National Agricultural Palladam, Tamil Nadu

Season and Varieties Zone District/ Season Month Varieties Irrigated CO 2 and CO (GG) 3 All Districts Throughout the year Rain fed All Districts Jun – Sep / Oct - Nov Particulars of Guinea Grass Varieties PARTICULARS CO 2 CO (GG) 3 Parentage CO 1 x Centenario Clonal selection from Mumbasa Duration (Days) Perennial Perennial Green fodder yield (t/ha/year) 270 (7harvests) 340-360 (7harvests) Morphological characters Plant height (cm) 150-200 210-240 Number of tillers/clump 80-100 40-60 Leaf length (cm) 65-75 97- 110 Leaf width (cm) 2.5-2.9 3.2 - 4.5 Leaf-stem ratio - 0.73 Quality characters Dry matter (%) 25.94 20.2 Crude protein (%) 6.10 7.50 Crude fibre (%) 34.6 30.3 Phosphorus (%) 0.29 0.19 Calcium (%) 0.59 - Magnesium (ppm) 0.38 - IVDMD (%) 49.5 - Special features of Guinea grass CO (GG) 3 Profuse tillering (40-60 /clump) and non lodging More number of leaves (280 - 350 /clump) High leaf stem ratio (0.73) Shade tolerant and adapts well under coconut plantations Highly palatable, preferred by milch cattle, goat and sheep Profuse tillering of Guinea grass CO (GG) 3 Package of Practices Season : Throughout the year under irrigated conditions. Suitable for growing during monsoon season under rainfed condition Soil : Comes up in all types of soils. Heavy clay and water logged soils are not suitable. Preparatory cultivation : Plough 2 to 3 times to obtain a good tilth and form ridges and furrows 50 cm apart. Manures and fertilizers : Basal FYM - 25 tonnes/ha NPK - 50: 50: 40 kg/ha Top Dressing 50 kg N 30 days after planting 50 kg N /ha after each cut Spacing : 50 x 50 cm Seed rate : Rooted Slips 40,000 /ha Weed Management : Hand weeding whenever necessary. Water management : Immediately after planting, life irrigation on 3rd Day and thereafter once in 10 days depending on soil type and weather parameters Plant protection : Generally not required Harvest : The first harvest 75 - 80 days after planting and subsequent harvests are made at an interval of 40 - 45 days. Green fodder yield : 320 t/ha/year (in 7 harvests).