I Tested The Best 5 Annual Grass Varieties – #5 Will Shock You!

Annual grasses are types of grasses that are typically sown from March to April and sometimes even in June, providing lush green grass during the rainy season and before winter. Annual grasses are also of particular importance in grass-based commercial livestock farming, as they need to provide a variety of green, nutritious grass throughout the year. In this article, we will discuss some of the important annual grasses.

Discuss important annual grasses.

1. Teosinte grass

Teosinte grass, also known as corn grass because it resembles corn, is an important perennial grass grown in the Terai and mid-hill areas. It is grown in temperate regions. It can be successfully cultivated in the Terai and mid-hill areas. It is not impossible to cultivate it even at an altitude of more than 1000 meters.

Climate also has an adverse effect on production. While cultivating it, the land should be ploughed two or three times to loosen the soil. In advanced farming, 60 kg. Nitrogen, 40 kg. Phosphorus and 30 kg. Potash should be sown in the field at the rate of 60 kg. per hectare. Considering the lack of moisture in the soil and if irrigation facilities are available, it is appropriate to sow teosinte after one or two rains from Fab-Mar to Jun-Jul.

When sowing seeds, they should be sown uniformly at the rate of 40 kg per hectare. If sowing seeds in rows, then it is appropriate to sow seeds at a distance of 40 cm and a distance of 15 cm between plants. Teosinte seeds are ready to be cut within 60 days of sowing. After the first harvest, the second harvest can be taken within 35 to 40 days. Teosinti can be harvested 2 to 3 times.

When cultivated using advanced methods of fertilisation and irrigation, 80 tons of green grass can be grown per hectare. If teosinte is cultivated for seed, then green grass should not be cut. 800 to 1200 kg of seed can be produced per hectare. Teosinte grass can also be made into silage and fed. Its silage quality is very good. While making silage, nitrogen content can be increased by using urea, while molasses can be used for both quality and carbohydrates. Its husk contains 7 per cent protein, the stalk contains 4 per cent, and it is also rich in vitamins and minerals.

Its varieties like Teosenti I, II, Raori, Magenta, and G.F.R.I. are popular. After planting this grass, green grass is mainly available from July to September. If you fertilise it after harvesting it once, you can get the same yield from the next harvest. If you want to produce seeds, you can produce up to 1500 kg of seeds per hectare.

2. Pearl millet

This grass is a major annual grass that can be grown in areas with low rainfall and dry summers, and produces high-quality green grass. This grass originated in Africa. When cultivating it, the land is usually prepared for maize by ploughing 3 to 4 times and sowing seeds.

This grass can also be grown in the Terai and mid-hills. Like Teosenti, it should also be sown in the field at the rate of 60 kg. Nitrogen, 30 kg. Phosphorus and 30 kg. Potash per hectare when cultivated in an advanced way. But to get good yields, topdressing with 20 kg of Nitrogen should also be done. Its seeds are required at the rate of 10/12 kg per hectare.

If it is to be sown in rows, it should be sown at a distance of 30 cm from row to row and 15 cm from plant to plant.

Different varieties of this grass can be harvested only once or can be harvested repeatedly (multicut). For example, Giant, Rajaka, Type 55 and various hybrid varieties are multicut, while varieties like K 674 and K 677 are single cut.

25 to 50 tons of production per hectare can be obtained from this grass. If you fertilise it after harvesting once, you can get the same production from the next harvest. If there is a good irrigation facility, this grass can be cut 4/6 times. Other things and cultivation methods are the same as maize. If you want to produce seeds, only 600 kg of seeds can be produced per hectare.

3. Sorghum

This is also one of the popular annual grasses. The climate of the mid-hills and Terai of our country is suitable for sowing seeds from Mar to jun. Various varieties of this grass, like Vidya, SL 44, and JS 63, have been recommended.

This grass has the characteristic of being able to withstand drought. However, when planted in very dry places, a poison called hydrocyanide is produced. Therefore, if the amount of this poison is to be reduced, it is better to plant it in fields with irrigation facilities. This grass can also be harvested 3/4 times. When sowing seeds, the rate of sowing should be 30 kg per hectare. If this grass is also planted for the purpose of producing seeds, up to 600 kg of seeds can be produced per hectare.

4. Sorghum sudan grass

This is a perennial and annual grass that can be planted from mar to jun and can be used in dry conditions. This grass can also be planted in the Terai and mid-hill areas. In fact, Sudan grass is also very similar to Junelo and is a species of the same grass.

Since Sudan grass can be harvested many times, this grass has become popular among farmers in recent times. Varieties of this grass, like Mithisudaan, Sweet Sudan, and Pepper, are popular. This grass can also accumulate a poison called hydrocyanide, and the amount of that poison can be minimised in places with irrigation facilities. If it is to produce seeds, up to 1500 kg of seeds per hectare can be produced from this grass per year. Its cultivation method and nutritional value of the grass are similar to the other grasses mentioned above.

5. joint vetch

This grass is known as both annual and perennial. Joint vetch is a type of grass that grows directly above the ground in warm and temperate climates. It is rich in nutrients, and this grass draws nitrogen from the air and fertilises the soil. This grass is eaten by sheep and cattle. It grows up to 2 meters tall and is a type of seed-bearing variety.

Joint vetch variety Herican is an annual or perennial grass. When planting it, seeds should be sown from the last week of Baisakh to Ashadh. However, for seed production, it is suitable to sow in the month of June. Its cultivation can be done successfully from sea level to an altitude of 1200 meters. It is generally suitable in areas with an annual rainfall of 400 to 1500 mm. It can be cultivated at a temperature of 20/45 degrees Celsius.

This grass does not require much fertiliser, but for high production, it is generally appropriate to apply 25:60:40 kg of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potash per hectare of land. Even if seed production is to be done, the same amount of fertiliser should be applied. The seeds should be sown in rows at a distance of 75 cm in a clean field. The seeds should be sown 2 cm deep and 4 cm apart. Weeds, perennial grasses, and other plants between the two rows should be uprooted and discarded as needed.

The grass can be harvested 75 days after planting. Subsequent harvesting can be done 2/3 times at an interval of one month, and 35/40 tons of green grass can be produced per hectare.

After the seeds ripen, their leaves wither and fall off, but the seeds remain wrinkled on the plant. After the seeds ripen, the plants should be cut, dried, crushed, and placed in a sieve for drying.

If it is a Glen variety, then the seed yield per hectare can be 600/1500 kg. Drying the seeds in the sun can destroy their firmness. It is suitable to store the seeds with a moisture content of 8/10 %. If the dried seeds are placed in a jute bag and kept on top, they can be easily stored for 6 months.