BAJRA NAPIER HYBRID

Due to potash deficiency, Bajra or pearl millets is grown for grain as well as for fodder purpose whereas napier or elephant grass is mainly cultivated as forage crop. Napier-bajra is hybridization between bajra and elephant grass. This hybrid increases number of tillers thus yield, quality of forage also minimize risk of becoming weed in case of napier. After plantation, it gives yield continuously upto 2-3 years.

It can be cultivated on various soil but gives best result when grown on heavy soils having high nutrient fertility. It is tolerant to mild salinity. Avoid water logged soils for cultivation of napier bajra hybrid.

Hybrid Napier 3 (Swetika): Tolerant to frost and low temperature. Gives average green fodder yield of 280 qtl/acre.

NB 21: Developed by PAU Ludhiana. Fast growing variety with high tillering capacity.

Other States Variety

CO 3, Pusa Giant Napier, Gajraj, NB-5, NB-6, NB 37 and NB-35

Plough land once by mould board plough and then do harrowing for two times to bring soil to fine tilth. After ploughing, do planking to make soil levelled. Make ridges and furrows at distance of 60cm.

Time of sowing
Sowing can be done from March to September. But for good yield March or start of monsoon period  is optimum period for sowing.

Spacing
Use row to row spacing of 75 cm and plant to plant spacing of 60cm.

Sowing Depth
Stem cutting are sown at depth of 7-8cm in furrow.

Method of sowing
Direct sowing of stem or root slips.

Seed Rate
Seeds of napier bajra are very small so for commercial planting it is propagated vegetative with help of stem cuttings (having two- three nodes) or root slips (approximately 30cm long). For planting one acre use 11,000 slips or stem cuttings.

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

At time of field preparation add well decomposed cow dung@20ton/acre. In first year, after every cutting of green fodder, apply Nitrogen dose of 12kg/acre in form of Urea@26kg/acre. In second year, increased this dose to 20kg and apply after each cutting.

To control weeds, do intercropping with suitable legumes. Intercropping enriches soils, also provide nutritional fodder to cattles also take care of weeds. 

Apply first irrigation immediately after sowing. Apply remaining irrigation during summer month or hot and dry months with interval of 10-15 days.

Harvesting is done 50 days after sowing. After first cutting, when crop get height of one meter, take second cutting. Do not allow to grow crop for more than 2 meter as it will leads in decreased in nutritional value of fodder. Such fodder is heavy for digestion.