajasthan, ha. Afterwards 30 kg N/ha is given as top
Haryana, Gujarat and other warm regions of dressing at the age of one month crop. In
North-West India.· subsequent years prescribed dose is repeated
at the onset of monsoon.
Climate : Arid and semi-arid conditions are
favourable with 125 to 1250 mm rainfall. It Forage yield: The dry forage yield of species
withstands drought and grows very well under varied from 3.9 to 7.9 t/ha in unfertilized and
irrigation. fertilized (90 kg N/ha) plot respectively under
rainfed conditions. Pusa yellow Anjan produced
Soils: It grows well on well drained sandy-loam maximum forage (6.8 t/ha) yield.
soils with pH ranging from 7 to 7.5.
Nutritive value: In this species 7.8 per cent
Cultural practices: Land is to be well ploughed C.P. was found in first cut.
after removal of all rank vegetation. The seeds
are sown in line at a row spacing of 50 cm using Utilization: It is highly palatable grass for cattle
10 kg seeds/ha. and used as hay also. It can be grazed heavily.

Fertilizer application : At the time of land Varieties : The recommended varieties are
preparation 10 cart load of FYM is thoroughly Marwar Dhaman (CAZRI-76) 296, Pusa yellow
mixed in soil alongwith 30 kg N + 30 kg P20/ - Anjan, 175 and 415.

Chloris gayana Kunth

Common name: Rhodes grass (E) and seeds are broadcast @ 5 kg/ha at the onset
of monsoon by mixing the moist soil. In high
Description: It is fine stemmed, leafy, perennial, rainfall zones or under irrigated condition higher
erect, rhizomatous or spreading, stoloniferous seed rate (10 kg/ha) is recommended or rooted
grass. Culms are 0.6 to 1.2 m tall with long and slips can be transplanted in the lines at a
stout internodes. Leaf blades are 15-30 cm long distance of 50x50 cms for which nearly 40000 .
and 3-5 mm wide, tapering to fine pointed tips. slips are required for one hectare. 1-2
Inflorescence is spreading with 10-15 cm long, interculturing and gap filling are required in the
spikelets crowded, straw coloured on ripening. first year to ensure good establishment.
It produces profuse amount of seeds. Seed
count 7250000 to 9500000/kg. Fertilizer application : Since this grass
responds well to manuring, 10-15 tonnes of FYM
Distribution: It is a native of South Africa and or compost alongwith 30 kg P20/ha as basal
was named after the famous Cecil Rhodes, who dose followed by 20 kg N/ha as top dressing for
popularised it. The species was introduced in ensuring sustained productivity. In case of
India through USA and later on in Karnataka in irrigated crop, irrigation after every 2-3 weeks
1920. Being drought resistant it is found in semi- alongwith 20 kg N/ha increases the foraqe
arid parts of the country and low lying areas. production.
Climate: It grows well in warm-moist conditions. Forage yield: In pastures raised through
Soils: It prefers loamy to sandy loams and seeds, first clipping can be taken after 3 months,
can grow even on a fair degree of salinity but while that from rooted slips after 2 months and
can not withstand stiff clayey or waterlogging subsequently after every month in both types of
conditions. pastures. Thus, nearly 6 cuttings with an
average yield of about 17.0 t/ha (green) are
Cultural practices: It can be established by possible under rainfed conditions but under
seeds as well as by rooted slips. The irrigation the yield is as high as 175.6 t/ha.
establishment by seed is cheaper and for this a
firm seed bed is prepared on well ploughed land Seed yield : The seeds of this grass mature

GRASSES AND LEGUMES FOR TROPICAL PASTURES 9

after monsoon and are collected in October- silage and hay but it is generally used for soiling.
November. The well fertilized pasture produces Even after severe trampling it provides grazing
100 kg seeds in one hectare. upto September and could be utilized for hay
thereafter.
Nutritive value: At preflowering stage C.P. is
nearly 5 per cent with a balanced content of Ca Compatibility: It grows well with Stylosanthes
(0.5 per cent) and P (0.3 per cent). guianensis and Neonotonia wightii and
consequently 20 and 100 per cent increase in
Utilization: The grass is suitable for pasturage, forage yield was recorded respectively.

Chrysopogon fulvus (Spreng) Choiv

Common names: Dhwalu (H), Gusia (G), Fertilizer application: About 60 kg N/ha has
Pandhri Kusal (Mr) and Kare hull (K). been found the most economical dose for higher
forage production and for getting maximum
Description: It is highly variable, tufted, seed, 40 kg P20/ha is beneficial in addition to
perennial and 1.8 m tall grass. Culms are slender above nitrogen dose.
and glabrous. Leaves are 25-30 cm long. Upper
leaves are short (7.5 to 10 cm). Panicles are 3- Forage yield: In first year it gives only one cut
13 cm long with several whorls of flexyous but in subsequent years even 3 cuts are possible
branches, with groups of 3 spikelets at their and the dry forage yield is 4.2 tlha. Fertilized
apexes. Out of these 3 spikelets one is sessile, pasture produces about 10.0 t/ha forage.
bisexual, awned and other two are awnless and
pedicelled. Seed yield: The seed yield is upto 100 kg/ha.

Distribution: It is found in Asia and East Africa Nutritive value: It contains about 4.6 to 5.1
and throughout India especially in hilly areas per cent C.P. during the growth period (Aug.-
upto 1830 m altitude in the gravelly land of Sept.). Cutting frequency (10 days interval) and
Aravalli hills in Rajasthan, Central Plateau as use of N fertilizer (60 kg N/ha) increased the
well as lower ranges of Himalaya. C.P. from 5.4 to 12.6 per cent. However, the C.P.
decreased with the age of plant.
Climate: It is found in arid to semi-arid regions
with 250 to 850 mm rainfall. Utilization: If it is cut before flowering the grass
makes good green fodder or may be grazed
Soils: It thrives well on eroded, shallow and directly from 2nd year onwards upto 6th year.
gravelly/stony soils of medium texture. However, the grass is quite suitable for hay. It is
a good soil binder also.
Cultural practices: Its habitat being stony or
gravelly with shallow soils, ploughing of any sort . Varieties: There are two varieties of C. fulvus
is not advisable. Spot sowing/planting on sloppy i.e. (i) Mhow and (ii) Chandigarh. The first one is
lands and broadcasting of seeds in fairly plain taller and yields higher tonnage of forage while
areas, as well as transplanting of rooted slips the later is more nutritive and grows luxuriantly
during drizzly days of monsoon, have given best during summer months even on sloppy lands
establishment of pasture. when other grasses are totally dry.

Coix lacryma-jobi Linn

Common names: Job's tears (E), Kahado (G) 10-45 cm long and 3-5 cm wide with cordate
Description: It is an annual/perennial 1-2 m base and smooth sheath. Ligules are very short.
tall and leafy grass. Stem is erect, stout with Inflorescence is prolific with monoecious flowers;
brace-roots from the lower nodes. Leaves are the first glume of the male spikelet narrowly

10 GRASSES AND LEGUMES FOR TROPICAL PASTURES

winged. The seeds are yellow, purple, white or Fertilizer application: Job's tears gives good
brown. response with the liberal application of organic
manures. Application of inorganic fertilizers is
Distribution: It is native to tropical Asia but recommended after the analysis of soil in
now widely distributed in the tropics i.e. Africa respect of nutrients status.
and America. In India it is abundantly found in
hotter and swampy parts especially in North- Forage and seed yield: Its average green
eastern Hill regions. forage yield is about 13.9 t/ha. Normally the seed
production is 1500 kg/ha.
Climate: It is a species of humid climate and
requires high annual rainfall in excess of 1500 Nutritive value: Green material contains about
mm. 29.9 per cent dry matter, 8.5 per cent C.P., 27.9
per cent crude fiber and 8.9 per cent ash. The
Soils: It grows in swampy places near streams husked grain gave 10.8 per cent moisture, 13.6
and requires fertile soils for best growth. per cent protein, 61 per cent fat, 58.5 per cent
carbohydrate, 8.4 per cent fiber and 2.6 per cent
Cultural practices : It prefers well prepared
ash.
field. The crop is raised by direct seed sowing
(dibbling or broadcast) at a depth of 5 cm in rainy Utilization: The green material is very palatable
season with a spacing of 40-60 cm between and is utilized as food and fodder both. The
plant to plant and 75-100 cm from row to row. foliage may be used as fodder for cattle and can
Seed rate is 10-15 kg/ha. For seed setting it be turned into ensilage. It is also used for
requires sufficient rains in the early stage of preparing the light beer. The seeds are used in
growth and dry period. Coix is hardy and medicines and also as livestock feed. The bran
remarkably free from diseases and insects may be used as substitute for wheat bran in
pests. It is a crop of 140-160 days. feeding the poultry.

Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers

Common names: Bermuda, Lawn, Behama, Climate: It grows well in semi-arid conditions
Wire and Devil grass (E), Doob and Hariyali (H), between 300-2000 mm rainfall but does not
Durba (S), Arugam pillu (T), Garicha gaddi (Te), survive in low rainfall areas.
Gasika hull (K) and Darodi (G).
Soils: This grass thrives best on heavier silt
Description: It is a profusely much branched, and clayey soils not SUbjected to waterlogging
leafy perennial stoloniferous with a large number or flooding. Sandy soil also does not suit to this
of runners. Each stolon when cut is capable of grass. It is resistant to a great extent to drought
becoming a separate plant, hence easiest and and tolerant to salinity and alkalinity.
earliest in establishment. Culms are highly
variable in length. Leaves are short and soft. Cultural practices : After proper land
Spikes are 2-8 in number and 2-5 cms long, preparation by 2-3 ploughing, the best
digitally arranged on the tip of erect peduncles. establishment of this grass can be achieved
Spikelets are one flowered and awnless. Fruit through planting of cut pieces of stolons with 2-
is caryopsis. Seed count 4489000/kg. 3 rooting nodes (runners) during monsoon
season at 30-50 cm distance. After planting the
Distribution: Doob is native to India. It was field needs to be pressed by a light roller or feet.
introduced from Behama Island in other Establishment through seeds is not very
countries like United States, and therefore it is successful, because the seeds are ve"ry minute
also known as Behama grass. It is found in and their germination is very slow. Moreover by
almost all the tropical and subtropical countries the time small seedlings emerge from seeds
of the world from sea level to 2,130 m elevation. they are smothered by other weed species.

GRASSES AND LEGUMES FOR TROPICAL PASTURES 11

 However as an irrigated crop it can be cuttings 30.0-35.0 t/ha green fodder (90-110 t/
established any time in the south and after ha dry matter) can be harvested. To ensure best
March in North India. In sandy soils the rooted results of grazing; pasture should be augmented
slips are to be planted 10 to 13 cm deep in rows, by growing a legume like Calopogonium
taking care to leave their tips above the ground. mucunoides.

Fertilizer application: This grass gives linear Nutritive value: It contains 11.1 per cent C.P.
response to N-fertilizer and to increase the in young stage and about 7.0 per cent at maturity
forage production 120 kg N/ha may be given. and least crude fiber (18.6 to 28.2 per cent).

Forage yield: Generally grass is ready for first Utilization: Being most nutritive, the grass is
cut in 3-4 months after planting and for readily eaten by all types of livestock. It is used
subsequent cuttings after every two months as green fodder or may be converted into
interval and thus 4-5 cuttings may be taken excellent hay or grazed in situ. In addition to this,
every year. The average green forage yield it is extensively used for checking soil erosion,
ranges from 15.0-16.0 t/ha (4.0-5.0 t/ha dry . gully plugging on check dams, embankments .
matter) under rainfed conditions. However under of rivers, canals and other sloppy stabilization
irrigated conditions with 120 kg N/ha in 2-3 programmes of reservoirs etc.

Dichanthium annulatum (Forsk) Stapf

Common names: Marvel grass (E), Kail, Kared of drought as well as salinity but does not thrive
and Apang (H), Chhijhavo (G) on acidic soils.

Description: It is an erect tufted, fine stemmed, Cultural practices : In well leveled land the
perennial grass and 1.;2 m tall. Culms are sowing is to be done in lines using 4-6 kg seed/
purplish red or bluish in colour, distinct rings of ha after first shower in monsoon. But established
pastures gave best results for which 5 weeks
whitish hairs at each node. Leaves are green to
old seedlings/rooted slips can also be
bluish green, 23-45 cm long. Inflorescence is a
transplanted in a drizzly day at 50 cm row spacing
compound raceme, made of a cluster (2-8) of
and 30 cm plant to plant. One or two interculturing
purplish false spikes, arising nearly from the operations, depending on weed infestations are
terminal tip of the culms. Each false spike is a essential during first year for high tonnage.
raceme of paired spikelets, one sessile and the
other pedicelled. Most distinguishing character of Fertilizer application: At first, ten cartloads of
its spikelets is the absence of pits on the glums. FYM is given in 1 ha land. This is followed by
basal application of 20 kg N/ha (preferably 100-
Distribution: Naturally it occurs in Burma, kg calcium ammonium nitrate) and 20 kg Pps/
Africa and Australia. It grows on the plains and ha (Le. 125 kg SSP). Afterwards 20 kg N/ha is
upto 900 m on hills in India except in northern required after one month crop through top
mountains. dressing. However, in subsequent years 20 kg
N + 20 kg P2 0 S per hectare needs to be top
Climate: It grows well in the areas of 350 to dressed as a single dose at the onset of
2000 mm rainfall of arid and semi-arid regions. monsoon.
Soils: It can grow on a wide range of soils but Forage yield: In first year it should be
moist, well drained, medium black or red alluvial harvested once after seed shedding while in
soils are preferred. It can tolerate a fair degree subsequent years 3-4 cuttings can be taken at

. 12 GRASSES AND LEGUMES FOR TROPICAL PASTURES

an interval of 60 days and 15 cm cutting height grazing purpose. This is also good for soil
for quality forage. This grass gives high yield conservation.
even under rainfed condition and dry matter yield
Compatibility: Siratro or stylos are the
ranges from 2.8 to 4.5 t/ha in single cut while
appropriate legumes and may be maintained in
300 t/ha green fodder is recorded in 3 cuts. It
2:1 ratio i.e. two rows of grass and one row of
can give 3 times more forage under irrigation.
legume. For this the legume should be sown
Nutritive value: Its crude protein content varies first in prepared land at a distance of 1.5 m and
from 5 to 7 per cent. grass seedlings may be transplanted after the
germination of legume species.
Utilization: Even having low C.P. the species
is considered as one of the best grass for Varieties: IGFRI 495-1 and Marvel-8, CAZRI-
forage and is utilized as hay as well as for 490 and 485.

