National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology

Adugodi, Bangalore 560 030

Tel: 91-080-25711304, 25711164, 25702539

Fax : 91-080-25711420

Website: http://www.nianp.res.in

Azolla cultivation in portable HDPE

containers

Component-3: SRLS:

NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL

INNOVATION PROJECT

NAIP No.21Folder

Dr. K. Giridhar, Co-PI & Senior Scientist

Dr. A. V. Elangovan, CCPI & Principal Scientist

Dr. Sharangouda, Research Associate

Dr. Prakash Khandekar, Co-PI & Principal Scientist

Dr. C.S. Prasad, Director

NIANP, Bangalore.

UAS, GKVK, Bangalore

NIANP, Bangalore

MYRADA, Chitradurga

NISARGA, Hosadurga

Published by

NAIP Livelihood Project Team:

Lead centre

Co-operating centres

September 2013

Introduction

Cultivation in portable container:

Azolla is a free floating water fern and in

recent years, its utility as feed supplement is catching

the attention of many. The cultivation of Azolla needs

minimum inputs and management. With its high crude

protein content, it can serve as a good nutrient

supplement for the livestock. Trials were conducted in

NAIP adopted villages to evaluate the cultivation of

Azolla in HDPE containers in comparison with ponds

made of silpaulin sheets.

High density polyethylene woven containers

with a length of 12 feet and width of 4 feet placed on a

levelled ground in the backyards of dairy farmers are

very convenient for cultivation of Azolla. Used gunny

bags or plastic sheets can be placed on the ground to

prevent any damage to the bottom of the container.

Unlike the ponds made of silpaulin sheets, these

containers can be moved easily from place to place to

suit the needs of the farmer. Sieved fertile soil mixed

with cow dung and water need to be spread uniformly

in the container. About one kilogram of fresh Azolla

culture is needed for this type of portable container.

The culture has to be applied uniformly. The depth of

water to be maintained is about 15 cm. After the

inoculation of culture, the container needs to be

covered with a net to provide partial shade and also, to

prevent the fall of leaves and other debris. During the

monsoon season, if rain water can be harvested from

the roof tops and used for cultivation of Azolla, it will

ensure excellent and faster growth of Azolla. It can be

harvested daily after the full growth. Plastic sieves can

be used to harvest the biomass from the pond's

surface. If any litter like dry leaves, fallen fruits etc., is

noticed in the container, it should be removed

immediately. Over 1.5 kg of fresh Azolla (mean yield per

day in a season) can easily be produced from the

container of 12 X 4 feet size. In the event of

overproduction of Azolla, it can be dried in the shade

and safely preserved for future use. Azolla can be fed to

the livestock either in fresh or dried form. It takes a few

days for the animals to get used to the taste of Azolla.

So, it is better to feed it along with the concentrates in

the initial stages. Azolla has to be washed thoroughly

with fresh water to remove the smell of dung.

1. Can be moved easily from place to place to suit

the needs of the farmer.

2. Establishment is very easy and it can be placed

on any levelled ground.

3. During the summer months, it can be moved

indoors like thatched sheds to ensure

satisfactory growth of Azolla, which is not

possible in the ponds kept in the open areas.

4. As the containers are made of highly durable

HDPE, they can easily last for over five years.

Merits of container system:

National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology

Adugodi, Bangalore 560 030

Tel: 91-080-25711304, 25711164, 25702539

Fax : 91-080-25711420

Website: http://www.nianp.res.in

Silage Making in Polybags

&

Plastic Drums

Component-3: SRLS:

NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL

INNOVATION PROJECT

NAIP No.22Folder

Dr. K. Giridhar, Co-PI & Senior Scientist

Dr. A. V. Elangovan, CCPI & Principal Scientist

Dr. Sharangouda, Research Associate

Dr. Prakash Khandekar, Co-PI & Principal Scientist

Dr. C. S. Prasad, Director

NIANP, Bangalore.

UAS, GKVK, Bangalore

NIANP, Bangalore

MYRADA, Chitradurga

NISARGA, Hosadurga

Published by

NAIP Livelihood Project Team:

Lead centre

Co-operating centres

September 2013

Introduction

Silage preparation

In semi-arid regions, the livestock production

is often affected by inadequate feed supply during dry

season. The excess fodder produced during the

monsoon season can be conserved as

Majority of the livestock farmers in

Chitradurga district are having a few dairy animals and

limited green fodder resources. So, constructing a silo

is not a viable or practical option. A l

hay or silage.

