Academic Department
AICRP on Forage Crops, AAU, Jorhat
Constituent Department under Directorate of Research(Agri)
AICRP on Forage Crops and Utilization
The AAU, Jorhat centre of All
India Co-ordinated Project for Research on Forage Crops was established in the
year 1970. With the inception of this centre
the all India coordinated research on forage crops has been initiated at the
Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat. The research programme at the center encompasses
two disciplines viz. Plant Breeding and Agronomy. The mandate crops are Rice bean (Kharif Season) and Lathyrus (Rabi season).
Strategy
§ Evolving short duration nutritious fodder varieties to fit in food fodder cropping systems.
§ Forage varieties tolerant to abiotic stresses (saline, alkaline and drought situation) for better adoption of forage production technology.
§ Fodder varieties will high yield and better quality.
§ Forage based cropping system under irrigated condition-For improving balanced nutrition inclusion of perennial legumes.
§ Design of Grassland and pasture management /silvi- horti pastoral systems for
Mandate
· To coordinate multi-location testing programme at the national level with a view to identify appropriate varieties and production technologies for different agro-ecological conditions.
· To coordinate and monitor research related to problems of national and regional importance.
· To conduct strategic and applied research for boosting production and productivity of forages (arable, rainfed and irrigated forage crops, range grasses and legumes).
· To function as a major service centre for exchange of scientific information and research materials related to forages.
Objectives
· Exploration, collection and conservation of germplasm of forage crops and range species.
· Development of improved varieties / hybrids of forage crops and range species for increased livestock production.
· Development of region specific appropriate forage production and protection technologies and forage utilization through multidisciplinary approach for different cropping systems, rangelands and problem soils.
· Development of appropriate technology for seed production of forages.
· Transfer of technology.
· Scope of popularizing and research on non-conventional underutilized fodder crops/trees.
Major Research Programmes
· Exploration, collection, creation of variability through biotechnological means and other pre-breeding activities with aim to broaden genetic base in forage species.
· Development of varieties of key forage crops and also species having potential for multi-cut, and dual purpose types with acceptable quality.
· Development of appropriate forage production and protection technologies in system perspective for intensive agriculture and intercropping systems.
· Forage crop popularization through HRD and field demonstrations in different agro-climatic regions.
· Provide back up for quality forage seed availability through production of nucleus and breeder seed.
Department Faculty Members
2 FacultyAssociated Faculty
Department Achievements & Accolades
5 Records1. Name of crop: Ricebean.
Name of variety: Shyamalima .
Year of release: 2011.
Salient features of the variety : Drought tolerant, cold tolerant,low fertilizer responsive, suitable for any type of soil, suitable for sowing in any time except the months from December to January.
Average yields under normal condition: 300-315q/ha ( Green forage yield)
55-60mq/ha ( Dry matter yield)
Crude protein: 18%
2. Name of crop: Lathyrus.
Name of variety: Madhuri.
Year of release: 2016.
Salient features of the variety : Tolerant to drought and cold .Fits in relay crop
Green forage yield: 250-280q/haÂ
Dry matter yield: 45-50mq/haÂ
Crude protein: 15.5-16.7%
Crude fiber: 24.6-28.00%
Ash : 2.3%
1. Following Fodder production technologies have been developed recommended for cultivation for farmers of Assam.
· Production technologies of major forage crops of the state of Assam has been developed. Among annual forage crops Package of Practices (POP) for Maize Teosinte, Coix, Oat, Lathyrus, Cowpea and Ricebean have been developed. Among perennial grasses POP for Hybrid Napier, Setaria, Guinea, Para and Congosignal grass has been developed.
· Fodder nursery technique for quick multiplication and availability of perennial fodder has been developed.
· Seed production technology for different annual forage crops of the state has been developed.
· Year round forage production system for un interrupted supply of green nutritious fodder .
· Suitable forage based and food - forage cropping system fertilizing non 9. competitive/fallow land.
· Production potentiality of perennial grasses under Silvipastoral system have been
developed.
· Production technology for dual type rice has been developed
· Fertilizer economy through integrated nutrient management in oat , hybrid napier and setaria has been evolved
· Fertilizer management in non-conventional forage crops like Coix and teosinte has been developed.
· Nutrient management in Dual purpose oat
II. Component Agronomic Technologies are also developed some of which are enlisted below
Cultural Management
· Stubble shaving at ground level to old stand of setaria along with intercultural operation at every cut ib productive that other practices
· Planting of setaria from March with the onset of monsoon to the month of May was found to be better that later dates of planting.
Fertility Management
· In Coix KCA-3 recorded the highest GFY and increased application of N resulted in increase in production of GFY.
· In teosinte JHT-04-1 out yielded all the entries tested and increased level on N from 30-90kg N/ha resulted in increasing trend in respect of green forage production.
· In cowpea Bundel lobia-1 recorded the highest yield of green forage with the application of 60kg P2O5/ha.
· In ricebean variety K-I recorded the highest GFY with the application of 60kg P2O5/ha.
Management of acid soil
· Application of lime + recommended dose of P and K +VAM to both rabi and Kharif crop recorded the highest green forage yield in ricebean-oat sequence under upland condition.
Integrated nutrient Management
Integrated nutrient management in rice- oat + lathyrus cropping system was found to be productive. Application of 25% of recommended dose of fertilizer+ 50% N through FYM+ green manure crop recorded the highest rice equivalent yield. Application of both organic and inorganic source of nutrient also improved the soil chemical properties
 Cropping System
Research programme of intensive cropping for increased production of forage crops has been carried out and has resulted in the development of following production system.