Digitaria decumbens Stent

Common names: Pangloa grass, Digit grass Fertilizer application: Generally 50-60 kg N/
(E) ha is applied for better results.

Description: Pangloa grass is of creeping Management schedule: Its first cutting should
habit. It is densely tufted, branched and be taken after three and half months from
stoloniferous. It gives the roots from lower establishment and subsequent cuttings at an
interval of 7-8 weeks. Rotational grazing with one
nodes. It grows to a height of 0.6-1.2 m. The
week rest during growth period and 2 to 3 weeks
spikelets are 2.5-3 mm long, glabrous. It does
rest in summer period is recommended for
not produce viable seeds.
higher quality forage.
Distribution: It is originated in Transvaal and Forage yield: It produces 7.0-13.0 t/ha green
now distributed in most of the tropical countries forage. Sometimes it out yielded Panicum
e.g. Australia, India etc. maximum cv. Hamil and Brachiaria ruziziensis,
but yielded less then B. decumbens and B.
Climate: Humid coastal climate with 7-26 °C
mutica.
temperature and annual rainfall in excess to
1,015 mm favours the grass for higher growth. Nutritive value : Its analysis at floral stage
revealed 11.8 per cent C.P., 30.2 per cent crude
Soils: It is adaptable to wide range of soils from fiber and 9.2 per cent ash.
extremely poor sandsto heavyclays of low fertility.
Utilization: At young and vigorous stage it is
Cultural practices : This species is mainly most palatable and is used for hay, silage and
propagated vegetatively and establishes easily grazing purposes but it is usually neglected in
from stem pieces containing a few nodes. For comparison to other grasses when it becomes
its establishment, freshly mowed stem pieces old and stemmy. It is successfully grown for
with nodes and stolons are spread over a well controlling the erosion through water and wind
prepared field and then these are covered with both.
a medium weight disc harrow. One meter Compatibility: Under suitable conditions for
distance is maintained from one piece to its own development, pangola grass dominates
another. All this is done during rainy season all other species. It combines well with the
when adequate moisture is available in soil. legume Lotononis bainesii as both stand for
About 500 to 2000 kg planting materials is heavy grazing. It can also grow with
required for 1 hectare area. Centrosema, Stylo and Siratro.

GRASSES AND LEGUMES FOR TROPICAL PASTURES 13

 Diplachne fusca (Linn.) P. Beauv

Common names: Kamal grass, Brown beetle the planting.

grass (E), Dhaner, Choti gendar and Harri (H)
and Nandi pillu (T). Fertilizer application: Kamal grass grows well
even without fertilizer. To obtain higher yield and
Description: It {s a perennial, tuft and erect to maintain nutrition and palatability of the grass
grass growing 0.9 to 1.5 m tall. Culms are hollow 20 kg N/ha is recommended after each cut.
and roots come upwards from lower nodes. Since, alkali soils are rich in available
Leaves are 45 cm long and linear. Panicles are phosphorus and potassium, these are not
10-30 cm long and margins of lemmas and recommended. These soils are generally
paleas are hairy. It is a relatively succulent and deficient in zinc, therefore if organic manure has
palatable grass. not been added, zinc sulphate @ 25 kg/ha in
first year might be beneficial for the growth of
Distribution: It is distributed in upper Gangetic
plains, Bengal, Orissa, A.P., Madras and Kerala grass.
along coasts. Management schedule: When planted in the
Climate: It grows successfully in tropical and month of July, 2-3 cuts can be obtained upto
sub-tropical areas. It prefers hot and dry season November in first year. While under good
and even continuous submerged conditions. management (fertilized and irrigated) 5 to 8
High humidity and wet soil moisture conditions cuttings may be taken from 1st year onwards. It
are also favourable for its growth. It occurs in is recommended that the grass should be cut
300-450 mm rainfall regions and upto 1000 mm at 5 cm height from ground level. In the monsoon
or more in coastal areas. the grass may be harvested at an interval of 25
to 30 days while in other months at an interval
Soils: It gives good growth in alkali and saline of 30 to 45 days.
soils.
Forage yield: In highly alkali soil this grass gives
Cultural practices: One deep tractor ploughing 30 to 40 tones green forage in one hectare
should be followed by 2-3 ploughings with without fertilizer but with the application of
country plough. In case of tractor one ploughing recommended dose of fertilizer the green forage
with mould board plough followed by two disc
yield reaches upto 60 t/ha. The yield levels are
harrowings are sufficient. Sowing/planting
generally higher in rainy season than others.
(rooted slips or stem cuttings with 3 nodes)
should be performed a few days prior to or with 'Nutritive value: The nutritive value of the grass
the onset of monsoon so that germination is is quite satisfactory and it contains 8.5 per cent
ensured. Under irrigated condition it can be C.P.
planted any time during summer but mid-June
to mid-July is the optimum time for its planting. Utilization: Animals relish this grass in young
Row to row and plant to plant distance of 25 stage but compared with other fodder crops, it
and 20 cm should be maintained respectively. is less palatable. Alkali soils are reclaimed
One irrigation is essential, immediately after generally by growing the Kamal grass.

Eragrostis curvula (Schvad.) Nees

Common names: Weeping love grass, African or dark gray. Each spike has 7-11 spikelets,
love grass (E). which are 7 to 10 mm long, and 2 mm wide.
Seed count 38,50,000/kg.
Description: It is densely tufted perennial grass
of 0.9-1.2 m high. Leaves are rigid and long with Distribution: It is native to India and Tanzania
pointed apex. Panicle is 20-30 cm long, green and now distributed in South Africa and in most

14 GRASSES AND LEGUMES FOR TROPICAL PASTURES

of warm countries. but for higher production it needs 40 kg N/ha.
Climate: It prefers mild climate and 500-1000 Forage yield: Without any fertilizer its forage
mm annual rainfall. production is 2.1 t/ha but on adding nitrogen it
yielded 8.3 t/ha. Under good management it
Soils: It thrives well in sandy loam but may be
produces 20.0 to 30.0 t/ha green forage.
grown in wide range of soils even in slightly alkali
soils with 7.0 to 8.5 pH. Seed yield : Seed yield is 30-225 kg/ha under
Cultural practices: It also requires a well good condition.
prepared field where the seeds may be sown Nutritive value: It contains 5.2 per cent C.P.,
through broadcast (1 kg/ha) or drilled (0.5 kg/ 36.4 per cent fiber and 1.7 per cent ash.
ha) in 1 m rows in late spring to late summer at
0,5-1 cm depth. Utilization: At young stage it is palatable and
is used for grazing as well as for hay purpose. It
This may also be established through rooted possesses a good soil binding capacity and is
slips. utilized for checking the soil erosion on dams
Fertilizer application : It grows on poor soils and other sites.

Eulaliopsis binata (Retz) Hubbard

Common names: Sabai grass (E), Bhabar, prepared field with a spacing of 30x30 cm during
Baib, Babui (H), Bubai (0). a break in the monsoon. Thorough weeding is
essential. Newly established pasture goes well
Description: A tufted perennial grass, 0.5-1.5
for seven years and afterwards it should be re-
m high with erect slender culms, shiny and
established.
woody at the base. Leaves are narrow, linear,
30-40 cm long. Inflorescence of 2-4 racemes, Fertilizer application: A recommended basal
3-6 cm long on piliform peduncles. Seed black, dose of 30 kg N + 20 kg P 20 S /ha might be
exceedingly minute and light. The seeds are useful.
collected during last week of December or 1st
Management schedule : Plantations raised
week of January.
from rooted slips begin to yield from the first year
Distribution: It is distributed throughout India onwards. This is harvested annually during
and is particularly abundant on dry base slopes November-December but under good
and forest banks of sub-Himalayan areas. It is management 2 cuttings may be taken i.e. first
common in Bihar Orissa, Bengal, Central India in August-September and the second in
and Punjab. November-December. The grass flowers during
cold weather and for the purpose of paper
Climate: It is hardy to frost and drought and
manufacture the grass is cut prior to or during
requires 750-1500 mm annual rainfall. It prefers
the flowering stage.
hot and dry climate.
Forage and seed yield: The yield of the grass
Soils: It thrives best on well drained sandy
varies from 20.0 to 75.0 t/ha according to locality,
loams and can grow even on poor soils not
rainfall and management. Seed yield is 25-40
subjected to waterlogging.
kg/ha.
Cultural practices : Sabai grass is best
Nutritive value: It contains 2-3 per cent C.P.,
propagated vegetatively by division of root
32.1 per cent crude fiber and 6.4 per cent total
stocks and about 12-15 q rooted slips or 3 kg
ash.
seeds are sufficient for 1 ha. In case of
insufficient supply or non availability of Utilization: Being less palatable, it is used
rootstocks nursery beds are raised and 3 mainly in industries for making paper and straw
months old seedlings are transplanted in a well boards. It is also used for soil conservation.

GRASSES AND LEGUMES FOR TROPICAL PASTURES 15

- - - - - - - -

Heferopogon contortus (Linn.) P. Beauv. ex R. & S.

Common names : Spear grass, Tangle head Cultural practices : Being hardy it does not
(E), Lampa, parwa (H), Orsi Pillu (T), Paretu require well prepared land and even comes in
Mullu gaddi (Te), Sankari hull (K), Sukli (G). the land once ploughed. The seeds are
broadcasted @ 5.0 kg/ha just before the
Description: It is densely tufted, perennial and monsoon. Interculturing is also not required.
highly palatable, 0.9 to 1.0 m tall, erect or
decumbent grass. It is leafy mainly at base. Fertilizer application: Application of 60 kg NI
Leaves are firm, linear upto 60 cm long and 3.7 ha as basal dose increases its productivity.
mm broad, often hairy with bulbose base. Forage and seed yield: In first year only one
Racemes are terminal, erect, 4.8 cm long with cut should be taken but from 2nd year onward it
prominent dark brown awns (3-12 cm long) should be harvested at 30 days intervals and
which are jointly twisted together to form a thus 3-4 cuts in a year may be taken under
bundle at maturity. Sessile spikelet 7 mm long, rainfed situation. Under semi-arid conditions with
hidden by the pedicelled spikelets. the application of 60 kg N/ha about 6.4 t/ha dry
forage and 70 kg seed/ha may be obtained. This
Distribution : It is found all over the world in
forage production increases significantly with the
Tropics and subtropics. It is indigenous to India
increase of N-fertilizer.
and occurs in all arid and semi-arid regions and
upto an elevation of 2000 m from North Nutritive value : At early stage it is a highly
Himalaya to Cape Camorin and in the nutritive grass and even 10 per cent C.P. is found
grasslands of east to west and whole of the in July which decreases regularly and only 3 per
south. In drier areas it dominates even by cent is found in December on dry weight basis.
suppressing other grasses especially on poor Ca and P content of the species are 1.14 and
and rocky soil. 0.19 per cent respectively.

Climate: It grows well in arid and semi-arid Utilization: It is very good fodder grass but
conditions in the rainfall zones ranging from 180 due to presence of sharp awns or spears at
to 1200 mm. maturity it is grazed accordingly to its carrying
capacity or may be cut at pre-flowering stage
Soils: It is highly variable and adaptable to all for hay or silage. It is also used in soil
types of soils ranging from pure gravelly sand conservation programme. Light burning is
to sandy loam. beneficial to the species.

Iseilema laxum Hack

Common names: Musiyal, Machhauri (H), Distribution : It is distributed in Ceylon,

Tengainer pul (T), Vera chengali (Te), Gandwal, Mauritius. In India it occurs throughout tropical
Gandil (Mr) part in moist areas from sea level to 760 m
elevation in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Kerala, Tamil
Description: It is short, erect to decumbent or
Nadu, A.P., M.P. and part of U.P.
some what spreading tufted perennial grass with
stout short, creeping rootstock. Stems are Climate: It is found in the semi-arid regions of
slender branched upto 0.97 m high. Base 450-1500 mm rainfall zones.
diameter of tussock is about 7.5 cm. Leaf blade
is linear, obtuse, glabrous, ciliate near the base, Soils: It thrives best in black clayey soils and
5 to 15 cm long. Inflorescence is narrow long heavy loams, though it can grow on almost all
panicle with a group of spikelets seated on the types of soils in low lying areas, ditches, ponds
panicles in a boat shaped bract. along canals and river banks.

16 GRASSES AND LEGUMES FOR TROPICAL PASTURES

Cultural practices: The land is to be prepared upto 6.3 t/ha and it can further be increased upto
properly by ploughing it well and the seeds to 6.8 t/ha with same nitrogen and 16 kg P 205 /ha
be sown @ 5-6 kg/ha by broadcasting or in lines (1 q S.S.P.), Depending upon the moisture status
at 50 cm distance by mixing it with soil after of the site 2-3 cuttings may generally be taken
necessary fertilizer application as a basal dose. under rainfed conditions.
Rooted slips are preferable over seedlings
where seed is not available. Nutritive value: The grass is most nutritious
and contains over 9.6 per cent C.P. at
Seed looses viability quickly after 12 preflowering stage (July) which comes down to
months. 5.2 per cent in September on dry weight basis,
Fertilizer application : The natural Iseilema but the application of N fertilizer increases its
grassland responds well to 40 kg N + 20 kg P20/ C.P. content. Under different harvesting
ha. In established pasture N application may be schedule the C.P. increased from 5.2 to 6.9,7.5
increased upto 90 kg/ha for higher yield. and 9.6 per cent according to 60 days, 30 days,
20 days and 10 days clipping intervals
Forage yield: Under natural conditions the dry respectively.
matter forage yield varied from 3.0 to 4.0 t/ha
while in pure Iseilema pasture an average yield Utilization: The grass being nutritious is highly
of 4.9 t/ha was obtained under rainfed. In acceptable and palatable at all stages of its
irrigated condition with the application of 90 kg growth for grazing animals. This is also used for
N/ha (2 q ammonium sulphate) the yield boosted hay.

