Crop Production :: Forage Crops :: Fodder Cholam

• IRRIGATED CHOLAM
• RAINFED CHOLAM

Season and Varieties

District/Season	Month	Varieties
Irrigated
All Irrigated districts	Jan - Feb and Apr – May	CO 27 and CO (FS) 29 (Multicut Cholam)
Rain fed
All Districts	(Jun - Jul)	CO 27
All Districts	(Sep - Oct)	CO 27 and K 11

Yield Potential and Quality Characters

PARTICULARS	CO 27	K 11	CO (FS) 29
Parentage	Derivative of the cross CO 11 xSorghumhalepense	K 7 x A 6552	Derivative of the cross TNS 30 x Sorghum sudanense
Duration (Days)	Single cut (60-65 days)	Single cut (95-100 days)	Multicut (3 years)
Average green fodder yield (t/ha)	35-40	30-45 Grain yield: 1500 kg	160-170 (5-6 cuts)
Morphological characters
Plant height (cm)	262	260-300	220-250
Number of tillers	2-3	5-7	10-15
Number of leaves	18.66	17-20	80-105
Leaf length (cm)	78.43	90-100	75-90
Leaf breadth (cm)	6.18	7-8	3.5-4.6
Leaf stem ratio	0.18-0.22	0.45	0.2-0.25
Quality characters
Protein content (%)	9.82	7.44	8.41
Dry matter (%)	24.17	-	23.60
Sugar (%)	7.40	-	-
Crude fibre (%)	25.97	35.6	25.60
IVDMD (%)	48.00	-	50.30

Note:      Fodder Cholam can be intercropped with CO 5  and COFC 8 Cowpea at 1:1 ratio and harvested together to provide nutritious fodder.

IRRIGATED CHOLAM

1. PLOUGHING

      Plough with an iron plough once and with a country plough twice.

2.  APPLICATION OF FYM

Spread 12.5 t/ha of FYM or compost on the unploughed field, along with 10 packets of Azospirillum inoculant (2000 g)and 10 packets of Phosphobacteria (2000g) or 20 packets of Azophos (4000g) 

3.  FORMING RIDGES AND FURROWS

        Form ridges and furrows of 6 m long and 60 cm apart and plant on either side of the ridge

4.  APPLICATION OF FERTILIZER

CO 27

• Apply NPK fertilizer as per soil test recommendation. If soil test is not done, follow the blanket recommendation of 60 : 40 : 20 kg N, P and K /ha.
• Apply half the dose of N and full dose P and K basally before sowing.
• Top dressing : 30 kg N/ha on 30 days after sowing
• For the ratoon crop, apply 30 kg N/ha immediately after the harvest and irrigate

CO (FS) 29 (multicut variety):

• Apply 45 : 40 : 40 kg N,P, K/ha as basal and 45 kg N as top dressing on 30 DAS followed by the application of 45 kg N/ha after every cut. After 4th cut, apply 40 kg P and 40 kg K along with 45 kg N to sustain the fodder yield and quality.
• Application of Azospirillum (2000g/ha) and Phosphobacterium (2000g/ha) together as a mixture or Azophos (4000g/ha) along with 75% recommended dose of N and P fertilizer enhanced the yield besides saving of 25% of fertilizer dose.

 5. SOWING

• Seed rate :  CO-27 -50 kg/ha and COFS 29 – 5 kg/ha
• Spacing :  30 x 10 -15 cm
• Treat the seeds with 3 packets (600 g)/ha of Azospirillum and 3 packets (600g) of Phosphobacteria or Azophos 6 packets (1200g)
  *     COFS 29 seed has one month seed dormancy.

6. WATER MANAGEMENT

      Irrigate immediately after sowing. Life irrigation on the third day and thereafter once in 10 days, according to need based.

7. WEED MANAGEMENT

     First hand weeding on the 20th day of sowing and if necessary 2nd hand weeding between 35 - 40 days after sowing.

8. HARVESTING

      Harvest at 50% flowering for fodder

RAINFED CHOLAM

1. APPLICATION OF FYM

      Apply 12.5 t/ha and incorporated in the soil at the time of last ploughing.

2. SEED RATE

      40kg/ha for CO 27

3. SOWING

      Sow the seeds well before the onset of monsoon

4. SPACING

       30 x 15 cm

5. FERTILIZER

      30 : 20: 20 kg N, P and K / ha for Alfisols (Red soil).
      40 :20 kg N and  P/ ha for Vertisols (Black soil).