Botanical Name : Heteropogon Contortus |
Introduction |
· Heteropogon Contorts Is Predominant In Whole Of Peninsular India In Rainfall Zones From 300 To 2000 Mm. The Optimum Growth Occurs In Rainfall Zone Of 500–900 Mm. The Suitable Soil Type Is Brown, Dark Gray Gravelly With Well-Drained Soil. |
Botanical Description |
· It Is An Erect Perennial Reaching Height Of 0.5 To 1.5 M. The Stems Are Flattened, Rather Tough, Smooth, And Pale Bluish-Green. Leaves Are Produced Throughout The Length Of The Stem And Are Flat Or Folded, 2–6 Cm Inches Long, About 1 Cm Wide And Rough To The Touch. The Flowering Heads Have Narrow, Crowded Flower Spikes Up To 2 Cm Long. The Spikelets Overlap And Each Fertile One Bears A Conspicuous Red-Brown Awn About 1.5 Cm Long, Made Crooked With Two Bends. The Long-Awned Seeds Are Sharp Pointed Forming Tangled Masses As They Mature. When The Seeds Come In Contact With Moisture, The Hygroscopic Awns And Sharp Barbed Tips Arch And Twist Planting Them Into The Soil. The Species Is Mostly Apomictic, But Sexual Reproduction Has Also Been Known To Occur. |
Cultivation Practice |
· The Grass Can Be Raised By Both Direct Sowing Or By Transplanting. For Direct Sowing Seed Pellets Should Be Prepared. It Is Better To Transplant The Grass. It Is Preferable To Raise Seedlings In Perforated Polythene Bags In June. The Light Soil Should Be Well Mixed With FYM Before Filling In The Polythene Bags. Irrigation Should Be Provided As Per Need. About 30,000 Seedling Bags Are Required For One Hactare. |
· The Area Should Be Cleared Of Bushes And Other Vegetation. With The Advent Of Monsoon, The Land Should Be Prepared By Ploughing. At First A Basal Application Of 10 Cartload Offym Is Required. This Is Followed By Basal Application Of 20 Kg N/Ha And 20 Kg P2O5/Ha. After One Month Of Establishment A Top Dressing With Another 20 Kg N/Ha Is Given. In Subsequent Years, 20 Kg N/Ha And 20 Kg P2O5/ Ha Are Broadcast In Grassland With First Shower Of Rain. The Top Dressing Of N After One Month Growth May Be Done Only Between The Grass Rows. |
· Six Week Old Seedlings From Nursery Bed Are Transplanted Generally In July After First Heavy Shower Of Rains. Spacing Should Be Maintained At Between Rows – 50 Cm, Between Plants 30 Cm. This Would Mean That 33000 Seedlings Of Grass Will Be Required /Ha With 2 Seedlings Planted At Each Spot. |
· In The Year Of Establishment Only One Cutting Is Done In Mid-October. In The Subsequent Years, Two Cuttings Can Be Taken First After 60 Days Growth And Next At 30 To 45 Days Interval Depending Upon The Pattern Of Rainfall Distribution. One More Cutting Is Possible During Growing Season In March Or April. The Cutting Height May Be Taken At 10 Cm From Ground Level. For Effective Seed Collection, Last Cut Should Be Sacrificed. Seeds Generally Mature In November In Peninsular India And 15–20 Days Later In Southern India Depending On Rainfall Distribution. |