Hedge Lucerne or Dashrath Grass

Other Names

Velimasal/ Desmanthus Virgatus

Seed Rate

7-8 Kg /acre or 20 kg/ ha

Germination time

10 Days

Growing period

It is cultivated throughout the year under irrigated conditions. During monsoon under rainfed condition.

Sowing Method

Plough 2 to 3 times to obtain a good tilth and form ridges and furrows 50 cm apart.

Spacing is 50×25 cm & form ridge and furrow type field preparation (should maintain like ridge to ridge 50 cm and plant to plant 25 cm)             

Pre-sowing Seed Treatment:

1.     Acid scarification with conc. sulphuric acid @ 200 ml kg-1 of seed for 15 minutes 

     OR

2.    To have better germination, seeds must be treated in hot water at 80 degree C for 10 minutes. Then seeds should be soaked in normal water over night (12 hours). Seeds should be dried for an hour in shade before sowing.

Soil Requirement

Comes up in all types of soils.

Irrigation

Irrigate immediately after sowing, life irrigation on the third day and thereafter once in a week.

Harvesting for fodder

First cut on 85-90th day after sowing at 50-60 cm height and subsequent cuts at interval of 35-40 days at the same height.

Uses

It is good green fodder to goat, cow, sheep, rabbit & poultry.

Increase the weight gain and improves productivity of milk yield.

Features

It is perennial multi-cut green fodder crop & lasts for 3-3.5 years. Hedge lucerne is very adaptive and can grow under a wide range of temperatures (including frost conditions) and rainfall conditions.