This publication is part of training compendium on seed production and certification (joint publication of International Center for Agriculture Research in the Dry Areas and Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana, India, 2016)

SEED PRODUCTION OF FODDER CROPS

U. S. Tiwana and D. P. S. Dhaliwal Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics

Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab

In India, agriculture and animal husbandry are integrated to each other, and this scenario is expected to continue in the foreseeable future. Forage cultivation is restricted to only about 4% of the cultivated area in the country. This is due to the majority of small and marginal farmers and high pressure on cultivable land, which leads to the deficiency of food and fodder for livestock.( Hegde,2006) The scarcity of forage and fodder is one of the major constraints for achieving a profitable level of livestock productivity. According to an estimate, the shortage of dry fodder, green fodder and concentrates are 40.4, 24.7 and 47.1% against the total requirements of 650.7, 761.5 and 79.4 million tones for the 485.0 million livestock population, respectively. In case of Punjab also, to feed 8.61million cattle, 91.1 metric tonnes of green fodder is required, but 68.6 metric tones fodder is produced from an area of 8.61 lac hectares, thereby each animal gets fodder supply of about 29.8 kg/day, which should be 40 kg green fodder per animal per day.( Annonymous,2016) .To improve and stabilize animal production and productivity, availability of nutritive feed and fodder in sufficient quantity is a pre requisite . The single most important constraint in increasing the production and productivity of forage crops is the inadequate availability of quality seed of forage crops, range grasses and pasture legumes to the farmers

Livestock, fodder area and milk status in Punjab (2014-15)

Fodder production and requirement in Punjab (2014-15)

( Source : Department. of Animal Husbandry , Punjab) Sorghum, Bajra and Maize are the important Fodder crops grown during Kharif , while Berseem and Oats occupy major area during winter in Punjab. Some of the Progressive Dairy Farmers are now shifted towards Lucerne and Ryegrass during Winter. Only small number of farmers have also adopted seed production of some selected fodders crops, But the demand of good quality seed is increasing day by day as there is no agency is engaged in seed production. Seed production of forages is a specialized job and need extra attention. So, before taking up a

forage seed production programme, the requirement problems, marketing and future prospects need to be evaluated. Table1: Forage Crops grown in Punjab

A Rabi crops Area ( lac ha) % of total

Berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum) 2.22 64.5

Oats (Avena sativa) 0.98 28.5

Other crops 0.24 7.0

Lucerne (Medicago sativa)

Shaftal (Trifolium resupinatum

Ryegrass ( Lolium perenne)

Sub-total 3.44 40.0

(B) Kharif crops

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) 2.64 51.1

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) 1.44 27.8

Maize (Zea mays) 0.73 14.1

Other crops 0.36 7.0

Guinea grass (Panicum maxicum)

Napier-bajra hybrid

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata)

Guara (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba

Sub-total 5.17 60.0

(C) Total Area 8.61

Table 2: Seed requirement of fodder crops

Kharif crops Rabi crops Crop Area (ha) Seed

required (q) Crop Area (ha) Seed required

(q) Sorghum 264202 132101 Berseem 222051 55513

Bajra 143933 28787 Oats 97740 78192 Maize 72623 58098 Lucerne 1875 375 Teosinte 7482 2993 Shaftal 1121 224 Guinea grass 3153 473 Senji 1277 192 Guara 9001 4500 Ryegrass 2127 213 Cowpea 212 42 Metha 1092 328

Sub – total 516664 226994 Sub – total 344551 135036 Grand total 861215 362030

Constraints in forage seed production Most of the cultivated fodders crops, range grasses and pasture legumes are shy seeders with low seed production ability because of certain genetical, physiological, environmental and organizational factors.( Dahiya and Kharb,2003 ; Prasad and Singh,2011). The constraints/

problems associated with fodders seed production are briefly given below: Low seed production potential There are substantial differences in seed producing ability among forages and grasses. The seed yield varies from place to place and year to year. For example, the seed yield of forage sorghum ranged between 4-19 q/ha over locations and years in coordinated seed multiplication trials. In case of cultivated fodder crops (Singh and Hazre,1995) :

Very poor seed setting and low seed production ability of most of the varieties because of continued emphasis on breeding for vegetative growth potential led them to become low seed producers.

Many of the forage species are of indeterminate growth habit. The vegetative phases go simultaneously resulting in poor seed setting.

Poor translocation mechanisms of photosynthates from vegetative to reproductive structures.