Lasiurus sindie us Henr

Common name: Sewan grass (H) through transplanting of rooted slips/seedlings

at the distance of 2x2 or 2x3 m. Sowing or
Description: It is an erect, tufted and branched transplanting is done always during the rains or
perennial grass and attains a height of about with 24 hours of rains. In first year one weeding
1.2 m. The stem is stout, and smooth. Leaves improves the crop. The plants are protected from
are linear, 20-45 cm long with setaceous tip. winds till they get establish.
Inflorescence is 10 cm long, white, densely
villous and 3 spikelets at each node. Two Fertilizer: For its higher production 8-10 tonnes
spikelets are sessile and one is pedicelled. It is compost + 20 kg P20 5 are mixed during field
drought resistant and xeric in habit. preparation and 20 kg N/ha is applied after 30-
40 days of sowing. Then 20 kg N + 20 kg P 20 5/
Distribution: It is native to India and found ha are applied every year.
particularly in arid zones of Rajasthan, extending
Management schedule: During establishment
to the parts of Haryana and Punjab. It is also
it should be harvested once at 10-15 cm height
distributed in Arabia, Africa, Mall, Niger, Ethiopia,
but from 2nd year onwards it may be harvested
Egypt and Pakistan.
2-3 times depending on rainfall. The pasture
Climate: The dry arid climate suits to it with an may be maintained for longer period through
annual rainfall from 125-250 mm. rotational grazing.

Soils: It occurs on light brown sandy alluvial Forage and seed yield : Average dry forage
soils with a pH of 8.5. production of sewan grass is 2.5 to 3.5 t/ha in
rainfed situation but improved strains under well
Cultural practices: In a well prepared soil it is management contributes about 7 to 8.5 t/ha dry
sown either through broadcast or in line at 50 forage in five cuttings in first year of
cm distance with a seed rate of 5-7 kg/ha and establishment. The seed yield is 155-200 kg/ha
1.5 cm sowing depth. It is also established in normal conditions.

GRASSES AND LEGUMES FOR TROPICAL PASTURES 17

Nutritive value: At flowering stage it contains establishes sand dunes in desert areas.
12.8 per cent C.P, 27.0 per cent crude fiber and
Compatibility: It performs well with Tropical
12.8 per cent ash. Kudzu (Pueraria phasea/aides).
Utilization : It is an extremely palatable grass Improved varieties: Recommended strains are
and is used for hay, silage and grazing. It also CAZRI-317, 318, 319, 351.

Melinis minutiflora Beauv.

Common names: Molasses grass, Venezuela after mixing these (seeds) with sawdust/rice hull
grass (E). for even distribution. The seeds have rapid and
high germination. The seedlings spread quickly
Description: It is a tufted perennial grass of and smother most of the weeds. The crop attains
about 1.5 to 1.8 m high. The culms or tillers form' vigorous growth from spring to autumn. The crop
a dense straggling mat. Leaves are flat, short, is susceptible to frost and may also be damaged
flushed red-brown in colour and covered with by burning especially in autumn or winter.
hairs, which exude a secretion with a strong
molasses odour. This secretion does not spoil Fertilizer application: It is a crop of low fertility
the milk or meat of the animals. Panicles are soils and responds well to nitrogen and
10-30 cm long and purple. The spikelets are phosphorus.
glabrous, 1.5 to 2.5 mm long. Awns are 6-16
mm long. Commercial seeds consist of a fertile Forage yield: The average dry matter yield of
and infertile floret which are small and fluffy molasses grass is 4.8 t/ha. The forage yield may
because of awns. Seed count average 11 be doubled with the application of nitrogen (150
million/kg. kg/ha) and phosphorus.

Distribution: It is a native of tropical Africa. It Nutritive value: At the initiation of flowers it

is introduced to many tropical countries as a contains 8.9 per cent C.P., 25.2 per cent crude
fodder grass and now naturalized in Brazil, fiber and 3.7 per cent ash.
Australia, South Amercia, India (coastal regions Utilization: Being nutritive and palatable it is
of Kerala) and Philippines. used for hay and silage purposes. It tolerates
Climate: This grass grows well in moist tropical high grazing but heavy grazing thins it out. It
climate. It requires moderate to high rainfall (750 forms a mat on the ground and checks the weed
to 1706 mm) with pronounced summer infestation and is also used in soil conservation
incidence. programmes. It has insect repellent properties
and is used as bedding for sitting fowls and
Soils: It is found on light sandy to loamy soils bitches. Both odour and viscid hairs help in
of low fertility but may also be grown on clayey checking the mosquitoes.
soils. It needs good drainage.
Compatibility: Molasses grass combines well
Cultural practices: In a prepared field the with legumes such as Glycine, Siratro, Centro
seeds of molasses grass are surfacely sown in and Desmodium. Among grasses it grows well
rainy season @ 2.5 kg/ha in line or broadcast with Guinea grass.

Panicum antidotale Retz.

Common names : Blue panic, Giant panic, solid culms. Leaves are 45 cm long.
Sudan grass, Gramna, (E), Bansi (H). Inflorescence is panicoid panicle, terminal, loose
Description: It is an erect deep rooted, thin and pyramidal. The whole plant gives a bluish
stemed, tufted perennial grass with smooth and appearance. It is profuse seeder and seeds

18 GRASSES AND LEGUMES FOR TROPICAL PASTURES

 Bothriochloa intermedia Cenchrus setigerus

Chrysopogon fulvus

Brachiaria brizantha Chloris gayana

GRASSES AND LEGUMES FOR TROPICAL PASTURES 19

j
 Panicum maximum Eulaliopsis binata

Setaria sphacelata

Lasiurus sindicus Vetiveria zizanoides

20 GRASSES AND LEGUMES FOR TROPICAL PASTURES

 Desmodium intortum Desmanthus virgatus

Clitoria ternatea

Macroptilium atropurpureum Indigofera hirsusta

GRASSES AND LEGUMES FOR TROPICAL PASTURES 21

 Macroptilium lathyroides Neonotonia wight/l

Stylosanthes ham ata

Stylosanthes humilis Macrotyloma axil/ares

22 GRASSES AND LEGUMES FOR TROPICAL PASTURES

mature and shed easily in acropital manner. Fertilizer application : It responds well to
Seed count 1445000 per kg. manuring and 10-15 tonnes FYM alongwith 30
kg P20Sas basal dose and 20 kg N/ha after each
Distribution: It was recognised first in Australia cutting is recommended for optimum forage
and then was brought to India. It is widely production.
distributed in arid and semi-arid regions of
Afganisatan and Perasia. It is generally found Management schedule : Under rainfed
conditions first cut of the grass can be taken in
with xerophytic bushes like Caparis decidua,
four months after seed sowing and subsequent
Calligonum polygonoides in Rajasthan and in
cutting after 2 months, thus 4-6 cuttings in a year
Ziziphus nummularia and Mimosa himalayana could be harvested, while under irrigation,
in U.P. (Jhansi). fortnightly cutting is possible.
Climate: The grass is highly adapted and Forage yield: Under rainfed it gives 20.0 t/ha
grows well in dry areas to low hills. The rainfall green forage in 4-6 cuttings while under irrigated
ranging from 100 to 1000 mm is quite favourable conditions and proper manuring the green
for its growth. forage production is 50.0-60.0 t/ha in 10-12
cuttings.
Soils: All soils from light sandy to heavy clay
as well as saline soils are quite suitable. Seed yield: Seed yield is 100-160 kg/ha under
rainfed and 250-600 kg/ha under irrigated
Cultural practices : Like other grasses, its condition.
pasture can be established easily by line sowing
of seeds at 50 cm apart on well prepared land Nutritive value: The C.P. is quite high (7.3 per
at the onset of monsoon. The seed rate is 6-7 cent) with low P (0.09 per cent) and Ca (0.39
per cent).
kg/ha. Under irrigated conditions rooted slips of
old tussocks may be planted in furrows at 50x50 Utilization: Generally it is recommended that
cm apart. One or two weeding are enough for the grass should be cut and fed for forage but it
enhancing yield. Monthly irrigation is required can also be used as pasturage. It is very fast in
for irrigated pastures. regrowth.

Panicum maximum Jacq

Common names: Guinea grass, Green panic Climate: Warm and moist climate of semi arid
(E) tropics is an ideal situation for this grass.
Description: It is a tall erect, densely tufted, Soils: It grows best in well drained, medium
perennial tussocky grass having large number and fertile soils under shades, but in high rainfall
oftillers with short and stout rhizomes. The culms areas or under irrigated conditions it is found
are 1.8 to 2.7 m tall, nodes densely hairy, leaf even on loamy soils.
sheath pubescent. The leaf blade is 60 cm long
and 2.5 to 3.8 cm wide and light green. Cultural practices: It requires well prepared
Inflorescence is an open panicle, 50 cm long land (2-3 times ploughed up with 3-4
and 10 to 30 cm wide much divided with stiff harrowings). Pasture is easily established by
branches in whorls. Seed count 17,50,000 to planting rooted slips in lines at about 1 m
22,00,000 per kg. distance in rows and 50 cm between plants
Origin and distribution: It is a native of tropical during the rainy days in monsoon under rainfed
Africa and has spread to many warm countries conditions. When it is established through seed,
like Australia, South States of USA and 3-6 kg seed/ha (1-2 kg for Hamil) is required.
Philippines. In India it was introduced in 1793 in One-two weedings are needed after
military farms. establishment to check the weeds.

GRASSES AND LEGUMES FOR TROPICAL PASTURES 23

Fertilizer application: It is better to grow it cuts. However at sewage irrigation 225.0 t/ha
along the irrigation channels, gardens and (green) forage may be obtained in 12 cuts.
orchards etc. Being highly responsive to
manuring 10 to 20 tonnes FYM + 30 kg P20/ Nutritive value: It contains 5-8 per cent C.P
ha as basal dose, besides top dressing with depending on the stage of clipping.
50-60 kg N/ha in two doses after every cut are
given. After a period of 4-5 years the pasture Utilization: This grass can be used both for
needs to be replanted due to its ageing which , grazing and soiling but being preferred for silage.
can be done in the inter spaces of the standing It is the best to keep it below l' m. height for
crop. maximum quality forage. After the pasture
grazed, it can be cut back to 10-15 ern height
Management schedules: Generally Guinea
for early regrowth. It is a better fodder than jowar
grass pasture is ready for first cut after 60 days
of planting and subsequently at monthly (30-40 and maize.
days) intervals. Cultivars: Its cultivars are Hamil panic,
Forage yield: It provides 50.0-60.0 tlha (green) Coloniao, Makueni, Gramalote, Silky Guinea,
forage in 5-6 cuts under rainfed and 80.0-100.0 Riversdale, Embu, Coarse Guinea, Common
t/ha (green) under irrigated condition in 10-11 Guinea, Likoni Guinea etc.

Paspalum dilatatum Pair

Common names: WaterlDallis grass, Golden site, if planted successfully by dibbling method.
crown grass (E) It is tolerant to excess moisture and grows well
in marshy localities where even Cynodon
Description: It is tall, tufted, tussocky, leafy at dactylon or Iseilema laxum are not successful.
base, perennial grass and attains a height of
1.0 to 1.5 m. Inflorescence is spreading, 12-30 It is a profuse seeder and 7-8 kg seeds are
cm long with 2-5 spikes arranged digitately on required to establish one hectare pasture.
rachis and 7.0 cm long. Spikelets are in 4 rows
Fertilizer application : It responds well to
and 1.5 - 2.0 mm wide and 3.4 mm long. It has
nitrogen fertilizer and 50-60 kg N/ha is
deep root system. It withstands close grazing recommended. Nitrogen application is essential
and moderate frosts. Seed count 5,00,000 to after each cut.
7,50,000 per kg.
Management schedule: The grass is suitable
Origin and distribution: It is native to South for grazing as well as for cutting in 75-80 days
Amercia (Brazil) and spreads over USA, from establishment and subsequent cuttings
Australia and India. may be taken at 40 days intervals.
Climate: It is a grass of semi-arid climate where Forage yield : The green forage yield varies
the total annual rainfall is from 780 to 800 mm. from 50.0-60.0 t/ha.
It is a drought resistant grass.
Seed yield : It is 90-500 kg/ha. The seeds
Soils : It grows well in rich moist soils of low remain viable for two years.
lying areas.
Nutritive value: It is a nutritive grass and
Cultural practices: Being a vigorous perennial contains 6.7 per cent C. P., 0.27 per cent Ca and
grass it can be easily established like other 0.14 per cent P at flowering stage.
grasses through rooted slips in a well prepared
Utilization: It is a good fodder grass and utilized
land, so as to avoid initial weed competition. It for grazing and hay purpose.
has the potency to replace out /mperata
cylindrica (an unpalatable grass) from a low lying Special feature: Drought resistant.

24 GRASSES AND LEGUMES FOR TROPICAL PASTURES

 Paspalum notatum Fluegge

Common name: Bahia grass (E) Management schedule : Once established,

Bahia grass can be grazed heavily to near soil
Description: It is a perennial, densely tufted level. It should be fertilized with nitrogenous
grass and has short stout runners and well fertilizer every year. Frequent defoliation over
developed root system. Racemes two, spikelets 24 months had little effect on sward. Cutting at
obovate - elliptic, 3-3.5 mm long. In 1-kg seed six week intervals gave the best yield and
the number varies from 330000 to 550000. nutritive value. In the early establishment period,
Origin and distribution: It is native to Brazil mow the grass every three to four weeks to
suppress weeds.
and distributed in Mexico, Texas South Amercia
and India. Forage yield: The crop is ready for cutting or
o
grazing in 3 or 31/2 months after establishment
Climate: It prefers warm and moist climate. It
and gives about 20.0-40.0 tonnes green forage
requires average 1500 mm annual rainfall.
in one hectare. Under good management
Soils: It grows well on poorly drained and subsequent cutting may be taken at a interval
swampy soils (clay) or even on sandy soils. of 40-45 days.

