Golden Timothy – Present status and future perspectives in North-West Himalayas Katoch Rajan*, Thakur Meenakshi, Kumar N., Bandhari J. C. CSKHPKV, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh-176062 India *Corresponding author E-mail: rajankatoch@yahoo.com
Online published on 21 July, 2012. Abstract Livestock rearing plays a significant role in the economy of the Himalayan people with dependence largely on grasslands and pastures. Golden Timothy (Setaria anceps Stapf.) is a palatable, drought resistant grass species having high tolerance to water logging conditions. It is better suited to the shallow soils and low rainfall situations. The crude protein and crude fibre content of the grass range from 7.0 to 12.0 and 24 to 34%, respectively. It has better in vitro digestibility and the cattle accept its stubble grazing. Setaria grass is also known to have variable levels of oxalates. Highest levels of oxalate occur at night, and the lowest in mid-afternoon. The varieties PSS-1, S-92 and S-20 are good performers in the Himalayan region with high nutritive value and low oxalate contents. It could be raised both by direct sowing or transplanting for which 62,500 seedling or 4–6 kg seed is required per hectare. Herbage yield of well-protected grassland can be increased from 60.5 q/ha to 207.0 q/ha with the application of 80kg N and 40kg P205/ha. The perfect stage of harvesting having balance among nutritive and nutritive components depend on several factors among which the geographical location, morphophysiological stage and clipping interval play critical roles. The present status as well as future perspectives of Setaria anceps for sustainable livestock production in mid Himalayan region is discussed. Top Keywords Crude protein, Forage yield, Himalayas, Management, Nutritional quality, Setaria. Top |