Hydroponics fodder cultivation
Hydroponics is a method of growing fodder crops in a very short period of time using only water and no soil.Why Hydroponics?
Small/marginal farmers feed their livestock. They spend on fodder more because they don't have enough space to grow fodder crops.
What is the solution to this?
The solution to this is hydroponics farmers can benefit from the small space available with small inputs.
Hydroponics Project Benefits:
Green fodder production in very short period of time.
Water requirement is very less. During drought sufficient to provide green fodder to cattle.
More green fodder production in less space.
Fewer workers are required.Easily digestible.
The fodder grown in this way does not contain soil, sticks, etc., so the animals like to eat it. All natural livestock preferred at low cost edible fodder production.
Requirements for fodder production:
1. Low light small room temperature of 24 to 25degrees Celsius with humidity of 80 to 85 percentage
2. Small plastic trays (a small hole should be put inthe bottom of the trays).
3. Necessary quantity of seeds (maize, wheat, sorghum,barley)
4. Necessary quantity of water,
5. Shelves to keep plastic trays,
6. Water sprinklers.
Procedure:
300 grams per plastic tray of one and a half square feet area maize seed is sufficient.
Wash the seeds thoroughly and soak them for a day.
The soaked seed should be tied in a jute sack/virgin bag and kept in the dark for 24 hrs.
After 24 hours, the seeds will have germinated.
The germinated seeds should be spread in plastic trays at the rate of about 300 grams per tray, without any space between one seed and one seed should not fall on top of the other and let it air for a few minutes.
Then take the plates to the rearing room and stack them on the stand and spray water like smoke with a water sprayer.
Do not pour water under any circumstances.The seeds should always be moist. The demand for water is very less for the non-sorghum fodder crop.
But frequent watering is essential.Green fodder like seedling can be produced in 8 days.
15 to 20 kg for buffalo and 1 to 2kg for goats as hydroponic fodder is palatable. Usually 6 to 7 kg can be obtained per kg of grain.
Hydroponic fodder production requires muchless electricity than traditional fodder production.
Among the various hydroponic forages such as sprouted barley, oats, rye, triticale and wheat, sprouted barley has the highest forage quality.
Advantages of hydroponic feeding:
High efficiency
Less space and time required.
Use of pesticides and herbicides is not necessary.
Forage yield is high.
Feed quality & Consistency of feed is better.
For further details contact:
Ms. U. Unnimaya, B.Sc.,(Hons) Agriculture, Email: unnimaya1722@gmail.com and Dr. B.Guna, Associate Professor Department of Agricultural Extension, Nalanda College of Agriculture, M. R. Palayam,Trichy Email: baluguna8789@gmail.com Tel:9944541459.