Paragrass

Booklet No. 228

Forage Crops Production: FCPS - 18
Contents
Preface
1. Introduction
II. Climate
III. Soil and Land Preparation
IV. Seed and Sowing
V. Irrigation
VI. Weeding
VII. Manures & Fertilizers
VIII. Cultiation
I!. "aresting and #ield
I!. $ses and Importance
Preface
Paragrass is one of t%e few tropical grasses w%ic% ma& 'e cultiated in large scale
farming. It is nutritious( %ig% &ielding and palata'le forage grass w%ic% is used mostl& as silage
and some times as silage or 'rowse. )%is 'oo*let descri'es t%e scientific cultiation of
paragrass in detail.
Dr. K. . C!and"# $gricultural % &n'iron(ental &ducation
). )ntroduction
Paragrass (Brachiaria mutica+ is also called 'uffalo grass( Mauritious grass( water grass(
,ngola grass( etc. and is a natie of Sout% ,merica( w%ic% %as 'een introduced into man&
tropical countries. It is considered to 'e one of t%e 'est tropical grasses for general pasture. In
India( it was introduced in Poona( Ma%aras%tra from Sri Lan*a. It is e-tensiel& cultiated in
.amata*a( .erala( )amil /adu( 0i%ar( ,ssam( Manipur( Pun1a'( $ttar Prades% and 2rissa.. It is
a perennial grass( sta&ing in t%e field for t%ree to four( &ears and are %ea& &ielders if well
manured. It is a 3uic* spreading grass wit% long aerial stolons and w%ic% roots at t%e nodes4 t%e
aerial s%oots %ae 3uic* spreading stolons wit% erect growt%. It %as also got underground
stolons w%ic% ma*es it to perennate effectiel& under aderse soil conditions. It produces large
3uantit& of leaf& material w%ic% is relis%ed '& liestoc*. 2nce it is esta'lis%ed( it continues to
grow for more t%an ten &ears.
)). Cli(ate
Paragrass is suited to warm( %umid climate in tropical and su' tropical area. 0eing a
tropical grass( it cannot tolerate t%e cold winter of nort% India and it goes dormant for nearl&
t%ree mont%s during t%e winter. It can tolerate considera'le amount of water logging and can
t%rie well on damp( low l&ing areas. It prefers e-cessie moisture and comes up well in
situations w%ere t%ere is difficult& for drainage. $nder garden cultiation( it can 'e grown in a
manner similar to 5uinea or /apier grass. $nder sewage conditions( t%e grass is ideall& suited.
))). Soil and *and Preparation
For 'est results of growt%( t%e paragrass re3uires loam to cla& loam t&pe of soil. It also
grows well in loam& and %ea& soils. Wit% facilities of irrigation and manuring een in sand&
soils it responds well. Saline and al*aline soils wit% p" 678 is also ade3uate for its growt%. )%is
grass %elps to reclaim al*aline soil to a great e-tent.
For preparing seed 'ed( two to t%ree ploug%ings are sufficient. First ploug%ing s%ould 'e
gien '& soil turning ploug% w%ile su'se3uent '& soil stirring ploug%. ,fter first ploug%ing 9: to
1;; cartload of farm&ard manure are uniforml& spread oer one %ectare of land and mi-ed wit%
su'se3uent ploug%ings. )%e row7spacing for t%e paragrass %as 'een suggested to 'e <; - <;
cm and :; - <; centimetre.
)+. Seed and So,ing
Paragrass is propagated egetatiel&. For sowing one %ectare of land =9(96; *g
egetatie material is needed. )%e roots and stem sets are used for planting. In selecting t%ese
sets( care is ta*en to ma*e sure t%at eac% set %as two to t%ree nodes. ,'out 1; 3uintals of stem
set are re3uired for one %ectare land. )%e stem cuttings are planted in lines :; cm apart >row to
row+ at a distance of 1: cm >plant to plant+. It can also 'e esta'lis%ed '& 'roadcasting stem
cuttings at t%e rate of 8=; 3uintals per %ectare and %arrowing t%em( 'ut su'se3uent weeding
'ecomes difficult.
