The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has recommended release of an improved variety of fodder crop Birsa Lathyrus- 1, developed by the scientists of Birsa Agricultural University (BAU) under the All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Fodder Crops.
The average green fodder yield (GFY) of this variety, released for Country’s north east zone and central zone, is 190 quintals per hectare which is 6.3 per cent more than that obtained from national check variety Mahateora. Per day per hectare GFY is also higher which is 2.65 quintal per hactare than the national check.
The variety moderately resistant to leaf blight in north east zone is suitable for timely sown, normal fertility and under irrigated conditions of Jharkhand state also. This variety carries 20.7 percent crude protein which is 4-5 percent higher than the national check. It gives seed yield of 8.3 quintal per hectare which is 15 per cent superior to the check variety Mahateora.
BAU Scientist Dr Yogendra Prasad and Dr Birendra Kumar were working on development of this variety for the last one decade. Both the scientists participated in the annual group meeting of AICRP on Forage Crops, held at University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Karnataka on April 22-23, where this variety (Birsa Lathyrus- 1) was recommended for release.
About 100 scientists from across the country including Dr DK Yadav, ICAR DDG, Dr SK Pradhan, ADG, Dr Pankaj Kaushal, Director, Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute and Dr Vijay Yadav, Project Coordinator participated in the meeting and reviewed the ongoing fodder research programme.
At national level, there is 11.24 per cent deficiency of green fodder while in Jharkhand, this deficiency is 46 per cent. The dry fodder deficiency in this tribal dominated state is about 23 percent.
Chairperson, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Dr Manigopa Chakraborty, Vice Chancellor, BAU, Dr SC Dubey and Director Research, Dr PK Singh and has congratulated the scientists for their research achievement.
