Introduction to Grasses in Gujarat

Grasses are one of the largest and most valuable groups of flowering plants, consisting of 610 genera and 10,000 species. Grasses are widespread than any other family of flowering plants. The great adaptability of different species has enabled them to thrive under the most varied conditions. Grasses exceed all other in the importance of its products. It provides food in the form of cereals for man and forage for most animals. Many species of native and introduced grasses are utilized in improved pastures.

In Gujarat total area is 188.10 lakh ha, out of which 99.66 lakh ha (52.98%) is net area sown, while 25.52 lakh ha is barren and uncultivable land. 11.71 lakh ha is under non-agricultural used, 19.60 lakh ha is cultivable waste land and 8.51 lakh ha is under permanent pasture and other grazing land. 8.64 lakh ha is under fodder crops. There is less possibility of increasing the area under forage crops due to increasing trend of human population and industries. Therefore the production technology of forage crops suitable to fit in the existing food crops should be developed. The farmers of North Saurashtra growing fodder crops like sorghum, bajara, maize, Napier grass, Marvel grass etc. for their dairy animals. To developed dual purpose varieties of cereals to fit in existing cropping systems for sufficient fodder production is very important. Multicut fodder crop varieties also important for continuous supply of green fodder for livestoke.

Mandate :       
1. To take up multidisciplinary research work in various pasture grasses and forage crops.       
2. To take up multidisciplinary research work on dry farming research on groundnut, cotton, sesemum and bajara.       
3. To take up research work in arid horticultural crops.       
4. To generate information on sustainability of the existing cropping/farming systems.       
5. Evolving appropriate cropping/farming systems for different categories of soil based on land capability classification and their production technology.       
 

Objectives : (Projectwise)       
Project for research in forage (Grasses)       
1. Research in Pasture grasses and legume       
2. Grassland management in relation to grazing system       
3. Soil and moisture conservation       
4. Nutritional aspect of fodder crops       
 

National Agricultural Research Project       
1. Location specific research programme for forage crop       
2. Nutritional aspect of forage crop       
3. Breeding work in forage crop       
4. Agro-Horticultural Research       
5. Silvi-pastural Research       
6. Pathological and Entomological Research Work       
 

Dry farming Research Project       
1. To identify suitable agronomical and water harvesting techniques for maximizing yield potential in prominent dry farming crops viz, groundnut, sorghum, sesamum etc.       
2. To identify suitable crop varieties in prominent dry farming crop of the region.       
3. Major thrust areas of research in groundnut, sesamum and bajara crops.       
4. Pasture grasses and legume and forage crops.       
5. Agro-Horticultural and Silvi-pastural system.       

Research on water shed management :       
1. To identify appropriate soil manipulation technology for in-situ moisture conservation.       
2. To identify local native species for trees, shrubs and pasture grasses and legumes for conservation of moisture.       
3. Evolving appropriate cropping/farming systems for different categories of soil based on land capability classification and their production technology.       
4. To generate information on sustainability of the existing cropping/farming systems.       
 

Faculty Profile :

