Posted in Crop Master, Fodder Farming

Berseem Fodder

Berseem Fodder

🌱 Berseem Green Fodder | Berseem Grass Farming Guide

Berseem green fodder is one of the most important fodder crops for livestock farmers in India. It is often called the “King of Fodder” because it provides highly nutritious, tasty, and easy-to-digest feed for animals. If a farmer has proper irrigation facilities, then Berseem farming is one of the best options to increase milk production and improve the health of livestock.

Berseem is a leguminous fodder crop that contains about 18 to 28 percent crude protein and nearly 70 percent digestible dry matter. Because of this, it is considered one of the best fodder crops for milk-producing animals like cows, buffaloes, and goats.

In India, Berseem seeds were first brought from Egypt in 1904. Today, this crop is widely grown in many states such as Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh.

One of the biggest advantages of Berseem cultivation is that after sowing once, farmers can harvest green fodder many times during the entire Rabi season. It also improves soil fertility because it is a legume crop that performs nitrogen fixation in the soil.

If farmers grow Berseem using the right techniques, suitable varieties, and proper care, they can get a very high quantity of green fodder per acre and significantly reduce the cost of livestock feeding.

Now below we will understand complete information about Berseem green fodder farming in detail.

1. 🌿 Crop Introduction

Berseem is a multi-cut fodder crop that is mainly grown during the Rabi season. It is a fast-growing crop and provides high-quality green fodder for livestock.

Main Features

  • Berseem flowers are generally yellow or white in color.
  • This crop is usually sown between September and December.
  • After one sowing, farmers can get 4 to 6 cuttings of green fodder.
  • This crop helps in improving soil fertility.
  • It can be mixed with oats, rye grass, or maize to make silage and preserved fodder.
  • Many farmers also earn additional income by combining Berseem cultivation with livestock farming.

2. 🐄 Health Benefits and Uses of Berseem

Berseem fodder is highly nutritious for animals and plays an important role in increasing milk production.

Main Benefits

Increases Milk Production

Berseem is considered a milk-enhancing fodder, which helps cows and buffaloes produce more milk.

Easy to Digest

It is a soft and juicy fodder that animals can digest easily.

Rich in Protein

It contains about 18 to 28 percent protein.

Availability of Minerals

It contains calcium, phosphorus, and other essential minerals.

Improves Animal Health

It helps in improving the immunity of livestock.

Uses

  • As green fodder
  • For making silage
  • For preparing dry fodder
  • In mixed animal feed

3. 🔬 Scientific Classification

The scientific name of Berseem green fodder is Trifolium alexandrinum. It belongs to the legume crop category and has the ability to fix nitrogen in the soil. The scientific classification of Berseem is given below in table format.

Classification LevelDescription
KingdomPlantae
DivisionMagnoliophyta
ClassMagnoliopsida
OrderFabales
FamilyFabaceae
GenusTrifolium
SpeciesTrifolium alexandrinum
Common NameBerseem Green Fodder
English NameBerseem Grass

Important Information

  • Berseem is an annual leguminous fodder crop.
  • It is mainly used as green fodder for livestock.
  • It improves soil fertility by fixing nitrogen in the soil.
  • This crop is especially grown during the Rabi season.

4. 🌦 Climate and Temperature

For good production of Berseem, cool and moist climate is considered most suitable.

Temperature

Sowing Temperature

  • 25 to 27 degree Celsius

Suitable Growth Temperature

  • 15 to 27 degree Celsius

Harvesting Temperature

  • 15 to 20 degree Celsius

Rainfall

  • 550 to 750 mm rainfall is considered suitable.

5. 🌱 Soil Requirement

Berseem farming can be done in many types of soils, but for good production some specific soils are considered better.

Suitable Soil

  • Loamy soil
  • Clay loam soil
  • Medium to heavy soil

Soil pH

  • 6.5 to 8.0 is considered best.

Soil Characteristics

  • Proper drainage should be available
  • Soil should contain sufficient organic matter
  • Soil should be fertile

Berseem also improves soil fertility because it performs nitrogen fixation in the soil.

6. 🌾 Seeds and Varieties

For good yield of Berseem, selecting improved varieties is very important.

Major Varieties

BL 1

  • Early growing variety
  • Yield about 380 quintal per acre

BL 10

  • Provides green fodder for a long time
  • Yield about 410 quintal per acre

BL 42

  • Fast growing variety
  • Yield about 440 quintal per acre

BL 43

  • High tillering variety
  • Yield about 390 quintal per acre

BL 44

  • High nutritional quality variety
  • Yield about 395 quintal per acre

Mescavi

  • Variety brought from Egypt
  • Plants are bushy

Bundel Berseem 2

  • Yield about 360 to 400 quintal per acre

Bundel Berseem 3

  • Variety with high regeneration capacity

Wardan

  • Yield about 250 to 280 quintal per acre

7. 🌱 Seed Rate

In Berseem farming, the correct seed rate is very important.

