cultivation practices of fodder sorghum

     cultivation practices of fodder sorghum

Sorghum 

Jowar or Chari is a popular and favorite animal fodder in summer. Since millet has the ability to withstand hot and dry weather, it can be cultivated in irrigated and rainfed areas alike. Different sorghum varieties have about 7% fiber content. Its fodder is very sweet and palatable and leads to increase in milk production of animals. It is useful for both dairy and beef animals. It is cultivated on a larger area than all other kharif fodder crops. Its grain is the best feed for chickens. Sugar is also produced from some countries of the world. In sweet special conditions it is used as human food
is also used.

Climate

Because the millet crop has the ability to withstand drought. Hence the climate of Punjab is very suitable for it. This is the reason why this crop is cultivated equally in rainfed and irrigated areas of Punjab.

Land and its preparation

Heavy soil with good drainage is most suitable for cultivation. Can also be cultivated on light kalrathi soil. But the land with beans and thor is not suitable for its cultivation. The soil should be well filled and soft by plowing three or four times. Flat land is the basic condition for high production. The land with beans and thor is not suitable for its cultivation.
planting time

Fodder crop can be grown from March to August as per requirement but seed crop is best grown from mid- July to mid- August. Planting millet variety JS2002 in early July
is more useful.

Types

1. Tall sweet variety which gives up to 700 maunds per acre of green fodder and stays green for a long time. 2002.JS
2 Begari head green fodder apart from its seed production is also encouraging.
3 : High yielding variety. It is sown for both fodder and seed purposes. :263.JS
4 Noor This is a multi- cut sweet variety whose seed can be produced by the farmer himself.

Seed rate

In irrigated areas, 32 kg of healthy seed per acre is sufficient for fodder crop and 8 kg for seed crop. In rainfed areas add 5 kg more seed per acre for fodder crop and 2 kg more seed per acre for seed crop.

Cultivation method:

To get good fodder yield, sow in rows and keep a distance of one foot between the rows. Both growth and yield of chhata are seeded from low cultivation. While for seed crop, keep the distance between the lines at one and a half feet. Or the seeding depth should not be more than 3 inches otherwise the growth will be severely affected.

Use of Fertilizers:

1 At least one month before planting, spread 2 to 3 trolleys of rotted cow dung manure evenly per acre and mix well with the soil by plowing.
2. If dung manure is not available, apply 2 bags of nitrophos per acre at sowing time for fodder crop.
For 3- seeded crop, add one bag of DAP along with one bag of potash at sowing time.
4. In irrigated areas, apply half a bag of urea before watering and in rainfed areas, apply all the fertilizer at the time of sowing.

Irrigation

cultivation practices of fodder sorghum

Sorghum crop requires 50 ha cm of water which can be met in 5 to 6 irrigations by applying water every fortnight. A good crop of fodder requires 2 to 3 waterings. Apply the first watering three weeks after sowing, then continue watering as needed. If the growth is low, give the first water early. Never allow the seed crop to become dehydrated during grain formation and grain quality and yield will be severely affected.

harvest time

The spring- grown crop is ready for harvesting in May- June and the rain- fed crop in October- November. Young crops or sprouts before rain should not be used for fodder because its leaves contain a poisonous substance called hydrocyanic acid, which can cause death to animals. Forage crops should be harvested after 75 days of planting when 50% flowers have emerged as HCN content decreases after flowering. The seed crop ripens in November. Cut its stalks and spread them in the sun in a dry place and tie bundles of karab and save them for use in the days of shortage of fodder in winter.

Pests, diseases and their control

Shoot fly, stem borer, mites (lice) and oil beetles attack the millet crop. Apart from this, the red leaf spot and congiari are attacked on the leaves in the seed crop. Never spray any kind of fodder crop. To prevent the attack of cotton fly and stem borer, treat the seeds before sowing with furothiob at the rate of 20 mg per kg of seed or Amidaclopar D at the rate of 7 g per kg of seed. To protect the crop from severe attack of stem borer or hemp fly, adopt early forage strategy or apply granular poisons at the rate of 8 kg or Furadan (8%) 8 to 10 kg or Padan after the crop has grown. 4 g) 4 to 7 kg or basodin 6 kg or diaxenan or furan at 8
Kg per acre before first watering put in the cone and after watering or spray Androsin at the rate of 400 mg or Oxydimetin methyl at the rate of 400 ml or Alphamethrin + Monocrotophos at the rate of 300 ml in 1 liter of water. In case of attack of slow and sticky oil, Montor 600 at 450 to 600 ml, Confidar 260 ml or Incol 400 to 500 ml or Amida Clopard at 250 ml or Perhafeno at 500 ml or Methadofas at 500 ml or Spray Fiora Thiocarb 250 ml per acre. All medications should be used at least three weeks prior to forage harvest to allow the toxic effects to wear off. Plant disease- free, clean, healthy seeds that have been treated with fungicides to prevent red leaf spots and scab. From the seed crop, uproot and burn the infected plants from the field to prevent the spread of the disease can be reduced 

production

A good crop in irrigated areas can yield 28 to 32 tons of green fodder per acre. While in rainfed areas 18 to 24 tons per acre of fodder was obtained can go.

Nutritional Importance:

The use of millet or sorghum fodder significantly increases the milk and meat production of animals. It is easily digested. Sweet millet is eaten by animals with great interest and enthusiasm. The following is a description of the various components in jowar.Food is included

Percentage

dry matter          Grease        Fibrous ingredients

28.5.                      1.5                      29.4

Salts                  Lehmiat

6.8                          8.1

Non- nitre and genie components

53.1