Research projects and schemes – ongoing

Agro-climatic Information of the Center 

Infrastructure Facility Available

RESEARCH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FARMERS COMMUNITY

I. CROP PRODUCTION  
Effect of nitrogen application on marvel grass  
    The farmers of North Saurashtra Agro-climatic Zone are advised to grow marvel grass with application of 60-30 NP kg/ha (30 kg N as a basal and 30 kg N at 30 DAS) for obtaining economically maximum green biomass and dry matter yield in marginal lands under rainfed condition. (Grassland Research Station, JAU, Dhari)  
Nutrient management through their sources in groundnut  
   The farmers of North Saurashtra Agro-climatic Zone growing groundnut (GG-20) under dryfarming condition in kharif season are advised to apply recommended dose of N and P through DAP and urea with gypsum (18.75 kg S/ha) for getting maximum pod yield and higher net return. (Grassland Research Station, JAU, Dhari)  
Integrated nutrient management in sorghum   
The farmers of North Saurashtra Agro-climatic Zone growing sorghum as fodder crop in kharif are advised to choose sorghum variety GFS-5 and fertilize with 80 kg N/ha (40 kg as basal and 40 kg at 30 DAS) and Azotobacter and Azospirillum bio-fertilizer treatment (5 packets/ha each of 250 g) for getting maximum fodder yield. (Grassland Research Station, JAU, Dhari)  
Integrated nutrient management in anjan Grass   
    The farmers of North Saurashtra Agro-climatic Zone growing Anjan grass in kharif season are advised to apply 20 kg N/ha ( 10 kg as basal and 10 kg at 30 DAS ) along with Azotobacter 5 packets/ha (each of 250 g) for getting economically optimum green and dry matter yield in marginal lands under rainfed condition. (Grassland Research Station, JAU, Dhari)  
Integrated nutrient management in groundnut-wheat crop sequence  
    The farmers of North Saurashtra Agro-climatic Zone adopting groundnut-wheat crop sequence are advised to apply 50 per cent recommended dose of fertilizer (6.25:12.5 kg NP/ ha) + Rhizobium culture (250 g/10 kg seeds) + FYM 10 t/ha to groundnut and recommended dose of fertilizer (120:60:0 kg NPK/ha) to wheat for maximum yield and net return. (Grassland Research Station, JAU, Dhari)  
Soil moisture conservation in hybrid cotton under rainfed condition   
    The farmers of North Saurashtra Agro-climatic Zone growing hybrid cotton-8 in kharif season under dry farming condition are advised to adopt 30 cm deep tillage every year for highest seed cotton yield, net return and moisture conservation. They are also advised to apply FYM @ 10 t/ha for higher yield, net return and moisture conservation. Recommended dose (80:0:0 NPK kg/ha) of fertilizer should be applied to the crop. (Grassland Research Station, JAU, Dhari)             
Effect of nitrogen and bio fertilizer on yield of shaniar grass (Sehima nervosum)   
    The farmers of North Saurastra Agro-climatic Zone growing shaniar grass (kharif)are advised to apply 60 kg N/ha in two equal splits first at 10 days after first rain and second at 30 days after first application for getting higher fodder yield. (Grassland Research Station, JAU, Dhari)  
Effect of phosphorus with and without K2O on yield of anjan grass   
    The farmers of North Saurashtra Agro-climatic Zone growing anjan grass (kharif) are advised to apply 60 kg P2O5/ha as a basal dose along with recommended dose of 20 kg N/ha (10 kg as basal + 10 kg/ha at 30 DAS) for getting higher fodder yield. (Grassland Research Station, JAU, Dhari)  
Effect of potassium and zinc on yield and quality of fodder jowar under rainfed condition  
    The farmers of North Saurashtra Agro-climatic Zone (AES-XIV) growing fodder sorghum (kharif) are advised to apply 40 kg K2O + 20 kg ZnSO4/haalong with recommended dose of fertilizers (80:40 kg NP/ha) for getting higher fodder yield. (Grassland Research Station, JAU, Dhari)  
Study of seed mixture for cultivation of fodder crops under rainfed condition  
   The farmers of North Saurashtra Agro-climatic Zone growing grasses are advised to use seed mixture of Anjan grass (2.66 kg/ha) and Stylosanthes scabra (1.66 kg/ha) for obtaining economical maximum green biomass and dry matter production on marginal lands under rainfed condition. Alternatively instead of S. scabra, Clitoria Sp. (5 kg/ha) can also be used. (Grassland Research Station, JAU, Dhari)  
Pasture legumes in combination of grasses under rainfed condition   
   The farmers of North Saurashtra Agro-climatic Zone growing grasses are advised to grow Clitoria (Clitoria ternatea) with Marvel grass/Zinzvo (Dichanthium annulatum) in 1:2 row ratio for obtaining economically maximum green biomass and dry matter yields under rainfed condition. (Grassland Research Station, JAU, Dhari)

