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 up to 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): It is tolerant to frost and low temperature. Gives average green fodder yield of 280qtl/acre.
NB 21: Developed by PAU Ludhiana. Fast growing variety with high tillering capacity.
NB-37: It is a dwarf variety which is suitable for sowing in sub-tropical mountainous areas. It is tolerant to drought and it contains 9-10% protein content and 2-3% oxalate content.
IGFRI-3 and IGFRI-6: Gives average yield of 36-64ton/acre.
IGFRI-7: Gives average yield of 23-28ton/acre of green fodder yield.
IGFRI-10: Gives average yield of 25-29ton/acre of green fodder yield.
Pusa Giant Napier: Developed by IARI, New delhi. Gives average green fodder yield of 40-64ton/acre.
CO 2: Gives average green fodder yield of 48-72ton/acre.
APBN 1: Forage is of dark color and gives average forage yield of 80ton/acre.
Other States Variety
CO 1, CO 3, Gajraj, NB-5, NB-6 and NB-35, BH 18
Plough land once by mould board lough and then does 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.
Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)
| UREA |
SSP |
MOP |
| 45 | 150 | 35 |
Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)
| NITROGEN | PHOSPHORUS | POTASH |
| 20 | 24 | 21 |
At time of field preparation add well decomposed cow dung@12ton/acre. Apply fertilizer dose of Nitrogen@20kg, Phosphorus@24kg and Potash@21kg/acre in form of Urea@45kg, SSP@150kg and Potash@35kg per acre. Apply Nitrogen@20kg/acre followed by irrigation after each harvest.
Seed Rate:
Seeds of napier bajara are very small so for commercial planting it is propagated vegetatively with the help of stem cuttings (having two- three nodes) or root slips (approximately 30cm long). For planting one acre use 11,000-14000 slips or stem cuttings for sole cropping. Whereas in case of intercropping, it required 6000-7000 of slips or stem cuttings.
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 60cm and plant to plant spacing of 60cm. In case of inter cropping, use spacing of 100cm x 50cm.
Sowing Depth
Stem cutting are sown at depth of 7-8cm in furrow.
Method of sowing
Direct sowing of stem or root slips. Ratoons are lay down like sugarcane in the soil.
To control weeds, do intercropping with suitable legumes. Intercropping enriches soils, also provides nutritional fodder to cattle and also helps in control of weeds.
Do two to three weeding operations and keep field free from weeds. If weed problem is serious, apply 2,4-D@0.4kg/acre.
Apply first irrigation immediately after sowing. Apply remaining irrigation during summer month or hot and dry months with interval of 10-15days.
Harvesting should be done after 50 days of sowing. After first cutting, when crop height becomes 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.
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