However, ensiling generally produces better quality

fodder than hay because less time is required to wilt

the feed, causing little reduction in feed quality. Cereal

fodders like maize and jowar are best suited for silage

making due to their higher soluble sugar content and

optimum moisture when harvested at right stage. Due

to the high protein content, legume fodders are not

ideal for silage making.

ow cost technology

of silage making in polybags and plastic drums was

initiated and perfected by experimenting with

different types of bags in the adopted villages. Plastic

lined fertilizer bags are available in many villages. These

can be profitably used for ensiling of green fodder.

Making silage involves cutting fodder at the optimum

stage of development, chopping to the right size by

using manual chaff cutter and proper compaction to

create air-tight condition (for ensuring anaerobic

fermentation). The crop to be ensiled should contain

about 30% dry matter at the time of ensiling. If moisture

content is high, the crop has to be wilted by spreading

the fodder under shade. A useful field method to check

that the moisture level is right is called the squeeze

test. Some forage needs to be chopped and a handful

of that material needs to be squeezed tightly in the fists

for about half a minute. When the squeeze is released,

if one's fingers and palm are moist and the forage ball

holds together, then the crop is in right condition for

ensiling. The chopped fodder needs to be filled in a

plastic bag layer by layer without making any holes in

the bag. While filling, the bag needs to be gently but

firmly squeezed for expelling the air. After proper

compression, the bag has to be tied securely with twine

as close to the material as possible and as tightly as

possible. This will compact the silage. If the silage is

being made in a plastic drum, a person can stand inside

the drum and can compact the material by using his

feet. The silage bags have to be carefully stacked and

protected against rats and other pests. The silage will

be ready after four weeks. About 4 kg of silage can be

made in small bags and 30 kg in medium sized bags.

Normally, 20 to 100 kg of silage can be prepared in

plastic drums, depending on their size. The bags or bins

have to be inspected for the presence of mould and if

any infected silage is found, it should be discarded at

once and not fed to the animals. Silage removed from

the drum or a bag should be fed as soon as possible.

Silage has a characteristic odor that is not familiar to

the livestock not used to it and so, it is better to feed it

along with fresh fodder for a few days.

1. Low investment

2. Manual chaff cutter is sufficient

3. Ease of storage and portability

4. One or two persons sufficient for making

silage

5. Best for small holders with a few animals

Merits of bag/drum silage

National Institute of Animal Nutrition and Physiology

Adugodi, Bangalore 560 030

Tel: 91-080-25711304, 25711164, 25702539

Fax : 91-080-25711420

Website: http://www.nianp.res.in

Sesbania - A versatile fodder tree

Component-3: SRLS:

NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL

INNOVATION PROJECT

NAIP No.23Folder

Dr. K. Giridhar, Co-PI & Senior Scientist

Dr. A. V. Elangovan, CCPI & Principal Scientist

Dr. Sharangouda, Research Associate

Dr. Prakash Khandekar, Co-PI & Principal Scientist

Dr. C.S. Prasad, Director

NIANP, Bangalore.

UAS, GKVK, Bangalore

NIANP, Bangalore

MYRADA, Chitradurga

NISARGA, Hosadurga

Published by

NAIP Livelihood Project Team:

Lead centre

Co-operating centres

September 2013

Sesbania is a fast growing perennial legume

tree. It is locally known as "chogache" or "sede" or

"agise" or "agathi". It has multiple uses - It serves as

windbreak, shade tree or as a support for crops like

betelvine or pepper and the leaves are used as top feed

or green leaf manure. The two commonly cultivated

species are S. grandiflora and S. rostrata. They

establish easily and can be grown even in the fields with

low fertility. They require minimum management to

maintain productivity. They have many good attributes

like palatability and rapid early growth rates that make

them attractive as multi-purpose trees. Both species

are tolerant to saline and alkaline soil conditions. They

are usually established from seed. Only the side

branches of trees are cut for fodder leaving the main

growing stem untouched. Normally, five cuts can easily

be obtained in a year with over 30 kg of green fodder

yield per tree. However, 7 to 8 cuts have been taken

with good management in the project villages. The

tender twigs along with leaves can be fed to the

livestock. Green fodder yield in the project villages

ranged from 80 to 100 tons per hectare per year,

d e p e n d i n g u p o n g r o w i n g c o n d i t i o n s a n d

management. The crude protein content of Sesbania

foliage is over 20% on dry matter basis and often

exceeds 25%.

Several farmers have used Sesbania for

fencing and some have planted them along the bunds.

A few farmers in NAIP villages have gone for sole

plantation of Sesbania for providing top feed

continuously to their sheep and goats. In addition to

the regular grazing, the farmers were encouraged to

provide Sesbania leaves as supplemental feed and due

to better feeding, the growth rates of small ruminants

and meat production improved considerably in the

project villages.

Merits of Sesbania:

Ÿ Easy and fast establishment from seed.

Ÿ Can be grown in a wide range of soils and

environments.

Ÿ It has high palatability and better forage

quality.