Non synchronization of flowering, prolonged flower drop and uneven maturity. Pod/seed shattering (e.g. teosinte) and lodging of seed crop. Improper management of monetary and non monetary inputs especially in multi-cut

forage crops. Low insect activity during hot summer months results in low seed productivity in

entomophilous allogamous legumes species (Lucerne, berseem). Preferential use of low capability marginal lands and rainfed conditions for raising most

of the forage crops. In case of range grasses and pasture legumes: The organized seed production in range grasses and legumes is rather much more problematic than cultivated fodder crops due to the following reasons :

They have the tendency of non synchronized flowering within populations ( Cowpea, sitaro, stylos) and within a panicle ( Cenchrus spp.). Defoliation, adjusting irrigation and fertilizer applications are essential to achieve synchronized flowering.

Slow pod formation and maturity in pasture legumes.

Prolonged head emergence and uneven maturity in range grasses.

Many of the forage grasses are higher polyploids coupled with apomixes e.g. Cenchrus, Panicum,Poa, etc. Both obligate and facultative apomixis exists in grasses.

Pod dehiscence, seed shedding and shattering( Siratro, stylos) cause heavy loss during harvesting and result in low quality seeds.

Poor sink formation. the realization of sink is only 10-20 percent in grasses as against 75 percent in cereals.

Greater proportion of blank seeds( about 30%) is also a problem of grasses which not only adversely affects the seed yield but also reduces the germination by 20-30 percent.

Lodging of seed crop adversely affects seed yield as well as seed quality.

High cost involved in collection of seeds .In most of range grasses, there is a common problem of seed collection because of non synchronized flowering, maturity and severe seed shedding.

Lack of information on management practices and seed quality.

Protocols of seed certification and seed quality for majority of native grasses have also so far not been worked out.

Lack of extension machinery: No single government agency owns the responsibility for popularizing improved forage production technology amongst farming community. the seed production programme is often taken up in a casual manner . Less Interest in production of fodder Seeds: Majority of Farmers of Punjab give least priority to forage crops due to their overdependence on paddy- wheat system. They do not take required interest in the production of fodder seeds and harvest the crops before seed setting to feed animals. This is because of:

Problem of low and uncertain market demand and unorganized marketing system of forage seeds.

Seed setting is also erratic and low due to prevailing adverse weather conditions during flowering, seed feeling and maturity.

The improved varieties have not reached due to non –availability of seed materials.

For most of the forage crops, the multiplication ratio is very narrow and is often not remunerative to the producing agency who in turn tries to avoid to produce seed. With the result viable seed producing agencies are lacking for these crops.( Table 3)

Table3: Multiplication ratio of important fodder crops

Crops Seed yield (kg/ha) Seed rate (kg/ha) Multiplication ratio

Berseem 500-750 25.0 20-30

Lucerne 200 20.0 10.0

Oats 1750-2000 62.5 16.0

Maize 2000 75.0 27.0

Sorghum 1000 62.5 16.0

Bajra 2500 20.0 125

Important tips for the Seed Production of Forage Crops Berseem

A successful crop of berseem for seed production can be sown in end November after the harvest of basmati rice. It provides three cuttings of green fodder leaving the crop for seed production.

Berseem seed fields shall be isolated from the contaminants ( other varieties and also from same variety, which is not pure, shown in the Table 9 below by the distances specified

Land to be used for seed production of berseem shall be free of volunteer plants.

It provides three cuttings of green fodder leaving the crop for seed production.

Apply restricted irrigations, but irrigation at flowering and seed setting stage is very important.

Helicoverpa armigera ( Gram caterpillar) attacks the seed crops during April-May. Spray 50 ml of Chlorantriniliprole 18.5SL or 200ml Indoxacarb 15.8 EC or 60ml Tracer

(spinosad 48SC)/acre with the help of a manually operated knapsack sprayer using 80-100 litres of water at the initiation of flowers.

Spray in the evening when the insect pollinators are scanty in the field.

Avoid raising of berseem seed crop adjoining to tomato, gram, late sown wheat, sathi moong,sathe mash and sunflower on which the pest multiplies and later shifts to berseem. ( Table 4)

The average seed yield is about 5 q/ha.The seed yield of berseem mainly depends upon the time of last cut for green fodder and leaving it for seed production.

The decision varies with the variety, type of soil and climate. The last cutting should be relatively early in low humidity and late in high humidity areas.