Cultural practices: It can be easily established Seed yield: The average seed yield is 110-
by pieces of stout runners like Cynodon dactylon 350 kg/ha.
and also by seeds. Runners are planted at
Nutritive value: At early stage it gives 11-12
50x50-cm distance on well prepared moist land
per cent CPo
during a drizzly day. The seeds are sown at
about 1 cm deep @ 10 kg/ha during monsoon. Utilization: It is used for grazing as well as
Due to waxy and tough seed coat germination stall feeding. Being a good soil binder it is also
is rather slow and seed scarification with H2S04 used in soil conservation programme.
is therefore recommended.
Cultivars: Its main cultivars are common Bahia
Fertilizer application: For higher forage yield grass, Paraguay, Pensacola, Argentine,
80-100 kg N per hectare is beneficial. Nitrogen Wallace, Tampa, Tifhi-1, Tifhi-2, Wilmington and
application is also recommended after each cut. Tifton-9.

Pennisetum c1andenstinum Hochst ex Chiov

Common names: Kikuyu grass (E), Seemak Climate: It prefers cool and moist climate upto
karayan (T) the elevation of 1500 m. It requires average
rainfall of 1269 mm every year.
Description: It is a perennial, rhizomatous,
stoloniferous spreading grass forming dense Soils: It grows well in rich ioamy and acidic
mats on ground/hill slopes through numerous soils.
stolon and short internodes. Leaves are short
5-10 cm long, flat, glabrous or slightly hairy. Cultural practices: This grass could be
Inflorescence is reduced to 2 to 4 spikelets and established by vegetative propagation through
enclosed in upper most leaf sheath. Seed count root runners planted at a distance of 75 cm apart
40000 per kg. on a well prepared and manured soil at the onset
of monsoon. When established through seed
Origin and distribution: It is native to South 2-4 kg/ha seed is sufficient. The grass spreads
Africa. In India it was introduced in 1919. Now it rapidly by means of both surface and
is found growing widely in hill slopes of Arunachal subterranean stolens. With a period of 3 to 312
Pradesh near Bomdila at nearly 3000 m. months the crop attains a height of 1 m and
----~._------------------------------
GRASSES AND LEGUMES FOR TROPICAL PASTURES 25
whole of the Held gets covered. It needs to be kg/ha but in well established and under good
replanted after every two years, otherwise the management it is upto 500 kg/ha.
plants become too hard for grazing and pasture
looses the productivity. Nutritive value: At early stage i.e. 30 days after
transplanting it is relished by all kind of animals.
Fertilizer application : At the time of field The average CP of the crop is over 12 per cent.
preparation 10-15 tonnes FYM/ha should
thoroughly be mixed and afterwards 60 kg N/ Utilization: Being highly nutritive and palatable
ha/yr in 2-3 splits produces optimum forage yield it is a very good feed for dairy cattle. They relish
it well due to its high leaf/stem ratio and succulent
Management schedule: First cut can be taken nature. It can stand close grazing. In addition to
after 3 months of establishment and further cuts this the grass is very useful for erosion control
at an intervals of 1 -1 1/2 month may be taken. on hills, since it is aggressive due to its spreading
growth and has good soil binding capacity. but
Forage yield: The average total green forage
yield is 35.0-40.0 t/ha. care is needed as it spreads quickly and
encroaches cultivated fields and it becomes
Seed yield: In first year the seed yield is 25 difficult to eradicate it from fields.

Pennisetum pedicel/atum Trin

Common names: Kaysuwa (E), Dinanath ghas hectare, planting 2 seedlings per hull. During first
(H). year 1-2 weeding in growing season help in
better establishment of pasture.
Description: It is an erect, annual grass of
0.7-0.9 m height. Culm is bright with light reddish Fertilizer application : During the field
at base. Leaves are 45-60 cm long and light to preparation 10 cartloads of FYM and 30 kg N
dark green in colour. Inflorescence is pink in (150 kg Calcium ammonium nitrate) + 30 kg
beginning but becomes white at maturity. It is a P205 (187 kg single superphosphate) is applied
heavy seed producer. as basal dose. After establishing the pasture top
dressing of 30 kg N/ha increases the forage
Distribution: It is distributed in West Africa production. In subsequent years 30 kg N + 30
and India particularly in Bihar, West Bengal, kg P205 are broadcasted and subsequently top
Haryana, Punjab, M.P. and U.P. dressed a month later with extra 30 kg N/ha after
first shower of heavy rains.
Climate: It prefers warm climate and is found
in regions of rainfall ranging from 800 to 1250 Management schedule: In the first year of
mm. establishment it gives one cut in September. It
is an annual crop but being profuse seeder, the
Soils: It grows well on medium textured light crop comes every year by self seeding.
soil and can grow on poor soils by giving
sufficient fertilizer. Forage yield: It produces about 100.0 t/ha
green forage.
Cultural practices: At the onset of monsoon
the sowing should be completed either in line or Seed yield: The seed production is upto 3-4 q/
broadcasting using 4-5 kg seeds for one hectare ha.
area. Before sowing the soil should be mixed
Nutritive value: It contains 7.4 per cent CP,
with seed. The pasture may be established by
0.42 per cent Ca and 0.21 per cent P.
transplanting six weeks old seedlings at 50 cm
distance from row to row and same for plant to Utilization: It is used as fodder crop and is
plant. Thus 33000 seedlings are needed for one relished by all kind of livestock for grazing.

26 GRASSES AND LEGUMES FOR TROPICAL PASTURES

 Sehima nervosum (Rottl.) Stapf.

Common names: Rat's tail grass, white grass followed by 20 kg N (100 kg Calcium ammonium
(E), Sain, Poona and Suekai (H), Sheda (Mr), nitrate) + 20 kg P20S (125 kg SSP) for one
Karaitoi and Vennai Pillu (T), Mendra gaddi (Te) hectare. After one month of establishment a top
and Sinnaisphadai hullu (K). dressing with another 20 kg N/ha is given. In
subsequent years mixture of 20 kg N + 20 kg
Description: It is a perennial grass forming
P20 S /ha is beneficial after first shower of rains.
dense tufts with numerous tillers, upto 1 m and
above in height. Stems/culms are erect, hollow, Management schedule: It is totally a rainfed
slender, pale straw yellowish and bright on crop. In first year only one cut should be taken
ripening. It has abundant and soft foliage. in mid October. Meanwhile seed collection
Leaves are 15-40 cm long, 0.8 to 1.5 cm wide should be carried out for building the seed stock
with linear leaf blade. Racemes are solitary 7.5 for further multiplication. In subsequent years
to 15.0 cm long and erect or slightly flexed. Both two cuttings (mid August and late October) may
sessile and pedicelled spikelets are awned. The be taken depending upon the pattern of rainfall
awns are slender and twisted at base. distribution. One more cutting is possible during
spring season in March or April.
Distribution: It is widely spread in south-east
Asia, Australia and East Africa. In India it is Forage yield : Maximum forage (green)
distributed in undulating areas of M.P., U.P., obtained from an unfertilized pasture is 16.0 tI
Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra, Tamil ha with 61 per cent dry matter if harvested in
Nadu and from sea level to 1830 m elevation. It September. Thereafter the dry forage yields as
is also found in Arvalli Ranges of Rajasthan. well as nutritive value declines due to leaf fall.
In fertilized pasture the yield is nearly double of
Climate: It prefers hot and dry climate in the
better quality.
rainfall zones of 250 to 1500 mm with an
optimum upto 1000 mm. Seed yield: Under well managed condition this
grass produced about 110 kg seed/ha.
Soils: Eroded, red gravelly/stony to medium
sandy loamy soils are common of its availability. Compatibility: For higher and better quality
It is also seen on rock crevices of undulating forage, association of this grass with Aty/asia,
topography and on hill slops. The soil pH of its C/itaria, Siratro and Carribean stylo is
habitats is 6.5. recommended. Every two rows of grasses one
row of legume is maintained are transplanted at
Cultural practices: In a well prepared land the
the space already mentioned above. This
pasture is established either by seed sowing @
practice minimises the competition between the
6-7 kg/ha in lines at 50 cm apart broadcasting
legumes and grasses for optimum
or transplanting of seedlings/rooted slips at the
establishment.
onset of monsoon. Among these, transplanting
of seedlings is more successful and for this Nutritive value: It contains maximum CP
about 1.33 lakhs seedlings are required for 1 (6.9%) in July and minimum (2.3%) in
hectare. Weeding is required at least twice in December. The calcium contents of the grass
first year during growing season and this can is highest (0.68%) among other forage grasses.
be done in the form of interculturing between The phosphorus content of the species ranged
rows of grasses. from 0.05 to 0.18 per cent.

Fertilizer application : At first a basal Utilization: It is a good forage grass and may
application of 10 cartloads of FYM is required be utilized for grazing as well as for hay too.

GRASSES AND LEGUMES FOR TROPICAL PASTURES 27

 Setaria sphacelata Stapf. ex Hubb

Common names : Setaria, Golden timothy, or 40 kg N/ha after every two cuts ensures high
Golden bristle grass (E) and Nandi (H). forage yield.

Description: It is an erect, bunchy perennial Management schedule: Generally the pasture

grass growing to a height of 1.2 to 1.5 m with is ready for first cutting after 3 months of planting
flattened culms. Leaf blades are flat, 30-45 cm (sowing) and subsequently it can be harvested
long, 6-10 mm wide, linear and lanceolate. at monthly intervals in a well irrigated and
Inflorescence is terminal, compressed panicle properly manured pasture. The cutting height
about 15 cm long, appearing as a dense may be kept between 5 to 10 cm from ground
cylindrical spike and orange to purple in colour. level.
Seeds count 1.4 to 1.7 million. Forage yield : The pasture of Nandi grass
Origin and distribution : The name of this produced 22.8 to 23.8 t/ha green forage under
grass 'Setaria' is derived from Latin 'Seta' the rainfed condition but two protective irrigation
meaning of this is numerous bristles on the increased the forage yield upto 61.2 t/ha with
inflorescence. It is native to tropical Africa and nearly 30 per cent dry matter content. This grass
is more potential and under good management
was introduced in India in 1950.
(well fertilized and irrigation), the pasture yielded
Climate: This is a grass of warm climate and 89.6 t/ha in 7 cuttings in south and 120 t/ha in
is found in the rainfall zone of 1500 mm in plains. north.

Soils: It thrives well on fertile loamy soils and Seed yield: Cultivar Nandi yields 112 kg seeds/
comes even on light soils (sandy-loam). ha but the seed yield seldom exceeds 330 kg/
ha.
Cultural practices : It can be established by
planting seedlings/rooted slips in furrows of 50 Nutritive value: The grass is very leafy and
cm apart and 30 or 50 cm distance from plant quite palatable and highly nutritive. It contains
to plant at the onset of monsoon. Under irrigated 5.3 per cent CP in unfertilized pasture but the
conditions its planting can be done in February application of 30 kg N/ha increased CP (6.9 per
- March in north India while any time in south on cent).
well prepared and manured fields. In case of Utilization: The grass can be used for soiling,
establishment by seed, seed rate is 1.5 kg/ha hay or grazing particularly due to its good winter
for mixed pasture. growth which ensures its sustained forage
supply round the year, especially if intercropped
Fertilizer application: It shows linear response
with legumes such as stylos and siratro.
to manuring and generally 20 tonnes FYM
alongwith 120 kg N + 60 kg P205 as a basal Cultivars: Nandi, Kazungula, Narok are its
dose followed by 20 kg N/ha after every cutting main cultivars.

Tripsacum dactyloides (L.) L.

Common name: Guatemala grass (E) glabrous. Inflorescence is about 30 cm long,

terminal and axillary with 1 to 6 racemes. Seed
Description: It is a densely culmed perennial count 15000/kg.
grass with short fibrous and woody rhizomes. It
has stilt roots, arising from lower nodes. Culms Distribution: It is a native of tropical America
and now distributed in Florida, Mexico, Brazil and
are stout, woody, solid, 3-4 m tall and 3-5 cm
West Indies.
thick at base. Leaves are lanceolate-acuminate,
0.6 to 1.5 m long 3.0 to 10.0 cm wide and Climate: It is a species of hot climate and grows

28 GRASSES AND LEGUMES FOR TROPICAL PASTURES

well in a range of about 1000-1500 mm annual rooted plants are easily up rooted. It makes very
rainfall. little growth in dry weather.
Soils: It is adapted to wide range of soils Forage yield : In first year it yielded 25 t/ha
particularly moist, well drained and fertile soils. green forage without fertilizer and this could be
Cultural practices: In a well prepared field the increased under good management (giving
pasture is established through planting the irrigation and fertilizers).
seedlings and rooted slips in lines at about 1.0 Utilization: It is palatable grass and provides
m distance from row to row and 50 cm from plant a good fodder to all types of animals and is used
to plant during rainy day in monsoon season.
as hay and is usually harvested at 10-20 cm
Management schedule : Grazing is best if height when the seed heads start appearing.
deferred after 90 days at every two to three This grass is extensively planted on rubber
years, to enable plants to produce seeds. Due estates as a soil conditioner in drained swamps
to tough midribs of the leaves, the cattle have and for mulching. This is also used in soil
difficulty in biting and more over the shallow- conservation programmes.

Urochloa mosambicensis (Hack) Dandy

Common name: Nixon sabai grass (E) Feb.-March in North India and any time in south
as an irrigated pasture.
Description: It is a semi-erect, stoloniferous,
perennial grass growing to a height of 0.6 to 0.9 Fertilizer application: It is quite responsive to
m and spreading through runners. Inflorescence fertilizer application and yield can be increased
is of sessile and subsessile racemes. Seed many times.
count 60600/kg. Management schedule: First clipping can be
Distribution: This grass is distributed in East done after 80 days of establishment and
Africa and Burma. In India it was introduced in subsequent at an interval of 40-45 days. Thus it
1950. gives 4-6 cuts under rainfed situation and 10-
11 cuts in irrigated conditions.
Climate: It is a grass of low to medium rainfall
Forage yield: Forage production of this grass
(1500 mm or above) areas and SUb-temperate
climate. was recorded as 25.0 and 40.0 t/ha (green)
under rainfed and irrigated conditions
Soils: It is found on wide range of soils from respectively.
light to medium loam including saline and
Seed yield: Seed yield is 100-130 kg/ha.
alkaline plains.
Nutritive value: The grass is highly palatable
Cultural practices: The grass produces
and nutritive with nearly 11.0 per cent C.P. and
sufficient seeds and can be established by
balanced Ca (0.54 per cent) and P (0.41 per
seeding (@ 4 kg/ha as pure and @ 2 kg/ha in \
cent) on dry matter basis.
mixed pasture) in lines at 50 cm apart, or by
planting rooted slips in a well prepared land at Utilization: It is used as forage grass and for
the onset of monsoon as rainfed crop and in soil conservation purposes also.