Evaluation of different seed pellets on production of pasture grasses  
     The farmers of North Saurastra Agro-climatic Zone growing anjan grass (kharif) are advised to prepare small balls containing seeds (40,000 balls/ha) using 200 kg soil + 200 kg FYM + 4 kg seeds mixture to get higher germination and fodder yield. (Grassland Research Station, JAU, Dhari)  
Evaluation of multicut fodder sorghum varieties under different levels of nitrogen  
The farmers of North Saurashtra Agro-climatic zone growing fodder crops are advised to grow multicut fodder sorghum variety Mithi Sudan (SSG-59-3) with application of 100 % RDP with nitrogen@40 kg/ha as basal, 40 kg N/ha at 21 days after sowing and 40 kg N/ha at every cut  for obtaining higher green and dry fodder yield and net realization. (Grassland Research Station, JAU, Dhari)

II. PLANT PROTECTION  
Development of low cost protection technology for sorghum shoot fly, Atherigona soccata  
    The farmers of North Saurashtra Agro-climatic Zone growing sorghum for fodder purpose in kharif season are advised to give seed treatment with imidacloprid 70 WS @ 5 g/kg seeds and two sprays of Neem Seed Kernel Extract 5% at 7 and 14 days after germination for the management of shoot fly. (Grass land Research Station, JAU, Dhari)  
Chemical control of thrips (Thrips tabaci L.) in onion through newer insecticides  
    For effective and economical management of thrips in onion, two sprays of spinosad 45 SC 0.009% (2 ml / 10 litre water; 45 g a.i./ha) or chlorfenapyr 10 EC 0.008% (7.5 ml /10 litre water; 37.5 g a.i./ha) or fipronil 5 SC 0.007% (14 ml / 10 litre water; 35 g a.i./ha) at 10 days interval starting from thrips infestation are recommended under North Saurashtra Agro-Climatic Zone.The PHI for spinosad, chlorfenapyr and fipronil is 34 days. (Grassland Research Station, JAU, Dhari)  
Management of sucking pests of kharif groundnut through newer insecticides   
   For effective and economical management of sucking pests in kharif groundnut, two sprays of imidacloprid 17.8 SL 0.005% (2.8 ml/10 litre water; 25 g a.i./ha) or fipronil 5 SC 0.007% (14 ml / 10 litre water; 35 g a.i./ha) or difenthiuron 50 SP 0.05% (10 g/10 litre water; 250 g a.i./ha) at 15 days interval starting from the pest infestation are recommended under North Saurashtra Agro-climatic Zone . The PHI for imidacloprid, fipronil and difenthiuron is 27 days. 24 (Grassland Research Station, JAU, Dhari) 

Publications :

Research Papers Published by the Faculty : 23
Popular Articles useful for Farmers : 7
Number of Pamphlet  : 12

Transfer of Technologies / Extension Activities :
    The technologies developed at this research station is being discriminated to the various extension agencies, N.G.O's, farmers and students in the following ways.
1. Rabi crop Campaigning 2005 was also organized in three villages of each taluka. The scientists of this center transferred new technologies for Rabi crops of this area.
2. Eighth Plan on cereals, Cotton and Pulses Development Training Programmes conducted by Department of Agriculture, Gujarat State were also participated by the scientists of this center and provided new agricultural guidance to trainees.
3. Two NGO/GSFC farmer's meetings also guided by the scientists of this center.
4. Agricultural technology and guidance also given to the farmers by farm visit.
5. Different training programmes were organized by ATMA, Department of Agriculture, State Government and District support centre (DSC) at Grassland Research Station.
6. Through TV, Radio broadcasting, literature, press note, personnel/ spot field diagnosis and letter etc.
7. District level of 69th  van-mahotsav was celebrated at GRS,Dhari during 2018.
Future Outlook :
Targets :
1. Yield enhancement and stability in production of grasses.
2. Research in water shed management.
3. Research in groundnut, sorghum, bajara and chick pea.
Activities:
1. Development of high yielding varieties of pasture grasses
2. Production technology for pasture grasses
3. Seed production programme of groundnut, sesamum and chick pea for farmers
4. Development of  crossing programme in forage pearl millet nursery
Contact :
Dr. A.D. Rathod
Associate Research Scientist (Agronomy)
Grassland Research Station
Junagadh Agricultural University
Dhari- 365 640, Amreli (Gujarat)
E-mail: grsdhari@jau.in