The optimum time of leaving the crop production is the first fortnight of April for BL1 and second fortnight of April for BL10 varieties of berseem. Variety BL42 should be left for seed production by 10th April.

Shaftal, Kashni, and other weeds should be completely removed from the seed crop. There should be no objectionable weed plant like Chicory (Kasni) Chicorium intybus L. in case of foundation seed, but they can be permitted upto 0.05% in case of certified seed.

A minimum of two inspections shall be made from the time crop approaches flowering until it is ready for harvesting.

Table 4: Effect of adjoining crops on seed yield of berseem

Adjoining crops Larvae damage Seed yield (q/ha)

No. (%)

Gram 8.73 41.5 1.20

Tomato 10.12 55.4 1.09

Late wheat 9.08 37.1 1.68

Sathi moong 9.90 82.0 0.29

Sathe mash 8.10 74.0 0.33

Berseem 3.87 22.0 1.85

Stem rot (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) Cultural control :

Take seed from disease free crop and field

Apply less irrigations in winter

Harvest the crop at regular intervals for fodder

Do not sow berseem in badly infested fields for 3-4 years Chemical control: Spray Bavistin 50 WP (Carbendazim) @ 1.0 kg in 500 liters of water per hectare immediately after first cutting in heavily infested fields. Oats

The Sowing time of oats( OL10, OL9 and Kent) for seed production is second fortnight of November

Oats seed fields shall be isolated from the contaminants ( other varieties and also from same variety, which is not pure, shown in the Table 9 below by the distances specified

Seed rate : 50 kg/ha and row spacing : 25 cm

Seed yield: 20 q/ha

Fodder crop sown before 15th November may be left for seed after taking fodder at 65-70 DAS

After sprouting, apply 20 kg Nitrogen/ha

Seed yield: 15 q/ha

Fodder yield: 250 q/ha Rye grass (Lolium perenne L.)

Land used for seed production shall be free from volunteered plants.

An area must not have grown any other Ryegrass during the previous two seasons ( Oregan seed certification service, 2007)

Maintain an isolation distance of 200 m. from another ryegrass variety.

Seed crop can be sown up to end November and the recommended variety is PBRG1

Seed rate for seed crop: 5 – 7.5 kg/ha

Apply restricted irrigations to prevent lodging ( Table 6)

Apply less nitrogen fertilizer to prevent lodging

Take Last cutting of fodder in Mid March ( Table 5)

Areas are to be inspected once at flowering. ( Alberta Agriculture,2004)

Harvest when 3/4th of the seed matures

Average seed yield : 5 – 7.5 q/ha Table 5 : Time of last cut in ryegrass

Time of last cut Seed yield (q/ha)

March 7 6.03

March 14 6.43

March 21 4.78

Table 6: Nitrogen application to ryegrass seed crop

Urea (kg/ha) Seed yield (q/ha) No urea 7.80 55 10.25 82.5 12.30 110 11.67 137.5 11.05

165 8.17 Maize

The Sowing time of maize variety J 1006 for seed production is Last week of May to end June

Maize seed fields shall be isolated from the contaminants ( other varieties and also from same variety, which is not pure, shown in the Table 9 below by the distances specified

Land to be used for seed production of maize composites, synthetics and open-pollinated varieties shall be free of volunteer plants.

Seed rate: 20 kg/ha

Distance between rows and plants : 50 x22 cm

Apply fertilizers 125 kg N + 60 kg P2O5 + 30 kg K2O/ha

A minimum of two inspections shall be made in such a way that one is done before flowering and the remaining three during flowering.

Shelling of the seed ears is to be done after obtaining approval from the Certification Agency.

Seed yield: 15-20 q/ha. Sorghum (varieties)

The land used for seed production of forage sorghum including sudan grass shall be free from volunteered plants

Maintain an isolation distance from other varieties , same variety ( not pure) (Table 9), also from Johnson grass (Baru) (Sorghum halepense (L.) (Pers.) and other grassy Sorghum spp. ( 400 m both for foundation and certified seed ) ( Gupta, 1999)

The Sowing time of Sorghum variety SL44 for seed production is Last week of June

The seed rate should be 15-20 kg/ha

Distance between rows : 30 cm

Apply fertilizers 87.5 kg N + 20 kg P2O5 + 25 kg K2O/ha

Seed yield : 10-12 q/ha.