Vetiveria zizanoides (L.) Nash

Common names: Vetiver grass (E), Ganrar, stolons. The vetiver grass has deep and
Khas (H), Panni (P) and Laamanche (K). intensive spongy aromatic roots, which form a
Description: It is an erect perennial, densely mat in sub surface strata of the habitat. The
tufted, awnless grass. It has no rhizome or culms are stout, smooth and attain upto 2.0 m

GRASSES AND LEGUMES FOR TROPICAL PASTURES 29

height. Basal diameter is about 6 to 15 cm with survival on planting by reducing the transpiration
tillers ranging from 6 to 30. Leaves are stiff, 30 level and thereby preventing them from drying
to 75 cm long, 8 mm wide and green in colour. out. After these the tussocks should be divided
Inflorescence is conical panicle, 15-40 cm long, into the pieces of 2-3 tillers. Although Vetiver
glabrous and often reddish brown or purple in grass can be planted from single tiller when
colour. Spikelets are narrow, acute, appressed planting material is scarce.
and awnless. One spikelet is sessile,
hermaphrodite with short sharp spines and the These slips should be planted at the beginning
other spikelet is pedicelled and staminate. Its of wet season to ensure that they get full benefit
.
seed producing ability is poor as well as seed
germination percentage is also very low (10 to
of the rains. Holes are prepared at 10-15 cm or
at required distance then these slips are pushed
15%) but dehusked seeds give about 50 per into these holes taking care not to bend the roots
cent germination. It is a 'shy seeder' and is upwards and then firm the slips in soil.
considered sterile outside its natural habitat. Fertilizer application : Application of
Distribution: The grass is native of tropical diammonium phosphate (DAP) encourages fast
and sub-tropical Asia and distributed in India, tillering and to do this in the field simply dibble
Burma, Shri Lanka and south-west Asia to DAP in to the planting furrow is done before
tropical Africa as well as Brazil, China. In India it planting the slips.
is found through out Gangetic plains, the Management schedule: Once the plants are
Brahamputra valley and extends towards in the
established, they need annual trimming to a
plains of Punjab.
height of about 30-50 cm. to encourage tillering
Climate : It is a plant of semi-arid climate and and prevent shading of the food crops.
is found growing in the areas having annual
Utilization : The grass is not considered as a
rainfall from '500-5000 mm. It can withstand
valuable fodder but it could be utilized/grazed
extreme drought and ill drained (waterlogged)
by cattle in young stage. The leaves are much
situations.
relished by buffaloes. In drought conditions this
Soils: It thrives well in sandy loam to clayey grass is utilized for fodder purposes. However,
soils with a pH range of 4 to 7.5. It may grow after flowering it becomes coarse, fibrous and
even on neutral to slightly alkaline soils too. unpalatable. Moreover the presence of Vetiver
oil in the plant makes it somewhat distasteful to
Cultural practices: On account of poor seed grazing animals and rodents.
producing ability and low seed germination the
Vetiver grass is mainly propagated vegetatively It provides a seeping terrace, which slows the
by root divisions or slips. Thus, for Vetiver grass, rate of run off, ponds water temporarily which in
no intensive land preparation is needed. Rooted turn settles out most of the sediments. Therefore
slips of Vetiver grass are transplanted during this grass may be very useful for soil
rainy season in even singly ploughed field at a conservation purposes. Besides the usefulness
distance of 10-15 cm from plant to plant. The of its roots as Khus-khus tatties, the spikes of
grass tussocks should be dug and 15-20 cm the plants are used for making brushes. Further,
top foliage and 10 cm roots from below the base the whole plant can be utilized for thatching
should be cut which will improve the chances of purposes as well as for paper pulp.

30 GRASSES AND LEGUMES FOR TROPICAL PASTURES

LEGUMES
 Aty/osia scarabaeoides Benth.
Synonym - Dolichos scarabaeoides Linn.

Common name: Bankulthi (H) seeds are sown at 50 cm distance in pure stand
but at 1.5 m distance in mixed crop.
Description: It is herbaceous perennial twiner
with slender stem. All parts are clothed with gray The seeds are covered by dragging a small
downy pubescence. Leaves are tri-foliolate. branch or a twig of a tree to cover the seeds
Leaflets are obovate, oblong or elliptic and the with a thin layer of soit.,
lowest is longest. Flowers are yellow, pedicelled
and 2-6 on short axillary peduncles. Pods are Fertilizer application: In first year a basal
straight and 4-6 seeded. application of 5 t/ha farm yard manure (FYM) +
10 kg N + 30 kg P205 Iha is given while in the
Distribution: It is native of India and found in subsequent years 30 kg P20/ha is broadcasted
all parts of the country. at the onset of monsoon.

Climate: Bankulthi grows in 250-1000 mm Interculturing: During first year two interculture
rainfall zones of arid and semi-arid climates and operations are required for the better
is a drought and frost resistant. establishment of the crop.

Soils: It prefers a wide range of soils ranging Management schedule: In first year only one
from light to heavy even clayey soils with cut is taken at the end of October but from
adequate drainage. It can tolerate salinity too. second year onwards two or more cuts are taken
depending on rainfall and its distribution. It
Cultural practices: The area is totally cleared should be harvested at 8 to 10 cm stubble
off from all bushes and rank vegetation. One height.
ploughing is done by mould board plough
followed by 2-3 harrowings. All the stones and Forage and seed yield: Green forage
other grass roots should be removed and production ranges from 8.0 to 12.5 tlha. Its
planking is done for leveling the fields for pure seeds are to be collected two times i.e. in
stand or monocrop but in case of grass-legume October and April. The seed yield varies from
mixture one field operation with cultivator is 100 to 200 kg/ha.
sufficient.
Nutritive value: Its C.P. content ranges from
Seed treatment: Before sowing the seeds are 11 to 14 per cent while it contains 1.6 and 0.15
put in boiled water (800 C) for 1 to 1.5 minutes. per cent Ca and P respectively.

Seed rate: In case of monocrop 10 kg and for Utilization: In addition to forage it is also used
grass legume mixture 6 kg/ha seeds are used. for soil conservation purposes.

Sowing: The treated seeds are sown in late Compatibility: It can be grown as mixture with
June or mid July either in line or through Cenchrus, Oichanthium Chrysopogon,
broadcast at 0.8 to 1.2 cm depth. In lines the Heteropogon, and Sehima.

Ca/opogonium mucunoides Desv.

Common name: Calopo (E) blue. The pod is hairy, yellowish-brown. 4-5 cm
long. It contains 4-8 seeds. There are 73,000
Description: It is an annual creeper of 0:3-0.5 seeds in 1 kg.
m height. Stem is succulent, covered with long
brown hairs. Its lower part becomes creeper Distribution: It is a native of tropical South
while upper part turns to twiner. Leaves are America but distributed naturally in Malaya and
trifoliate and hairy on both surfaces with oval Indonesia. It was introduced in 1930 as a cover
leaflets of 5 cm length. Flowers are small pale crop in India. It is well suited to Kerala coasts.

GRASSES AND LEGUMES FOR TROPICAL PASTURES 31

Climate: It has shown excellent performance acid for 7 min. then wash and dry.
under wide range of climate preferably hot,
humid tropics with an annual rainfall in excess (ii) Scarify with sand
of 1525 mm. It is moderately drought and shade (iii) Infrared irradiation
tolerant.
Management schedule: It gives full cover in
Soils: It is found on a wide range of soils with
2-3 months and can be harvested at 8 weeks
4.5 to 6.5 pH.
intervals after establishment. Grazing can also
Cultural practices: One deep ploughing with be done rotationally at interval of 8-12 weeks.
disc plough followed by two discings and
Forage yield: The forage yield of calopo is 56
planking are sufficient. •
t/ha (green) and 14.5 t/ha (dry) in 3-4 cuttings.
It is sown at the beginning of rainy season
Seed yield: 600-700 kg/ha.
through broadcasting the seeds @ 6-8 kg/ha
and then covered with soil but in line sowing the Nutritive value: It contains 16 per cent C.P.
distance should be 1.2 to 1.8 m. It can also be on dry matter basis.
propagated by planting the rooted slips.
Utilization: It is used as a fodder crop and is
Fertilizer application : ·It responds well to less palatable at early stage but after flowering
phosphorus application and recommended it becomes more palatable. Being fast grower it
fertilizer dose is 20 kg N + 60 kg P2 0 S + 30 kg
is good for soil conservation purposes.
K20 /ha.
In new mixed pasture, the Calopo can be sown
Seed treatment : To break the dormancy the
after the grasses get established. It fixes 3.8 mg
seeds are to be treated through any of the
Niday per plant and 87 per cent of the fixed N is
following methods
transferred to the top. It is frost and drought
(i) Concentrated sulphuric acid (S.G. 1.8) for susceptible but is an excellent flood tolerant and
20 minutes or with 24 or 36 N sulphuric grows well in acid soils.

Centrosema pubescens Benth.

Common name: Centro (E) Climate: It is found in hot humid climate where
the annual rainfall exceeds more than 1525 mm.
Description: Centro is a perennial vine of
trailing habit and in pure stands forms a dense Soils: It thrives well in alluvial to medium fertile
cover of 0.4-0.5 m high in 4-8 months of sowing. soils and is moderately tolerant to poor drainage.
Stem is dark green and remains succulent for
18 months. Leaflets are 2.5 cm long, slightly Cultural practices: One deep ploughing
hairy on lower surface and oval in shape, flowers followed by cross harrowings and planking are
are showy, bright or pale lilac in colour. These enough to prepare a good seed bed. Centro is
are born in axillary racemes. Pods are straight sown in lines after first heavy rains in July. For
or slightly twisted, dark brown and about 13 cm pure stand the seed rate is 4-5 kg/ha but for
long which contain upto 20 brownish-black mixed pasture the seed rate varies from 1.5 to
mottled seeds. The seed count is 40,000/kg. 2.5 kg/ha. The seeds are hard and require hot-
Distribution: It is a native legume of tropical water treatment for 30 minutes. After this seed
South America but found in most of the tropical inoculation should be carried .out for sowing.
countries of the world such as South-East Asia, These are sown at 2.5 to 5.0 cm depth. It takes
Indonesia, Africa and Pacific Islands. In India it about four months for establishment, but once
was introduced and well suited to west coast of established it keeps on growing and needs little
the peninsula. attention later on.

32 GRASSES AND LEGUMES FOR TROPICAL PASTURES

Fertilizer application : Alongwith normal reaches upto 23% in summer. It has high mineral
fertilizer, additional dose of phosphorus is contents.
beneficial as it responds well to super phosphate
and trace elements. Utilization: It is mainly used as cover crop in
Management schedule: In first year only one plantations and utilized as fodder crop. Older
cutting is taken in the month of November while plants fix nitrogen effectively, increases soil
in subsequent years 2-3 cuttings are obtained nitrogen levels and the crude protein of
depending upon the rainfall and its distribution. associated grasses. Being deep rooted it is
drought and flood tolerant.
Forage yield: It ranges from 15 to 20 t/ha
(green). Compatibility: It is successfully grown in
Seed yield: It ranges from 100 to 150 kg/ha. mixture with grasses like Panicum, Pennisetum,
Digitaria, Brachiaria, Setaria etc. Centro/guinea
Nutritive value: The C.P. content of the species grass pastures have maintained a good balance
varies from 1?, to 15 per cent in winter and over a period of 20-25 years.

Clitoria ternatea Linn.

Common names: Butterfly pea, Conch flower Fertilizer application: It responds well to
creeper, Mussel-sheel, Pea blue creeper (E), fertilizer and for higher forage yield 10 to 15 kg
Aparajita, Gokarni (H), Kakattan, Kuvalai (T), N + 40-50 kg P20/ha should be given in the
Sankhulpushpi (MI) and Neel Gentana (Te). first year and afterwards, 30 kg P20/ha should
be applied every year.
Description: It is a beautiful climbing perennial
herb. Stem is slender, rounded and hairy. Management schedule: In the first year, it
Leaves are 7-10 cm long, alternate, oval or gives only one cut but in subsequent
oblong, shortly pubescent underneath. Stipules years depending upon the amount of rainfall
are small and persistent. Flowers are bright, blue and its distribution two or more cuts may be
with orange or white center solitary and axillary. taken.
Pod is flat, linear, 8 cm long hairy and 6-10 Forage yield: Dry matter yield varies from 1.1
seeded. to 3.3 t/ha in first year under rainfed condition
Distribution: It is native to tropical America while under irrigated condition it yields around
and widely grown in warmer parts of the world.
13.3 tonnes dry matter per hectar.
Seed yield: 50-75 kg/ha.
Climate: It grows in rainfall ranging from 400
to 1500 mm but performs well under irrigation. Nutritive value: The C.P. content ranges from
10.5 to 25.5 per cent on dry matter basis.
Soils: Adapted to a wide range of soil
conditions from sandy to deep alluvialloams and Utilization: Being most palatable, it is liked by
heavy black cracking clays. It has tolerance to all types of cattle and its poor persistency is often
moderately saline soils. due to selective grazing. It is used as hay as
well as for grazing. It should be grazed lightly
Cultural practices: In a well prepared field the
and in rotations to preserve the pasture for
sowing should be done in first week of July with
longer period. The plant is also known for its
a seed rate of 15 to 20 kg/ha at a depth of 1.5 to
ornamental, religious & medicinal values.
4.0 cm and lightly covered. Seeds require
concentrated sulphuric acid of S.G. 1.8 Compatibility: It grows well with tall grasses
treatment for 20 minutes to break the dormancy. such as guinea and elephant grass.

GRASSES AND LEGUMES FOR TROPICAL PASTURES 33

 Desmanthus virgatus (Linn.) Willd.