· Production of Guinea grass, Setaria and Congosignal grasses under shaded condition of tree which is a suitable technology for Homestead Agro forestry system
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· Intensive Food-Forage Cropping system suitable in respect of productivity and profitability has been evolved.
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· Forage based intercropping cropping systems in relation to acid soil management has also been developed.
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· Forage production under rice based cropping systems have been evolve to meet the green forage requirement during lean period
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A. Sequential cropping
2. Food/Forage cropping Medium land situation
B. Mixed/Intercroppinga. Mixed cropping for forage crop
b. Food/ Forage Mixture (Upland situation)
1.  Intensive cropping for forage production
| Summer and for kharif (March/April-Nov) | Rabi (Nov.-Mar) |
| Cowpea-Teosinte/Maize/Dinanath | Oats |
| Cowpea/Ricebean - Cowpea/Ricebean | Oats/Maize |
| Maize + Cowpea – Teosinte/Maize + Cowpea | Oats/Maize |
| Maize + Cowpea – Dinanath | Oats |
| Summer (March/April-May/Nov) | Kharif (June/July-Nov.) | Rabi (Nov. – Mar) |
| Upland : | Â | Â |
| Rice (direct seeded) | Cowpea/Ricebean | Oats/Maize |
| Medium land : | Â | Â |
| Â | Rice | Oats |
| Cowpea/Ricebean | Rice | Oats |
| Rice + Cowpea | Rice | Oats |
| Summer | Kharif | Rabi |
| Maize + Cowpea | Maize + Cowpea | Oats + Khesari |
| Teosinte + cowpea | Sorghum + Cowpea | Oats + Pea |
| Summer | Kharif | Rabi |
| Rice + Cowpea (F) | Maize/Teosinte + Cowpea | Oats + Pea |
| Rice + Ricebean (F) | Maize/Teosinte + Cowpea | Rapeseed/Niger + Oats |
| Name of the species cultivated | CP | EE | CF | NFE | Ash | DCP DCP | TDN | ME(Meal/ka) |
| Cereal Forage | ||||||||
| Maize | 7.2 | 1.8 | 30.8 | 51.6 | 8.6 | 4.2 | 67.8 | 2.5 |
| Oat | 10.8 | 1.8 | 31.0 | 45.9 | 10.4 | 7.7 | 72.0 | 2.6 |
| Sorghum | 7.6 | 1.9 | 30.7 | 50.4 | 9.4 | 3.4 | 56.3 | 2.02 |
| Gunea | 7.9 | 1.2 | 38.4 | 37.0 | 15.5 | 5.8 | 65.1 | 2.34 |
| Hybrid Napier | 8.7 | 1.6 | 26.9 | 44.8 | 17.5 | 4.8 | 59.0 | 2.12 |
| Para | 12.0 | 2.9 | 28.2 | 45.9 | 11.2 | 7.9 | 56.2 | 2.02 |
| Teosinte | 4.5 | 1.2 | 32.2 | 51.3 | 10.8 | - | - | - |
| Legume forage | ||||||||
| Cowpea | 18.2 | 2.6 | 25.3 | 39.6 | 14.2 | - | - | - |
| Ricebean | 16.5 | 2.2 | 26.5 | 38.9 | 15.8 | - | - | - |
| Pea | 16.7 | 2.4 | 22.6 | 54.4 | 3.9 | 8.0 | 72.9 | 2.6 |
| Indigenous grasses/species | ||||||||
| Cereal | ||||||||
| Lursia hexenda(Erati | 7.34 | 1.25 | 22.46 | 52.11 | 16.84 | - | - | - |
| Seteria palmifolia(Aruna) | 14.65 | 3.67 | 19.25 | 51.81 | 10.62 | - | - | - |
| Crop | Germplasm holdings |
| A Grasses | Â |
| Perrinial | Â |
| Elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) | 2 |
| Para (Bachiaria mutica) | 1 |
| Bothriochloa (Brthriochloa spp) | 1 |
| Broom grass (Thysanolena maxima) | 3 |
| Congosignal grass (Brachiaria ruziziensis) | 1 |
| Aruna grass(Seteria palmifolia) | 3 |
| Vetiver(Chrysopogon zizanioides) | 3 |
| Lemon grass(Cymbopogon citrates) | 1 |
| Dal grass | 3 |
| Annual | Â |
| Teosinte (Euchlena maxima) | 1 |
| Maize ( Zea mays) | 20 |
| Coix (Coix lachryma) | 1 |
| B.Legume | Â |
| Ricebean (Vigna umbelleta) | 71 |
| Clitoria (Clitoria tarnacea) | 3 |
| Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) | 12 |
| Lathyrus ( Lathyrus sativus) | 25 |
| C. Tree fodder | Â |
| Kanchan ( Bauhinia variagata) | 2 |
| Dimoru (Ficus glomerata) | 1 |
| Morolia (Mallotus albus) | 1 |
| Soura (Grewia sapida) | 1 |
| Mango (Mangifera indica) | 1 |
| Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) | 1 |
| Subabul(Leucaena leucocephala) | 1 |
| Mulberry ( morus spp) | 2 |
| Soalu (Litsaea polyantha) | 1 |
| Neem(Azadirachta indica) | 1 |
| Total | 163 |
Research & Extension Projects
2 Total Projects
Completed Projects (2)