Seed fields should be thoroughly rouged to remove plants infected by Sugary disease (Sphacelia sorghi Mc Rae)/Ergot (Claviceps spp.) so that the prescribed seed standards are met at seed stage. However, the seed fields shall not be rejected on account of the presence of sugary/ergot infected heads.

Shoot fly and stem borer insects : Two peak periods of infestations of shootfly . The crop sown from early June to second week of July escapes its attack .Spray 250ml. Malathion 50Ec or 100g of carbaryl (sevin 50wp) in 50 litres of water per acre. First spray at four leaf stage followed by second spray after one week. For the control of stem borer in Maize and also in sorghum, Spray the crop 2-3 weeks after sowing or as soon as borer injury to the leaves is noticed using 60 litres water per acre with any of the following insecticides: 40ml Sumicidin20 EC ( fenvalerate), 40ml Ripcord 10EC ( cypermethrin), 80ml Decis 2.8 EC ( deltamethrin) , 100g Sevin 50WP (carbaryl).

A minimum of three field inspections shall be made (i) before flowering (ii) at flowering ( iii) at maturity.

Sorghum hybrid Two released Sudax hybrids along with theirParental lines are as follows:

PSC 1 : 2077 A x SGL 87 PSC 4 : 94012 A x SGL 87

Sowing time : Last week of June

Maintain an isolation distance of 300 m. for foundation seed and 200 m. for certified seed.

Seed rate: 7.5 kg/ha of male & 10 kg/ha of female lines

Sow male and female lines in the ratio of 2:4

Distance between rows : 50 cm

Apply fertilizers 87.5 kg N + 20 kg P2O5 + 25 kg K2O/ha

Seed yield : 10-12 q/ha Bajra (Pearl millet)

The Sowing time of Bajra varieties FBC16 ,PCB164 and hybrid PHBF1 for seed production is last week of July with a seed rate : 4 kg/ha

Maintain an isolation distance of 200 mt. and minimum seed certification standards (Table 7 and 9) should be followed.

Land to be used for seed production of pearl millet shall be free of volunteer plants.

Row to Row and plant to plant distance : 50 x 15 cm

Apply fertilizers 100 kg N + 60 kg P2O5 /ha

Seed yield : 25 - 30 q/ha

For the control of Ergot (Claviceps fusiformis) disease, dip the seed in 10 % salt solution to remove the sclerotia followed by washing in ordinary water and dry the seed.Spray Ziram (Cuman L 27%) using 1.25 kg in 250 lit of water per hectare at boot stage. Repeat 2 or 3 times at 5 day intervals.

Table 7: Maximum limit of diseases at final inspection Bajra

Contaminants/factor Foundation seed

Certified Seed

Plants infected by downy mildew 0.05 0.10

Ear heads with grain smut 0.05 0.10

Ear head with Ergot 0.02 0.04

A minimum of three inspections shall be made as follows:

(1) the first inspection shall be made before flowering preferably within 30 days after planting to determine isolation, volunteer plants, off-types, downy mildew incidence and other relevant factors;

(2) the second inspections shall be made during 50% flowering to check isolation, off-types, downy mildew/green ear (Sclerospora graminicola (Sacc.) Schroet) and other relevant factors;

(3) the third inspection shall be made at maturity and prior to harvesting and in order to determine the incidence of downy mildew/green ear disease, ergot, grain smut and to verify true nature of plant and other relevant factors.

Cowpea

The Sowing time of cowpea for seed production is Last week of July to first week of August

Cowpea seed fields shall be isolated from the contaminants by the distances specified shown in the Table 10 .

Land to be used for seed production of cowpea shall be free of volunteer plants.

Seed rate: 40 kg/ha for Cowpea 88 and 20 kg/ha of CL 367

Distance between rows : 30 cm

18.75 kg N + 55 kg P2O5/ha

Seed yield : 11- 12 q/ha

A minimum of two inspections shall be made, the first before flowering and the second at flowering and fruit stage.

Guar (Cluster bean)

Land to be used for seed production of cluster bean shall be free of volunteer plants.

Cluster bean seed fields shall be isolated from the contaminants by the distances specified shown in the Table 10.

Sow guar varieties G 80 ( fodder purpose), AG 112 ( dual purpose), and HG 365 ( grain purpose) in the first fortnight of July under irrigated and high fertility conditions. The crop under rainfed and low fertility soil conditions should be sown with the onset of rains.

Irrigated crop may be sown using kera method but the rainfed crop should be sown by pora method in rows 45cm apart.