Common names: Hedge lucerne, Dwarf Koa, subsequent years 40 to 60 kg PP 5 and 15 to

Desmanthus (E), Dashrath ghas (H) 20 kg N/ha is given basally at the onset of
monsoon.
Description: It is a small shrub, 2-3 m tall,
glabrous with virgate branches. Leaves are Seed treatment: The seeds should be treated
bipinnate with 6-8 pinnae. Flowers are whitis, with concentrated H2S04 (sulphuric acid) for 8
solitary, globose, penduncled. Pod is 5-8 cm long minutes to break the dormancy.
with 20-30 seeds.
Management schedule: In first year it should
Distribution: It is native to tropics and sub- be cut once but in subsequent years it gives 2-
tropics of the new world from Florida to 4 cuttings. The cutting height should be 15 to
Argentina. It is found through out India. 20 cm from ground level. After cutting it flowers
Climate: It can grow in hot weather areas in 45 to 50 days.
having rainfall ranging from 250 to 2000 mm. It Forage & seed yield: The average forage yield
is drought resistant and can tolerate moderate in 4 cuttings ranges from 15 to 25 tlha (green)
frost and water-logging for a short period. while the seed yield varies from 180 to 350 kg/
Soils: It grows well on a wide range of soils ha depending on soil type and climatic
ranging from light sandy to heavy soils. It is conditions.
efficiently grown in calcareous soils and is Nutritive value: When cut at 8 to 9 weeks
tolerant to salinity too. inteval, the average C.P. content is about 15%
Cultural practices: After clearing the bushes on dry forage basis. The crude protein
and rank vegetation of the area the land is content of the whole plant, cut at 61, 91 and
prepared during the onset of monsoon. In a well 122 days intervals was 10.6, 12.3 and 15.5 per
prepared field the seeds are sown @ 2-3 kg cent respectively while the average C. P. of
seeds/ha at a depth of 1.0 to 1.5 cm. The sowing leaves was 22.4 per cent and of the stem 7.1
is preferably done in lines at 30 to 50 cm percent.
distance.
Utilization: It is a plant of high palatability,
Fertilizer application: Ten cartloads of FYM is therefore widely used as forage crop. Fixes
mixed thoroughly. This is followed by the ample nitrogen. It is also being used as hedge
application of 15 kg N + 30 kg P 20/ha. In and alley component in agroforestry.

Desmodium intortum (Mill) Fawc & Rendle

Common name: Green leaf desmodium (E) Distribution: It is native of Central and South
America and widely distributed throughout the
Description: It is a large, trailing and climbing
tropical and sub-tropical regions of Africa,
perennial; roots at nodes and has deep tap root;
Australia and the New World. It was introduced
long, pubescent stems, branch freely and are
in India as forage.
often reddish brown. Internodes are shorter.
Leaves usually have reddish brown to purple Climate: It is best suited to sub-tropical coastal
flecking on the upper surface. Leaflets are 2-7. areas with an annual rainfall of 900 to 1275 mm
cm long and 1.5-5.5 cm broad with a length width and requires a long warm growing season.
ratio of 1.4 to 1 and rounded. Inflorescence is
fairly compact with deep lilac to pink flowers born Soils: It grows on a wide range of soils from
in pairs. The pod is curved and contains 8-12 light to clay loams with neutral to moderately
seeds. The pod adheres to animals and to' acidic in reaction and is well adapted to poorly
clothing. The seed count 7,55,000/kg. drained or water logged conditions. It has no

34 GRASSES AND LEGUMES FOR TROPICAL PASTURES

tolerance to salinity. Forage yield: Green forage yield is around 19
t/ha while average dry matter yield ranges from
Cultural practices: Because of its small seed
5.8 to 12.5 tlha depending upon the stage of
size, it requires well prepared field and can be
the crop.
established by drilliing or broadcasting using 2.2
kg seeds/ha at 1 cm depth. It can be established Seed yield: 80 to 100 kg/ha.
even by cuttings, although the establishment is
only 30 to 40 per cent but when these cuttings Nutritive value: It contains 13.1 per cent C.P.,
are rooted in banana fiber baskets under light 0.34 per cent P and 1.44 per cent Ca.
shade, the results are good. These cuttings are
Utilization: In addition to fodder value it builds
transplanted at 1x1 m spacing.
up a good surface layer of organic matter which
Fertilizer application : It usually requires adds to the moisture holding capacity and fertility
adequate levels of phosphorus (40-50 kg/ha) of sandy soils. It contributes large quantity of N
sulphur (15-20 kg/ha), potash (20-25 kg/ha) and to soil too.
Molbdenum for growth.
Compatibility: It competes strongly with weeds
Management schecule: In first year the and associates well with a number of grasses
pasture should be grazed moderately thus including Setaria, green panic, molasses'
leaving a large number of axillary buds for grasses. Among legumes it grows well with
ensuring rapid regrowth. siratro and glycine.

Indigofera hirsusta Linn.

Common name: Hairy indigo (E) Climate: Generally it occurs in arid to semi-
arid climate in the regions of 900 to 1700 mm
Description: It is an erect or spreading annual annual rainfall.
and attains a height upto 1.5 m. Stem is
cylindrical or ridged, densely clothed with long, Soils: It is best adapted to moderately acidic
fine, gray or reddish brown pubescence. Stipules and low fertile sandy loam soils.
are linear, setaceous, upto 1 cm long. There are
5 to 7 leaflets rarely nine which are elliptical, Cultural practices: The hairy indigo is sown in
oblong, upto 40 mm long and 25 mm wide, the a well prepared field during early monsoon
terminal one is longer than the lateral and pilose through broadcast with 6 to 10 kg seed/ha. This
on both the surfaces. Inflorescence is dense, may also be drilled in close rows at the seed
many flowered raceme, hirsute, 20-30 cm long rate of 3-5 kg per hectare. At early stage
including a penduncle more than 25 mm long. weeding improves the crop.
Bracts are linear to lanceolate upto 25 mm long. Fertilizer application: Being well adapted to
Pedicel is around 1 mm long. Calyx is stiff, brown poor fertility soils, it has not shown major
about 4 mm long and hirsute. Corolla are white response to fertilizer application. Liming at upto
pubescent outside, brick-red or rose inside. 2000 kg/ha increased forage yield but not crown
Pods are straight rather tetragonal, 12 to 20 mm or root yield.
long about 2 mm wide, thickly hirsute with 6 to 9
seeds. Seeds are angular, cuboid and strongly Nitrogen fixing ability: It has been estimated
pitted. Seed count 4,40,OOO/kg. that the presence of /. hirsuta in mixtures is
equivalent to the application of 126 kg/ha N per
Distribution: It is distributed naturally in most year on pure grass pasture.
parts of the world such as tropical Africa and
America, southern Asia and northern Australia. Forage yield: The average dry forage yield of
In India it is found throughout the plains. I. hirsuta ranges from 3.5 to 5.0 tlha. It increased

GRASSES AND LEGUMES FOR TROPICAL PASTURES 35

about 50 and 100 per cent dry matter yield of purposes. Hay must be made early in season
pangola grass and Setaria sphacelata pastures as, the stems become coarse and woody with
respectively. It is a good seed producer. age. The aftermath from such an early cut can
Nutritive value: At early stage of growth it then be grazed. Silage made from it satisfies
contains 15.2 per cent crude protein, 1.88 per only maintenance requirement. A good quality
cent Ca and 0.37 per cent phosphorus. green manure may also be obtained from it.

Utilization: Animals like it very much at early Pest and diseases: It is resistant to root knot
growth. It is also used for hay as well as for silage nematode and most insects and diseases.

Lablab purpureus (Linn.) Sweet

Common names: Dolichos, Lablab bean, is sown at the onset of monsoon either in line or
Hyacinth bean, Field bean (E), Sem (H). broadcast as pure crop (40 to 45 kg/ha) or mixed
(20 to 25 kg/ha) with forage grasses. After
Description: It is an annual or biennial legume sowing, the seed should be covered with soil.
and attains a height of 0.9 to 1.8 m. The stems In beginning weeding is essential. The seeds
are robust and well branched. Leaves are large are sown at 1.0 m row distance.
trifoliate. Leaflets are oval 10-15 cm long smooth
on the upper side and slightly hairy under neath. Fertilizer application: In well fertile soil no
Inflorescence is loose and many flowered .. fertilizer is needed but in poor soils 10 to 15 kg
Flowers are white, purple or reddish on axillary N + 40 -60 kg P20S and 20-25 kg Potash/ha
racemes. Pods are 3 to 12 cm long, curved with are applied for higher forage and seed
2-4 big seeds. Seeds are globose, ovate or production.
flattened, brown to black in colour with
conspicuous white line at the hilum or point of Forage yield : As pure crop its average dry
attachment to the pod. Seed count 4000/kg. forage yield is 2.0 t/ha but in well managed
pasture it produces 5.4 t/ha dry forage.
Distribution: It is widely distributed in sub-
tropical area of Africa, Central and South Nutritive value: In this species about 11.74
Amercia, West Indies and many parts of South per cent C.P., 37.67 per cent crude fiber and
East Asia and Indonesia. It is found in most of 39.47 per cent carbohydrate are found.
the parts of India. Utilization: It is palatable to all types of livestock
Climate: Warm humid climate is suited to it and used for hay as well as for grazing purpose.
and grows well in the areas under 510-1500 mm It gives good silage with sorghum. Dolichos is
annual rainfall. It is drought resistant. also used as green manure and cover crop for
soil protection against erosion.
Soils: It is found on a wide range of soils (deep
sands to heavy clays) and pH (5.0 to 7.5). Compatibility: Generally it is sown as a pure
crop but some time with maize or sorghum at a
Cultural practices: After a light soil working it wide spacing because of its slow growth.

Lotononis bainesii Baker

Common names Lotononis and Miles' and central leaflet is rather larger than the other
Lotononis (E) two. Inflorescence is racemes. Flowers are small
bright yellow and born in a cluster of 8 to 23.
Description: It is a creeping perennial and Pod is oblong, 8-12 mm long, many seeded.
forms a dense pasture. Stem is slender, Seeds are oval to heart shaped and vary in
irregularly branched stoloniferous and 1.0 to 1.5 colour from yellow to green brown and magenta.
m long. Leaves are smooth digitately trifoliate The percentage of hard seed is fairly high. Purple

36 GRASSES AND LEGUMES FOR TROPICAL PASTURES

and brown seeds keep their viability better than kg P205 and 30 to 40 kg Potash are applied in
yellow and green seeds. Seed count 33,00,000 one hectare for higher forage. In acidic soils,
per kg (a seed weights 0.26 mg of which 55 per calcium is mixed in first year.
cent is seed coat).
Forage yield: Its dry matter yield varies from
Distribution: Lotononis is native to South 1.8 to 5.0 t/ha while under irrigation the average
Africa and distributed to Australia and India. dry forage yield of 8.2 t1ha has been recorded.
Climate: It is adapted to tropical and sub- Seed yield: 33 to 55 kg/ha.
tropical climate with an annual rainfall in excess
of 900 mm and 13.5 to 21°C temperature. It is Nutritive value: It contains about 18.3 per cent
drought tolerant. C.P.. 27 per cent crude fiber and 8.1 per cent
ash.
Soils: Lotononis thrives best to well drained
acid sandy soils and tolerates temporary Utilization : Lotononis is one of the most
waterlogging and flooding. palatable tropical legumes and provides high
yields of protein rich fodder to cattle. Under
Cultural practices : Being small seeded it grazing conditions in mixed pastures, the graZing
requires a well prepared weed free field. Seeds rotation is two weeks grazing four weeks rest. It
are broad casted in October-November and is an excellent feed in winter because of its
covered with a thin layer (5 to 6 mm) of the soil. greenness and tolerance to frost.
The pasture is also established through cuttings
at 2 to 2.5 m distance. Seeding rate is 0.5 to 1.0 Compatibility: Lotononis associates well with
kg/ha. pangola grass, Paspalum and Pennisetums.
Because of its unpredictable performance it
Fertilizer application: It responds well to should be sown with another legume in mixtures,
fertilizer application and in poor soils 40 to 50 e.g. Desmodium and Siratro

Macroptilium atropurpureum (DC.) Urb.

Synonym - Phaseoulus atropurpureus DC.

Common name: Siratro (E) climates and is found in areas of 615 to 1800
mm rainfall and 26.5 to 30°C temperature.
Description: Siratro is a deep rooted perennial
herb and has trailing habit. Stem is hairy and Soils: Siratro thrives well on wide range of soils
root readily at the nodes. Leaves are trifoliate, from light textured sandy soils to heavy clays
dark green and silvery slightly hairy on upper with good drainage. It grows over a range of pH
and very hairy on lower surface. Leaflets are from 4.5 to 8.0 and even in moderately saline
somewhat oval shaped but the lateral ones are soils.
unevenly lobed. Inflorescence is raceme;
penduncletu-su cm long with a cluster of 6-12 Cultural practices: For natural grassland or
flowers, often paired, deep purple in colour. Pods already established pasture se?d should b~
are straight, cylindrical, pointed, 8 cm long many sown after interculturing at the onset of rains.
seeded. Pods dehisce violently when ripe. For pure pasture seed rate is 12 kg/ha but for
Seeds are flattended, brown to black in colour mixed it is 6 kg/ha. Seeds are sown in July after
and 4x 2.5 x 2 mm in size. The seed count 75000 first heavy shower either in line at 50 cm space
per kg. or broadcast. SOWing depth is 1.0 to 1.5 cm.
During monsoon one interculturing or weeding
Distribution: The species is native to central improved the crop performance.
and south America and is now distributed to
Fertilizer application: In beginning 10 cart
Australia, South East Asia and Pacific Islands.
loads of FYM is thoroughly mixed in soil followed
In India it is found in semi-arid regions.
by 10 kg Nand 30 kg P20/ha. In subsequent
Climate: It is adapted to sub tropical to tropical years 30 kg P205/ha is broadcasted at the onset

GRASSES AND LEGUMES FOR TROPICAL PASTURES 37

of monsoon. On fertile soils, no fertilizer will be per cent crude fiber and 9.8 per cent ash.
necessary for a number of years.
Compatibility: It fixes nitrogen very effectively
Forage and seed yield: The average green and can be grown with a wide range of grasses
fodder yield ranges from 15 to 20 t/ha and dry such as Rhodes, Setaria, green panic and
guinea grass.
fodder from 3 to 5 t/ha. It produces the seeds
two times in a year i.e. October-November and Utilization: It is utilized as hay and for qrazinq
April-May The total seed production is 50-100 purpose and is persistent under heavy grazing
kg/ha. when the plants are well established. It is also
used for silage. Due to heavy and fast leaf fall it
Nutritive value: It gives high yields of palatable helps in improving the soil and used for checking
protein rich fodder with 16.8 per cent C.P., 33.4 the soil erosion.