Seed Quantity

Per Acre

  • 8 to 10 kilograms

Additional Mixing

  • For better fodder, 750 grams mustard seeds can be mixed.

Seed Treatment

  • Soak the seeds in water
  • Remove floating seeds
  • Treat the seeds with Rhizobium

8. 🚜 Field Preparation

For Berseem farming, the field should be properly leveled.

Method of Preparation

  • Do 2 to 3 ploughings of the field
  • After each ploughing, run a planker (Suhaga)
  • Level the field properly
  • There should be no water stagnation in the field

9. 🌾 Sowing Method

Sowing Time

  • Last week of September
  • First week of October

Sowing Method

  • Sowing is done by the broadcasting method.

Seed Depth

  • 4 to 5 centimeters

Sowing Time

  • Sowing in the evening time is considered better.

10. 🌿 Manure and Fertilizer Management

For good yield, it is necessary to apply proper quantity of fertilizers.

Fertilizer per Acre

Urea

  • 22 kilograms

Single Super Phosphate

  • 185 kilograms

Nutrients

Nitrogen

  • 10 kilograms

Phosphorus

  • 30 kilograms

11. 💧 Irrigation Management

In Berseem farming, irrigation is very important.

First Irrigation

Light Soil

  • After 3 to 5 days

Heavy Soil

  • After 6 to 8 days

Later Irrigation

In Winter

  • At an interval of 10 to 15 days

In Summer

  • At an interval of 8 to 10 days

12. 🌿 Weed Control

In Berseem farming, Poa annua (Bui Berseem) is a major weed.

Control

  • Fluchloralin 400 ml
  • Mix in 200 liters of water
  • Spray per acre

13. 🐛 Pest and Disease Management

Major Pests

  • Grasshopper
  • Whitefly
  • Aphid
  • Leaf miner
  • Thrips

Control

  • Use neem oil
  • Remove infected plants
  • Use insecticides if necessary

14. ⏳ Crop Duration

The Berseem crop generally becomes ready for the first cutting after 50 days.

Cutting Interval

In Winter

  • 40 days

In Spring

  • 30 days

15. 🌾 Harvesting Method

  • First cutting after 50 days
  • Next cuttings after 30 to 40 days
  • Harvest using a sharp sickle

16. 📦 Yield per Acre

Average Yield

  • 350 to 450 quintal green fodder per acre

With Improved Varieties

  • Production up to 450 quintal is possible.

17. 💰 Market Price and Profit

If farmers sell Berseem, they can earn good income.

Average Price of Green Fodder

  • 2 to 4 rupees per kilogram

Income per Acre

  • Approximately
  • 70,000 to 120,000 rupees

Cost

  • Approximately
  • 15,000 to 20,000 rupees

Net Profit

  • 50,000 to 90,000 rupees per acre

18. 📦 Storage

To store Berseem safely for a long time.

Methods

  • Making silage
  • Making dry fodder
  • Using green fodder immediately

19. 🏛 Government Schemes

Farmers can take benefit of many government schemes for Berseem farming.

Major Schemes

  • National Livestock Mission
  • National Agriculture Development Scheme
  • Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi
  • Agricultural Mechanization Scheme

20. ❓ Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the correct time for Berseem cultivation

The last week of September to the first week of October is considered the best time.

2. How much seed is required for Berseem

About 8 to 10 kilograms of seed per acre is sufficient.

3. How many times can Berseem be harvested

From one crop, 4 to 6 cuttings can be taken.

4. How much protein is present in Berseem

About 18 to 28 percent protein is found.

5. In which soil Berseem grows well

It grows well in loamy and medium heavy soil.

6. When should the first cutting be done

The first cutting is done about 50 days after sowing.

7. Which is the best variety of Berseem

BL 42 and BL 44 are considered very good varieties.

8. Can Berseem be grown in dry areas

Yes, it can be grown if irrigation is available.

9. Does Berseem increase milk production

Yes, it is a milk production increasing crop.

10. Does Berseem improve soil fertility

Yes, it improves soil fertility by nitrogen fixation.

🌾 Conclusion

Berseem green fodder is a very beneficial and nutritious fodder crop for livestock farmers. It not only provides high-quality fodder to animals, but also increases milk production and improves soil fertility.

If farmers follow the right sowing time, proper fertilizer management, irrigation, and pest control techniques, then they can get very good yield per acre from Berseem cultivation.

In today’s time, when livestock farming is becoming an important source of income, Berseem green fodder | Berseem Grass cultivation can become a great option for farmers.

This crop provides more green fodder at low cost and makes livestock farming more profitable. 🌱🐄

👉 For more detailed information on fodder farming, click here

kuldeep.kamboj@gmail.com