Seed Production for Pasture and Forage Crops
Adaptability of the Technology
Seed production for forage and pasture crops is best used in areas with a pronounced dry season during seed ripening. Seed should not be harvested during heavy rainfall, or when the humidity is high.
Effectiveness of the Technology
It is easier and cheaper to establish pasture and forage crops by using seeds than by using vegetative planting materials Production of pasture and forage seed crops is comparable with other crops in terms of return on economic investment.
Preparing the Seed Beds
1. Choose areas with well-drained soil of moderate fertility to prevent problems with weeds. Thoroughly prepare seedbeds to kill existing vegetation.
2. Sow seeds in rows 0.74 - 1.0 m apart. For broadcast sowing, use 3-5 kg pure live seeds (PSL)/ha for small seeds; for large seeds, use 6-10 kg PSL/ha. Spray with pre-emergence herbicide.
Fertilization
3. Fertilize grasses with 50 kg N/ha. Apply phosphorus and potassium as required. For legumes, fertilize with 30-60 kg P2O5/ha. Add lime if needed.
Control of Weeds and Pests
4. Hand weed during the first 60 days afater sowing legumes.
5. Control insects and diseases by the judicious use of insecticides and by crop hygiene.
6. Encourage dense tillering by early mowing or grazing, and by careful use of nitrogen fertilizer to promote the development of reproductive shoots. Remove early seed heads and reduce peak flowering in grasses.
Harvesting of Seed
7. Harvest manually during dry months. With Centro, Siratro, Leucaena and gliricidia, place pods in net bages and sun dry. Sun dry Stylo to let seeds or pods fall. Tie seed heads of grasses into sheaves. Stack with the heads turned inwards, and cover with plastic for three days for seeds to separate. Clean by winnowing, or by using wire mesh screen to separate seeds from debris. Remove damaged seeds by hand. Sun dry legume seeds for 2-3 days. In the case of grasses, dry seeds int he shade to protect embryos. Pack seeds in air-tight containers, such as polyethylene bags or jute sacks lined with plastic.
8. Store seeds in a cool, dry place.
Precaution
Commercial seed production requires a substantial investment. Seed volume should be big enough to recover the
investment cost. The demand for pasture seeds is unpredictable. In most Asian countries, only large-scale farmers are able to
invest in pasture improvement, for which grass seed is needed.
Index of Images
Figure 1 Harvesting Napier Grass in Cut-and-Carry System<BR>
Figure 2 Good Stand of Napier Grass
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