In t%e nort%ern parts of India t%e 'est sowing time is from Marc% to ,ugust w%ile for t%e
sout%ern parts of India( t%e 'est sowing time is from Fe'ruar& to /oem'er.
+. )rrigation
?sta'lis%ment of t%e crop ma& re3uire two to t%ree lig%t irrigations depending upon
%umidit& and temperature. )%e soil s%ould 'e *ept alwa&s moist. It is a water loing grass and
re3uires fre3uent and %ea& irrigations. Irrigating wit% sewage water or cattle s%ed water
'enefits more. In summer( irrigation s%ould 'e gien eer& ten to fifteen da&s. Soon after t%e
monsoon or irrigating field( t%e field s%ould 'e drained properl& for aeration 'etter
decomposition of organic matter in t%e soil.
+). -eeding
Paragrass is a sturd& and aggressie grass. )%e land s%ould 'e *ept weed free for t%e
first two mont%s. @uring t%is period. t%e grass planted in lines ma& 'e easil& intercultured once
or twice.
+)l. .anures % Fertili/ers
Paragrass is %ig%l& responsie to cattle s%ed was%ings or sewage irrigation. ,lternatiel&
A; to B; tonnes of farm&ard manure or compost s%ould 'e applied at t%e time of land
preparation wit% A; *g p%osp%orus and A; *g potas% per %ectare as 'asal application. 0esides
t%is B; *g inorganic nitrogen per %ectare s%ould 'e top dressed after eer& %arest.
+))). Culti'ation
Paragrass can 'e grown near water logged areas. It is generall&( esta'lis%ed from
mature stem cuttings or root runners. 2nce esta'lis%ed. it continues to grow for oer ten &ears.
$nder irrigated condition( t%is grass can 'e planted an& time( 'ut under rainfed condition(
planting s%ould 'e done wit% t%e onset of monsoon. It is essential to *eep t%e ground moist
during dr& mont%s to *eep t%e grass green all t%e &ear round. 5enerall&( it is free from pests and
diseases. Paragrass is 'est grazed on a rotational 'asis. It can 'e cultiated along wit% ot%er
grasses as mi-ture for suppl&ing green fodder all t%e &ear round under assured irrigated
condition. )%ere are para grass C rice 'ean( paragrass C centro( paragrass C cowpea(
paragrass C 'erseem . paragrass C lucerne and paragrass C elet 'ean.
)0. 1ar'esting and 2ield
)%e crop 'ecomes read& for t%e first cutting in a'out t%ree mont%s after planting w%en
t%e grass attains a %eig%t of a'out <; to 9: centimetres. Su'se3uent cuts are ta*en at an
interal of B to < wee*s depending upon t%e soil( climate( moisture regime and manuring. In
nort% India( grass grows igourousl& from Dune to 2cto'er and proides B to : cuttings 'ut t%e
%umid and mild climate of sout% India allows a'out 1; cuttings. )%e stems 'ecome coarse if
%aresting or grazing is not done earl&.
)%e &ield per cuttings ranges from 1: to =: tonnes per %ectare. )%e aerage annual
&ield in nort% India is a'out 9: tonnes per %ectare w%ile it ranges from 1=; to 1:; tonnes per
%ectare in sout%.
0. 3ses and )(portance
Paragrass is used for soil conseration and reclamation of saline and 7al*aline soils(
swamps( seepage( newl& cleared areas as low land. It also wor*s as coer crops to preent soil
erosion. Paragrass can 'e also used as a fodder. )%is grass remains tender and succulent
w%ic% is palata'le( nutritious and can 'e fed wit%out c%affing. )%is can 'e mi-ed wit% feeds
molasses and mineral mi-ture. It is a good fodder grass( for feeding green or as %a& and also
ma*es a good turf. )%e %a& &ield is a'out :; 3uintals per %ectare and 'eing soft( it is relis%ed
well '& cattle. It is said to improe mil* flow in cows and 'uffaloes. It is used for green silage(
%a& ma*ing and s%ould 'e grazed rotationall& as it will not wit%stand %ea& grazing.
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