K-740 : High yielding, pest resistant subabulA new variety of subabul, Luecaena collensi, with built – in resistance to psyllid bug has been developed by the Agro-forestry scientists at the Regional Research Station (RRS), Bijapur, in collaboration with scientists of other disciplines of agricultural research, is named "K-740". It has a yield potential of 25 tonnes of green fodder per hectare per year from the second year of planting, according to the scientists. The new subabul is a selection from lines brought from NFTA, Pune, in 1995. It is found to be fast growing, producing higher volume of forage. It is 100% resistant to psyllid bug, which was dreaded insect pest of subabul. This pest caused severe damage to subabul in almost all over the country as well as abroad. No other serious insect pest damage was recorded on this variety. It is recommended for cultivation in the marginal and sub-marginal lands of non-arable areas of northern dry zone of K’taka. It has also been found to do well in the black soil area in northern dry zone of K’taka with low rainfall. Being a highly branching shrub-type of tree, the new subabul grows to a height of 4 to 5 metres at four years of age. A spacing of one metre by 0.3 meters is recommended for raising this as pure fodder crop. It will ensure a population of 33,333 plants per hectare. It will start yielding forage from the second year of planting. The mimosine content of the leaves of the new variety is on part with the presently recommended genotypes. In the field trials it yielded a highest forage yield of 32.69 tonnes/hectare with a mean of 30.17 tonnes a hectare. The leaves contained 20.6 % crude protein and 17.3 % fibres on a dry-weight basis. With its built in resistance to psyllid bug, this variety is recommended over others in the past endemic regions. |
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