Use 20-25 kg seed/ha. Drill 20 kg N and 47.5 kg P /ha before sowing in irrigated conditions

Spray Stomp 30 EC ( Pendimethalin) @ 750 ml/acre in 200 litres of water within 24 hrs. of sowing.

Two or three sprays of 250-450 ml Malathion 50 EC in 100 litres of water at fortnightly interval can be effective for the control of Jassids.

A minimum of two inspections shall be made, the first before flowering, the second at flowering and fruit stage.

Average seed yield of 18-20 q/ha can be obtained. Mode of pollination: The process by which pollen grain are transferred from anthers to stigma is referred to as pollination. The study of mode of pollination of fodder crops is very important for the maintenance of genetic purity of seeds. All other important steps of seed production like maintenance of isolation distance, rouging ( removal of off types) and inspections at different stages of seed crop depend upon mode of pollination of crops. Table 8: Mode of Pollination of fodder Crops

Crop Pollination

Berseem Normally cross pollinated, naturally self pollination also occur

Lucerne Normally cross pollinated by insects

Oats Self pollinated with little out crossing by insect

Ryegrass Normally cross pollinated by wind

Maize Normally cross pollinated by wind

Sorghum Often cross pollinated

Bajra Normally cross pollinated

Guinea grass Normally cross pollinated

Cowpea Self pollinated

Guara Self pollinated

Table 9: Indian Minimum Seed Certification Standards of Major fodder crops

Standard Berseem Oats Maize Sorghum Bajra

FS CS FS CS FS CS FS CS FS CS

Field Standard

Isolation distance (mt)

400 100 3 3 400 400 200 200 400 200

Off-types permitted

0.2 1.0 0.05 0.20 - - 0.10 0.20 0.05 0.10

Seed Standards

Pure seed (%)

98 98 98 98 98 98 98 98 98 97

Inert matter(%)

2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2 2 2 2 2 2

Other crop seeds(max/kg)

10 20 10 20 5 10 5 10 10 20

Weed Seeds ( max./kg)

5 10 10 20 None

None

5 10 10 20

Germination %

80 80 85 85 90 90 75 75 75 75

Moisture content (%)

10 10 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12

Isolation distance: Isolation refers to the separation of the field of a variety from that of another variety of the same crop to avoid contamination. Proper isolation distance should be maintained to avoid contamination through natural crossing. The isolation distance differs from crop to crop for the production of foundation and certified seeds Germination: The germination should be as per the standards fixed by the national seed corporation for different crops. The minimum germination percentage differ from crop to crop. Table 10: Minimum isolation distance (in meters) of fodder crops

Crop Isolation distance (m) Germination (min. %)

FS CS FS CS

Lucerne 400 100 80 80

Shaftal 200 100 80 80

Senji 50 25 65 65

Metha 10 5 98 98

Guinea grass 20 10 80 80

Cowpea 10 5 98 98

Guar 10 5 70 70

Suggested Readings: Indian Minimum Seed Certification Standards (2013).The Central Seed Certification Board

Department of Agriculture & Co-operation Ministry of Agriculture Government of India New Delhi.

Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, (2004). Perennial ryegrass seed production in western Canada. http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/ $departmetn/deptdocs.nsf/all/ agdex8345.

Anonymous (2012). Forage Crops and Grasses. Handbook of Agriculture 6th edition. ICAR, New Delhi.

Anonymous (2016) Fodders.Package of Practices for crops of Punjab.Kharif 2016. Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana

Dahia, B.S and R P.S Kharb (2003) Fodder seed Production – Constraints and Strategies. Forage Research 29 (1): 10-17.

Gupta, S .C. (1999).Seed production procedures in sorghum and pearl millet. Information Bulletin no.58, ICRISAT, Patancheru,502324( A.P) pp.2-11.

Hegde,N.G (2006). Livestock Development for sustainable livelihood of small farmers, CLMA. Souvenir:50-63.

Indian minimum seed certification standards (2013) The Central Seed Certification Board, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, New Delhi 2013.

Oregon Seed Certification Service (2007). Oregon Certification Activity Summary 2007. http://www.oscs.orst.edu/publications/2007%20Activity%20Summary.pdf

Singh,R.P and C.R. Hazre (1995) Forage seed production- Perspectives and Strategies . In. Hazre, C R and Misri,B ( Eds.) New vistas in Forage production, AICRP (Forage crops) IGFRI, Jhansi ( India).