Introduction

Commonly known as Egyptian Clover, Berseem is regarded as the ‘King of Fodder Crops’ due to its high nutritional quality. It is a winter-season leguminous fodder crop primarily used for feeding livestock, including horses, camels, and donkeys. The plant grows 0.9 to 1.0 m tall with trifoliate leaves and succulent stems. The seeds are pear-shaped and yellowish-brown, containing 18-21% crude protein. It also acts as an excellent soil binder.

Origin and Distribution

• Berseem is indigenous to Egypt and was introduced in India in 1904.
• By 1916, it was widely adopted across India for its adaptability.
• It is now cultivated extensively in Punjab, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, particularly in irrigated regions.

Climate and Soil Requirements

• Temperature:
  • 25-35°C: Optimum for seedling growth
  • 15-20°C: Best for vegetative growth and branching
  • 35-37°C: Optimum for flowering and seed setting
  • Cannot tolerate frost (below 4-5°C).
• Soil:
  • Well-drained loamy soils rich in lime, phosphorus, and potassium (pH 5.5-8.5).
  • Not suitable for sandy, waterlogged, or highly acidic soils.
  • Tolerates salinity and alkalinity, making it ideal for land reclamation.

Land Preparation

• One deep ploughing (MB plough) followed by 4-5 harrowings to achieve a fine tilth.
• Since the seeds are small, a well-prepared seedbed ensures better germination.

Varieties of Berseem

1. Mescavi Type (Multi-cut, 5-6 cuts per year) Develops short side branches at the base. Varieties: Wardan, JB-1, JB-2, JB-3, UPB-103.
2. Fahl Type (Single-cut) Develops side branches in the upper portion, but not at the base. No regeneration after harvest.
3. Saidi Type (2-3 cuts per year) Shoots develop for a short period. Less branching compared to Fahl. Varieties: Khandwari, Pusa Giant, IGFRI-99-1, IGFRI-54, Jawahar.

Season of Cultivation Rabi season crop (October-November sowing), depending on temperature and Kharif crop rotation.

Seed Rate and Sowing

• Seed Rate:
  • 10-15 kg/ha (line sowing)
  • 20-30 kg/ha (broadcasting)
• Seed Selection:
  • Use bright yellow, plump seeds.
  • Avoid brown and immature seeds.
• Spacing:
  • 25-30 cm between rows (for fodder)
  • 10 cm intra-row (for seed production)
• Seed Treatment:
  • Treat with 10% brine solution to remove chicory seeds.
  • Scarify seeds for better germination.
  • Soak seeds in H₂SO₄ (2-3 min) or water (10-12 hrs).
  • Treat seeds with Rhizobium trifolii culture for nitrogen fixation.
• Sowing Methods:
  • Dry sowing: Drill or broadcast seeds into the prepared field.
  • Wet sowing: Divide the field into small plots, flood them with water, and broadcast overnight-soaked seeds in standing water.

Manures and Fertilizer Management

• FYM: 10 t/ha
• Chemical Fertilizers:
  • 25-30 kg N/ha
  • 80-100 kg P₂O₅/ha
  • 30-40 kg K₂O/ha
• Application:
  • Apply ½ N, full P, and full K as basal dose.
  • Remaining ½ N at 30 DAS.
• Micronutrient Deficiencies:
  • Boron deficiency: Causes yellow spots on leaves (resembles leafhopper damage). Corrected by 0.1% borax spray or soil application (10 kg/ha).
  • Molybdenum deficiency: Corrected using ammonium molybdate @1-1.5 kg/ha.

Irrigation

• Requires high water supply (~140 cm per year).
• Irrigation Frequency:
  • Weekly in the initial stage.
  • Once every 10-12 days after establishment.
• In water-scarce areas, oat is a good alternative fodder crop.

Weed Management

• Major Weed: Chicorium intybus (Chicory)
  • Removed using brine solution (10%) before sowing.
  • Hand weeding at 30 DAS prevents seed-setting.
• Chemical Control:
  • Pendimethalin @0.75-1.0 kg a.i./ha (pre-emergence).
  • Cuscuta (dodder) infestation is sometimes observed.

Harvesting

• First Cut: 55-60 DAS (50% flowering stage).
• Subsequent Cuts: Every 25-30 days.
• Mescavi types provide 5-6 cuttings.

Yield

• Fresh fodder: 35-55 t/ha/year.
• Number of cuttings: 4-6 per year.

Toxicities and Management

• Bloat (Tympanitis): Caused by high cytoplasmic protein (4-5%), leading to gas accumulation in livestock.
• Management:
  1. Tracer and canula: Punch stomach to release gas.
  2. Prolaxalin (10-20 g/kg body weight) administration.
  3. Mix berseem with linseed/mustard oil to reduce bloat risk.
  4. Avoid grazing early morning when dew is present, as it exacerbates the issue.

Major Cropping Systems

• Rice-Wheat-Berseem: Berseem can replace wheat in some rotations to reduce Phalaris minor incidence.
• Berseem + Napier Bajra: Intercropped for continuous fodder supply in dairy farming.
• Maize + Rice Bean → Berseem → Sarson: Ensures nutrient balance and diversified fodder availability.