Macroptilium lathyroides (Linn.) Urb.

Syn. Phaseolus lathyroides
Common names: Phasey bean, Wild pea bean growing crop and sown in well prepared fields
(E) at the commencement of rainy season. The
seeds can be broadcasted at surface or drilled
Description: Phasey bean is an erect annual no deeper than 1.25 cm and then covered lightly
or beinniallegume and attains a height of 0.6 to with soil. The seed rate is 2.2 to 3.3 kg per ha.
0.9 m. Branches are clothed with long deciduous
hairs. Leaves are trifoliate and leaflets are Fertilizer application : On fertile alluvial soils
smooth, oval shaped and 5-8 cm in length. or heavy clays, it does well without any fertilizer
Flowers are red purple and are attached on but on poor sandy soils, 250 kg/ha
alternate side of the flowering stalks. Pods are molybdenized superphosphate is required.
cylindrical, slightly curved 8-10 cm long. Each
pod contains upto 20 seeds, which are oblong, Forage and seed yield: Its green forage yield
mottled and dark gray brown. Under favourable is from 15 to 20 tlha. From a mixed pasture of
conditions it regenerates from seeds. Seed M. /athyroides and Paspa/um commersonii
count 1,19,000/kg. about 5.4 t/ha dry forage was obtained. Seed
yield is 200 to 250 kg/ha.
Distribution: It is native to India but has now
spread to many tropical and sub-tropical Nutritive value: It has good nutritive value and
countries. contains 19.2 per cent C.P. and 32.3 per cent
crude fiber.
Climate: It is adapted to sub-tropical areas
with 25/30 °c optimum temperature and 760 to Utilization: It is less palatable in young stage
2030 mm annual rainfall. but animals like it for grazing after the seeds
have set. It is also used for hay as well as for
Soils: Generally it grows well on fertile soils silage purpose.
(deep sandy to heavy clays) but also tolerate
infertile, acid to saline and alkaline soils with even Compatibility: It can be grown successfully
poor drainage. with a number of grasses like para, green panic,
serobic grass. Seedlings are susceptible to bean
Cultural practices: Although it is a summer fly.

Macrotyloma axil/ares (E. Mey.) Verdc.

Syn. Dolichos axillaris
Common name: Archer dolichos (E) and hairy. Leaves are trifoliate, oval, 4-5 cm long
Description: It is a summer growing trailing leaflets which are hairy on both surfaces.
and twining perennial legume. Stem is cylindrical Flowers usually born in threes and are greenish

38 GRASSES AND LEGUMES FOR TROPICAL PASTURES

yellow. Pods are hairy, slightly curved, 3-5 cm seedlings. It is drought tolerant and survives in
long and contain 6-8 seeds which are oval and areas with a 6-8 months dry season.
mottled. Seed count 20,OOO/kg.
Fertilizer application: It responds well to
Distribution: It is widely spread in tropical phosphorus and for higher production 120
Africa and also in Sri Lanka. It became popular to 250 kg/ha super- phosphate is
for commercial use in 1960. recommended.

Climate: This legume is well adapted to a frost Forage yield: Its dry forage production is 15.5
tlha.
free subtropical or tropical climate with an annual
rainfall of 1000 mm. Seed yield: Seed production is poor because
of sparse flowering. Generally, 100-150 kg/ha
Soils: It grows on variety of soils from sands seed is obtained.
to clays with good drainage. It requires a pH in
excess of 5.5. It tolerates salinity. Nutritive value: It contains 11.9 per cent C.P.
in full growth which declines to 6.2 per cent at
Cultural practices: In a well prepared field seed formation stage.
the seeds are sown in line or may be
broadcasted at the rate of 2-2.5 kg/ha as a pure Utilization: Animals do not like it initially but
afterwards they relish it much. It fixes ample
stand and 0.5-1 kg in mixture at a depth of 1-
nitrogen in the soil.
2.5 cm during late spring to summer. It may grow
even from cuttings in roughly prepared fields. Compatibility: It grows well with pasture
Seeds may be dispersed through cattle dung grasses viz., Setaria, Paspa/um, Rhodes and
and stands may thicken up from self-sown Panicum spp.

Neonotonia wightii (Grah. ex Wight & Arn.) Lackey

Syn. Glycine wightii (Grah. ex Wight & Arn.) Verde. and
G. javanica L.
Common name: Glycine (E) Cultural practices: The glycine seeds should
be sown in well prepared fields by broadcast
Description: It is trailing perennial vine. It has during rainy season or in lines at 1-2 cm depth
deep root system and trailing stem produces the and with 4-6 kg/ha seed rate. In case of line
roots at nodes as soon as it comes in contact sowing the distance of line to line should be 50
with soil. Stem is slender, hairy and well cm to 1 m.
branched. Leaves are pinnately trifoliate with 5-
10 cm long and 3-6 cm wide leaflet and short Fertilizer application: In first year 40 to 50 kg
hairs on both sides. The flowers are creamy P205' 20 to 25 kg Potash and 15-20 kg N/ha
white. The pods are hairy, straight or slightly are applied while from second year only 40 kg
curved, 1-4 cm long with 3-8 seeds. Average P20/ha is sufficient.
seed count 1,55,000/kg.
Forage yield: The forage yield depends on
Distribution: It is native to Kenya and other soil type and climatic condition. It produces 50 t
African countries and spread over Ethiopia and green forage in one hectare while dry matter
tropical Asia. yield varies from 8 to 10 t/ha.
Climate: It requires an annual rainfall of 760 to Seed yield: In rainfed condition, the seed yield
1525 mm. is 330 kg/ha while only 110kg/ha seed yield was
found after one cut. Under irrigated conditions it
Soils: It prefers fertile, heavy black soils with gave 500-750 kg/ha.
good drainage. It does not tolerate water logging
and high acidity conditions. It tolerates soil pH Nutritive value: The average C.P. content
upto 6.5. ranges from 16.2 to 20.4 per cent in whole plant

GRASSES AND LEGUMES FOR TROPICAL PASTURES 39

while it was 26.5 per cent in leaf. Compatibility: Rhodes, green panic, guinea
Utilization: It tolerates lenient grazing in first and molasses grass are suitable companion
year and provides good feed to livestock. grasses.

Pueraria pheseolokies (Roxb.) Benth

Common names: Puero, Tropical Kudzu (E) cuttings by planting two pieces at 0.7 to 1.0 m
distance. For a better pasture it is established
Description: It is a deep rooted perennial earlier than grass species. It is susceptible to
legume of twining and climbing nature. Stem frost but new shoots are put forth in following
reaches upto a length of 7 to 9 m and the young spring from the old root stocks.
shoots are densely covered with brown hairs.
The stems give rise to roots from nodes when Fertilizer application: Application of 2.5 t/ha
come in contact with soil. The leaves are large calcium, 100 kg N/ha, 110 kg P20/ha and 100
and trifoliate. The leaflets are thin, triangular to kg potash/ha increased the forage production
oval-shaped, 5-8 cm long and densely hairy on significantly. These nutrients have their
lower surface. Flowers are deep purple. Pod is pronounced effect on nodulation.
hairy, cylindrical, slightly curved, 8-10 cm long
Management schedule: It gives 2-3 cuttings
and black when mature and contains 10-20
and is recommended to cut at the height of 25
seeds. Seeds are squarish with rounded corners cm from ground. It should be grazed leniently at
and brown to brownish black. Seed count 815001 all the time to maintain the composition. but
kg. when it dominates, the grazing pressure can be
Distribution: It is native to South-East Asia increased.
and distributed in Malaysia and Indonesia. In Forage and seed yield: The average dry
India it is adapted to warm humid regions. matter yield was found to be 4.1 t/ha but in 3
Climate: It is suited to humid zones of tropics cuttings it reaches to a value of 9.6 t/ha. In a
and grows well in the areas of annual rainfall mixed pasture of molasses grass puero
contributed 9.1 t/ha (dry matter) of the total (22.9
above 1500 mm and 15°C optimum
t/ha). Its seed production is 300 kg/ha. Plants
temperature. It is easily killed by frost.
produce more seeds when grown on support
Soils: It has adaptability to a wide range of structures.
soils from sand to clay with 4 to 5 pH. It is not
Nutritive value: It contains 19.0 per cent C.P..
tolerant to salinity.
8.4 per cent fiber and 22.6 per cent dry
Cultural practices: In a well prepared field matter.
the seeds are generally broadcasted or drilled
Utilization: Being rich in protein it is liked by all
under warm and high moisture condition. In pure types of animals, therefore. it is utilized as hay
pasture the seed is used @ 3 to 6.0 kg/ha but in as well as for grazing and silage purposes.
mixture the seed rate is only 1 to 2 kg/ha. The
seeds are sown at 1.5 cm depth. It is mainly Compatibility: It grows well with molasses
raised by seeds but can be propagated through grass, para, guinea and elephant grasses.

Stizolobium deeringianum Bort.

\
Common names: Velvet bean (E), Makhmali and 7-12 cm broad. Flowers are white to violet
sem (H) in colour. Pods are curved, 10-20 cm long. much
Description: It is a fast growing annual climber hairy and 3-6 seeded. Seeds are white to black
or runner and spreads the branches upto 10m. in colour, 1.2-1.5 cm long, 0.9-1.1 cm wide.
Leaves are trifolate, smooth, 20 to 25 cm long Seeds count 2000/kg.

40 GRASSES AND LEGUMES FOR TROPICAL PASTURES

Distribution: The species is native to South Fertilizer application: Generally 10-15 kg N
Asia and is now introduced in most of the tropical + 40-60 kg P20/ha is given.
countries. In India it is found in many parts.
Forage and seed yield: The green forage yield
Climate: It thrives well in warm, moist fluctuates from 15 to 25 t/ha. The seed yield is
conditions in the zones of 650-2500 mm annual
1000 to 1500 kg/ha.
rainfall.
Nutritive value: It is very nutritive fodder and
Soils: It grows in all types of soils but prefers
sandy to sandy loam. It may be grown even in contains 15.6 per cent CP, 34.4 per cent crude
acidic soils. fiber, 1.2 per cent Ca and 0.165 per cent
phosphorus.
Cultural practices: The sowing should be
done during monsoon in the month of July in Utilization: Being nutritive and palatable it is
rows with 50-60 kg seeds/ha at 50 to 75 cm used as fodder crop. It is also used for soil
distance but for a mixed pasture the seed rate conservation purposes and green manure too.
is 22 to 30 kg/ha. Sowing depth is recommended
from 6-8 cm. The crop becomes ready for first Compatibility: It is grown with guinea and
cut in 3 to 4 months. Rhodes grass.

Stylosanthes guianensis (Aubl.) Sw.

Syn. S. gracilis H.B. & K.

Common names: Stylo, Schofield stylo, Fine Soils : It grows well on a wide range of soils
stem stylo, Brazilian lucerne, tropical lucerne (E). from coarse sand to sandy loams but not so
well on heavy clays. It is not tolerant to salinity.
Description: It is a herbaceous perennial and
0.6 to 1.8 m tall. Cv. Schofield is an erect and Cultural practices: For a better establishment
becomes more prostrate under grazing while Cv. the field should be well prepared and made free
OXley (fine stem stylo) is semi-prostrate with from weeds. At the commencement of rains
strong tap root system and has well-developed inoculated seeds are drilled at 1 to 1.5 cm depth
crown, fine stem and smaller leaflets with buds or broadcasted @ 3.5 to 5.0 kg/ha. Stylo can
both below and above ground level. In earlier be established even on less/lightly prepared
Cultivar stem is hairy and becomes woody at fields by broadcasting the seeds. After sowing,
the seeds are covered by dragging a twig over
base with age. Leaves are trifoliate. Leaflets are
the areas.
narrow, deep green with few hairs (oxley), elliptic
and sticky (Schofield), 15 to 55 mm long and 3 It may be established in natural grasslands, even
to 13 mm wide. Flowers are small, terminal and by planting the cuttings at a distance of 1 to 2 m
yellow. Pods are flattened, single-seeded with during the rainy days. At each spot 3-5 cutting,
.smalland coiled beak. Seeds are kidney-shaped having at least 3 nodes, should be buried inside
yellowish-brown and 1.75 mm long. There are the moist soil. In natural grasslands over seeding
2,64,000 seeds in 1 kg. is quite successful particularly on sandy soils in
areas of adequate rainfall.
Distribution: It is a native of Brazil, introduced
in West Indies, Africa, India and Pacific Islands. Fertilizer application : Stylo is efficient in
extracting phosphorus as well as calcium from
Climate: It is suited to a warm humid climate soils and is often not fertilized but it respondes
with a temperature range of 15 to 29°C and well to super phosphate. At the time of its
withstands upto 43°C. It prefers an area, establishment about 5 to 8 t/ha FYM should be
receiving a total annual rainfall in excess of 1525 mixed thoroughly in the soil alongwith 20 kg N +
mm. However. thp Cultivar oxley is suited to 30 to 40 kg P20/ha. From second year the
lower rainfall (625 to 875 mm) conditions. application of 30 kg P20/ha is sufficient. Lack

GRASSES AND LEGUMES FOR TROPICAL PASTURES 41

of phosphorus causes yellowing of the leaf tips 15 to 41 t/ha in different soil types and climatic
in the seedlings, small leaves and eventual conditions while the dry matter yield ranges from
death of young plants. 4.1 to 7.0 t/ha.

Management schedule: In the first year of its Seed yield: The seed yield recorded ranged
establishment it should be cut after 4 months from 70 to 200 kg/ha.
from sowing but from second year onwards, for
Nutritive value: The C.P. ranges from 12.1 to
higher production, it may be cut 2-3 times at the
18.1 per cent from whole plant (7.9 per cent for
height of 10 cm. The cattle prefer grazing the
stem and 13.6 per cent for leaf). The crude fiber
stylo sward in late autumn and early winter, when
is from 21.7 to 37.7 per cent.
it is drying off and this is the time when it is a
valuable feed. The grazing should be avoided Utilization: It is used for hay, silage and grazing
during the establishment year but if it is grazed, purposes.
it should be grazed lightly after 6-8 weeks from
establishment to promote tillering. Rotational Compatibility: Stylo combines well with guinea
grazing (1 week on and 4-8 weeks off) is best grass, spear grass, Rhodes and buffel grass,
for its long persistency. In late stage it becomes molasses grass, Setaria, para grass. It also
woody and not preferred by animals. persisted with Kikuyu grass. If pasture is short,
it is compatible with other forage legumes viz.,
Forage yield: Its green forage yield varies from puero, centro and siratro.

Stylosanthes hamata (L.) Taub.

Common names: Carribean stylo and Verano annual rainfall from 500-1270 mm with a
stylo (E) pronounced dry season.

Description: Carribean stylo is herbaceous Soils: It is adapted to a wide range of soil types
and dichotomously branched perennial. It attains and is drought resistant.
a height of 1.2 m. The stems have short white
Cultural practices: In a well prepared field
hairs down one side. Leaves trifoliate, leaflets
the seeds are broadcasted or sown in line at 50
lanceolate, acute, glabrous with 4-6 pairs of
cm apart @ 5-6 kg/ha in pure and 3-4 kg/ha in
veins, rachis 4-6 mm long and bidentate stipules
mixed pasture during the early rainy season. The
adnate to the base of the petiole with hairs on
seeds should be covered slightly with soil by
the sheeth and teeth. The inflorescence is an
dragging the twig. During the establishment year
oblong spike with 8-14 yellow flowers on a long
1-2 weeding and interculturing are required for
stem. The pods or so called seeds are medium
better growth.
to dark brown in colour, 2-2.5 mm long
asymmetrical by reniform, radical ends fairly Seed treatment: Before sowing, the seeds
prominent and beak is slightly coiled. Actual should be scarified or treated with hot water for
seed comes after removing the brown covering 1-1.5 minutes.
and is light yellow in colour. In appearance it is
similar to Townsville stylo. The seed count Fertilizer application: At the time of field
450000/kg. preparation and before sowing 5 to 8 t/ha FYM
+ 10-15 kg Nand 30 kg P20/ha are applied.
Distribution: It is a native of the islands of From second year onwards 30 kg P20 S and 15
West Indies and found generally adjacent the kg N/ha are sufficient.
coastal regions of North and South America, and
introduced in many tropical regions of Australia, Management schedule: During establishment
Burma and India. year (first year) it should not be grazed at all but
should be harvested at the height of 10 cm from
Climate: It thrives well in the areas receiving ground level after four months of sowing. From

42 GRASSES AND LEGUMES FOR TROPICAL PASTURES

second year onwards it may be grazed or Nutritive value: It contains 10-14 per cent C.P,
harvested 2-3 times. Rotational grazing is 0.61 to 1.72 per cent Ca, 0.10-0.12 per cent P
preferred for higher production. and 7.0 to 14.2 per cent ash.
Forage yield: The green forage production Utilization: It is grazed in situ. Being nutritive
ranges from 20 to 30 t/ha while the dry forage is and palatable it is used as feed for all types of
6 to 10 tlha. animals in the form of hay, silage.
Seed yield: It generally produces 350 to 400 Compatibility: It may be mixed with Cenchrus,
kg seeds/ha but from well managed pasture Dichanthium Heteropogon Sehima, Chrysopogon
seed production reaches upto 1000 kg/ha. Nixon Sabai grass and Blue panic.

Stylosanthes humilis H.B. & K.

Common names: Townsville stylo, Townsville pure pasture or 3 to 4 kg/ha in mixed and natural
lucerne, and Wild lucerne (E). grasslands. In pure pasture one weeding is
helpful. .
Description: Townsvillestylo is an erect annual
and attains an average height of 0.7 m. The Fertilizer application: It is extremely
stem is much branched and fibrous. Leaves are responsive to application of superphosphate
trifoliate. The leaflets are narrow, pointed, and efficient in extracting phosphorus and
lanceolate and without hairs. The flowers are calcium from soils. At the time of establishment
small and yellow and borne in a cluster of5-15. it requires heavy dose of phosphorus but from
Pod is hairy. Seed is small, angular, grooved second year onwards 40 kg P20/ha is sufficient.
across the middle and bears a stiff hooked bristle Molybdenized phosphorus increases the
at one end, which facilitates seed spread. In nitrogen content of the plant. '
case of carribean stylo the bristle is not so much
Seed treatment: For higher germination and
coiled as in Townsville stylo. The seed count
better establishment the seeds are scarified with
4,40,000/kg.
a paper or treated with hot water for 1 minute.
Distribution: It is the native to north-eastBrazil
Forage yield: In pure pasture the green forage
andVenezuela. It is now widely spread in Tropics.
yield varies from 12 to 18 t/ha while dry matter
In India it was introduced from Australia in 1960.
yield is from 4 to 6 tlha.
Climate: It is species of sub-humid, semi-arid
Seed yield : The average seed production is
to dry climate. It grows well in a temperature
400 kg/ha. Unger well management higher seed
range of 15/10 °C to 27/22 °C and in areas with
(1200 kg/ha) production may be obtained.
510 to 1270 mm annual rainfall. It flourishes well
in warm conditions. Nutritive value: Its chief advantage is its
nutritive value in winter and dry season. It
Soil: It is adapted to wide range of soils but
contains 14.2 per cent average C.P. (12.3 to
prefers sand and sandy loams. It may grow on
17.7%),30.0 percent crude fiber (25.5 to 36.2%)
acidic soils and even on well drained heavier
and 1.4 per cent fat (0.7 to 2.5%).
type of soils. It has fair tolerance to salinity.
Utilization: S. humilis makes quite good hay.
Cultural practices: For a pure or mixed
It is also utilized for grazing purposes. It is not
pastures the land is prepared thoroughly by eaten during the young stage
discing and ploughing the field 2-3 times but for
natural grassland the rank growth is removed Compatibility: It associates with Cenchrus
either by heavy stocking or burning and then ciliaris, C. biflorus, Heteropogon contortus,
the fields are lightly ploughed up. The seeds are Urochloa mosambicensis, U. bulbodes and
sown in line or broadcasted @ 5 to 6 kg/ha for Dichanthium aristatum.

GRASSES AND LEGUMES FOR TROPICAL PASTURES 43

 Stylosanthes scabra Vag.

Common names: Shrubby stylo, Scabra stylo one ploughing 5 to 6 kg seeds are sown in 1 ha.
(E)
Fertilizer application: At the time of field
Description: It is an erect and woody perennial. preparation 5 to 8 tones compost + 10 to 15 kg
It is dark green in colour and slightly sticky/ Nand 30 kg P20 S are mixed in. soil before
viscous in feeling. It attains a height of 1.0 to sowing. From second year onwards only 30 kg
1.5 m. Stems are hairy and rough. Leaves are P20/ha is applied every year for higher quality
trifoliate and leaflets are small and broad (1.8 x forage.
0.6 ern), The flowering is late (Oct.-Jan.) and
Management schedule: At establishment year
flowers are small and yellow. The pod is 4.4 cm
it should be harvested once in late January or
long and 1.4 cm broad, gray and one seeded.
early February and after second year onwards
The pod bears minute hook. The seed is yellow 2 to 3 cuttings may be taken.
to light yellow. The plant is highly frost
susceptible. Seed count 360000/kg. Forage and seed yield: Its green forage
production ranges from 15 to 25 t/ha while dry
Distribution: It is a plant of tropical origin and matter yield is 5 to 8 t/ha. Seed yield is around
distributed in many countries like Kenya, Brazil, 1200 kg/ha.
and Queensland. It was introduced in India in
1965 from Australia. Nutritive value: It contains 9.0 to 12.0 per cent
crude protein.
Climate: It thrives well in warm tropical climate
with 325 to 1200 mm annual rainfall. Utilization: It is used for grazing and gives
high quality hay and silage. But it is less palatable
Soils: It is grown on all types of soils with good as compared to Townsville and Carribean stylo.
drainage. It may be grown even on saline soils. It improves the soil by increasing the organic
matter and nitrogen content of the habitat.
Cultural practices: In a well prepared field
the seeds are sown in line at the distance of 50 Compatibility: It may be grown successfully
ern or may be broadcasted @ 10 kg/ha for pure with Chrysopogon Iulvus, Panicum antidota/e,
pasture. One weeding improves the crop. But Dichanthium annulatum, Cenchrus ciliaris,
in natural grassland or in mixed pasture after Heteropogon contortus and Urochloa sp.

Vigna luteola (Jacq.) Benth.

Common name: Dalrymple vigna (E) Distribution: It is a native to coastal and

swampy areas of Africa, Central and South
Description: It is a short lived, summer
America. Now it is introduced in Argentina,
growing, leafy perennial with climbing and
twining habit. Stem is sparsely hairy and sends Australia, India and in other countries.
or gives rise to roots as it comes in contact with Climate: The optimum temperature for its
moist soil. Leaves are trifoliate and leaflets are growth ranges from 20 to 30 aC. A minimum
ovate lanceolate, 2.5 to 10 cm long and 1.5 to annual rainfall of 1525 mm is required.
5.0 cm broad, dark green and sparsely
pubescent at both sides. Inflorescence is axillary Soils: It is adapted to wide range of soils and
raceme and flowers are yellow. Pods are is highly successful on wet and poorly drained
pendant, thin shelled with waxy margins when soils. It also tolerates saline conditions.
dry and 5 cm long. Pod contains 6 to 9 seeds,
which are black to brown in colour and 3 to 4 Cultural practices: It requires well prepared
mm long, and 2 to 3 mm broad. Seed count field and the seeds are sown in wet soil @ 8 to
37000/kg. 12 kg/ha in pure and 4 to 6 kg/ha in mixed

44 GRASSES AND LEGUMES FOR TROPICAL PASTURES

pasture preferably in line at 1-2.5 cm depth. Forage yield: The green forage yield varies
from 12 to 18 t/ha while its dry matter production
Seed treatment : A light mechanical is from 1.9 to 2.5 t/ha.
scarification assists in seed germination.
Nutritive value: It contains 17.4 per cent C.P.,
Fertilizer application: For its higher forage 1.27-1.91 per cent Ca, 0.10-0.19 per cent P and
production 40 to 60 kg P205 and 20 to 35 kg 9.6-16.8 per cent ash.
Potash/ha are applied every year.
Utilization: It is extremely palatable plant at all
Management schedule: It' flowers in late stages of growth but should be grazed leniently
autumn and early winter. The pods mature in for longer persistency.
early spring. Seed harvesting is little bit difficult
because the pods are hidden in new vegetative Compatibility: It grows quite well with
growth before they mature. Paspalum and Setaria spp. in moist situations.

GRASSES AND LEGUMES FOR TROPICAL PASTURES 45

G) APPENDIX
~
en
en Range grasses, legumes for different agro climatic regions of India
m
en
l> SI. No Name of region Grasses Legumes
z
o 1. Western Rajasthan, South-East Cenchrus ciliaris, C. setigerus, Dichanthium Atylosia scarabaeoides, Lablab
r
m Punjab, Western Gujarat including annulatum, Lasiurus sindicus, Panicum purpureus, Macroptilium atropurpureum,
G)
c Kutch and Western Saurashtra antidotale etc. Rhynchoisa minima etc.
as:
m 2. Central Punjab, Eastern Rajasthan, Axonopus compressus, Cenchrus ciliaris, Atylosia scarabaeoides, Clitoria ternatea,
en Western Uttar Pradesh, Northern C. setigerus, Dichanthium annulatum, Lablab purpureum, Macroptilium
"T1
o
:;0
Gujarat, Maharashtra, Western Heteropogon contortus, Panicum atropurpureum, Mucuna deeringiana,
-i Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, antidotale, Pennisetum pedicellatum, Stylosanthes hamata, S. scabra,
:;0 Tamil Nadu and Karnataka Sehima nervosum etc. S. viscosa etc.
o
"'C
3. Central and Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Brachiaria mutica, Cenchrus ciliaris, Macroptilium atropurpureum,
n
l> Southern Bihar, Southern Gujarat, Cynodon dactylon, Dichanthium annulatum, Centrosema pubescans,
r Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Panicum antidotale, P. maximum, Paspalum Glycine javanica, Lablab purpureus,
~ Coastal Tamil Nadu notatum, Pennisetum pedicellatum, Mucuna deeringiana, Pueraria
en
-i P. polystachyon, Setaria sphacelata etc. phaseoloides, Stylosanthes guianensis
C
:;0 4. West Bengal, Assam, Orissa, Brachiaria brizantha, B. mutica, Cynodon Calopogonium mucoroides, Centrosema
m
en Eastern Madhya Pradesh and dactylon, Dichanthium annulatum, Panicum pubescens, Desmodium spp., -
Kenkan maximum, Pennisetum c1andastium, Stylosanthes guianensis, Vigna
P. pedicellatum, Setaria sphacelata, umbellata etc.
Urochloa mosambicensis etc.
5. Lower hills of Punjab Himachal Arundinella sp., Chrysopogon fulvus, Atylosia scarabaeoides, Lablab
Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and West Dichanthium annulatum, Pennisetum purpureus, Macroptilium atropurpureum,
Bengal pedicellatum, Themeda sp. Stylosanthes hamata, S. humilis, S.
scabra etc.
6. High hills of Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Bromus uniloides, Dactylis glomerata, Lespedeza cuneata, Medicago sativa,
Pradesh, Punjab and Jammu & Festuca arundinacea, Lolium perenne etc. Trifolium pratense, 1. repens etc.
Kashmir
7. Valleys of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Axonopus affinis, A. compressus, Lablab purpureus, Macroptilium
Pradesh, Gujarat and Bihar C. fulvus, C. ciliaris, atropurpureum, Mucuna deeringiana,
D. annulatum, P. pedicellatum etc. P. phaseoloides, etc.
8. Usar (saline and alkaline) areas of Brachiaria mutica, Bothriochloa pertusa, Alysicarpus rugosus, Desmenthus
Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Chloris gyana, Cynodon dactylon, virgatus, Rhynchosia minima
Rajasthan and Gujarat Dichanthium annulatum, Diplachne fusca,
Iseilema laxum, P. maximum, S. sphacelata,
Sporobolus manginolus,
9. In swampy areas Brachiaria mutica, Iseilema, laxum etc. Lotononis bainisii, Sesbania bispinosa