Berseem is a fast growing, high quality forage that is mainly cut and fed as green chopped forage. Flowers are yellowish-white in color. Berseem can be sown alone or in combination with other species. It is mixed with grass (ryegrass) or with a winter cereal crop such as oats to make high quality silage.

This crop gives best result when grown in Medium to heavy soil. It can be grown on sandy loam soil but it requires frequent irrigations. It improves physical, chemical and biological properties of soil and thus improves its fertility status.

BL 1: It is quick growing variety and medium duration variety. It produces more tillers. Gives green fodder upto last week of May. It gives about 380 quintals of green fodder per acre.

BL 10 (1983): This cultivar has a longer growing season and provides green feed until mid-June. It has a tiny seed. It has a moderate resistance to stem rot. It has a high nutritional value and voluntary ingestion. It produces about 410 quintals of green feed per acre. In the last week of June, its seed crop matures.

BL 42 (2003): is a fast-growing variety that produces more tillers per unit of area. It is resistant to the pathogen of stem rot. It has a higher nutritional value. It provides green fodder until the first week of June, producing roughly 440 quintals of green fodder per acre and a high seed production.

BL 43 (2017): is a tall, fast-growing variety with a higher number of tillers. Up to the first week of June, it provides roughly 390 quintals of green feed per acre and produces a high seed yields.

BL 44 (2021): This variety grows quickly and has a large number of tillers. It has a moderate resistance to stem rot. It possesses exceptional nutritional quality, particularly in terms of dry matter digestibility in vitro. It produces 395 quintals of green fodder per acre and supplies green fodder until the first week of June.

Mescavi: The variety is an introduction from Egypt followed by selection at HAU, Hisar. It is recommended for cultivation in all berseem growing regions of India especially Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. Plants are shrubby and erect growing up to a height of 45–75 cm, with profuse tillers.

Bundel Berseem-2 (JHB-146) (1997): An indigenous material No. 25776. Plant erect, 55-60 cm in height with white flowers. Green Fodder Yield : 360-400q/acre. Resistant to root rot; stem rot and to other major pests.

Bundel Berseem 3 (JHTB-96-4) (2000): It is a tetraploid variety. Plant erects, 50cm tall, Fast growing, having high regeneration potential and green to dark green foliage. Green Fodder Yield : 240q/acre. Moderately resistant to stem rot and root rot diseases and immune to downy mildew.

Wardan (S-99-1) (1981): It is a Selection from Accession No.526. Plant erect 45-70cm in height, annual with green to dark green stem. Leaves oval shaped and fairly big in size. Average Green Fodder Yield : 250-280q/acre. Tolerant to bacterial wilt and other diseases under field conditions.

Other state varieties:

BL 22: Developed by PAU, Ludhiana. Suitable for hill areas of north India and sub-temperate region.

HFB 600: Developed by CCS, Hisar. Suitable for cultivation in entire growing areas.

BL 180:  Developed by PAU, Ludhiana. Suitable for growing areas of north India.

For sowing, use leveled land so that water logging conditions will not appeared during growth period. Carry out planking operation after each ploughing

Time of sowing
Last week of September to first week of October is best time of sowing.

Spacing
Sowing broadcasting method is used.

Sowing Depth
Depending upon weather conditions, Broadcast seeds in standing water (water depth 4-5 cm). Complete sowing in evening hours.  

Method of sowing
Berseem is sown by broadcasting method.

Seed Rate
Use seed free from weeds. Before sowing put seeds in water and remove seeds which floats on water. Use seed rate of 8 to 10 kg seeds.
For getting good yield, mix 750 gm of mustard seed along with berseem seeds.

Seed Treatment
Before sowing, treat seeds with Rhizobium culture. Mixed one packet of Rhizobium culture in 10% gur solution and then rub this mixture on seeds. Dry them in shade.

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

Apply N:P in ratio of 10:30 kg in form of Urea@22 kg and Superphosphate@185 kg/acre at sowing time.

Bueen is serious weeds of Berseem crop. To control this weed before sowing, spray Fluchloralin @ 400 ml/200 Litres of water per acre on seed bed.

Apply first irrigation, within 3 to 5 days in light soil and 6-8 days in heavy soils. Remaining irrigation should be applied at 8-10 days interval in summer and 10-15 days during winter.

• Pest and their control:

Grass hopper: It damage crop by eating leaves. It occurred mostly in May-June month. If infestation is observed, spray crop with Malathion 50 EC @ 500 ml in 80-100 Ltr of water per acre. After spraying do not feed cattle for seven days.

Gram Caterpillar: Avoid raising of crop nearby tomato, gram, late sown wheat. If infestation is observed spray with Chlorantraniliprole 18.5 SL @ 50 ml or Spinosad 48 SC @ 60 ml per acre in 80-100 Ltr water with help of knapsack sprayer.

• Disease and their control:

Stem Rot: It is seed borne disease. It causes rotting of stem near soil surface. White fungus growth is observed on nearby soil.

Remove and destroyed affected plants. Take spray of Carbendazim @ 400 gm in 200 Ltrs of water per acre.

Crop is ready to harvest 50 days after sowing. After then take cutting with 40 days interval in winter and 30 days interval in spring. Berseem can be mixed with 20% ground maize to provide high quality silage

1.Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana

2.Department of Agriculture

3.Indian Agricultural Research Instittute, New Delhi

4.Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research

5.Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare