| Scientific name | Medicago sativa L. |
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| Important features | Termed Queen of forages, it is a perennial (3-4 years), persistent, productive and irrigated fodder legume that contains 16-20% crude protein with 72% dry matter digestibility. It helps in soil nitrogen fixation and its deep root system makes it well adapted to dry areas with irrigation facilities. |
| Varieties | Anand 1, Co 1, RL 88, Anand Lucerne-3, Co3, Chetak. |
| When and how to plant | It is preferably planted in October or November. About 12-15 kg seed/ha is treated with rhizobium and planted at 30-45 cm spacing at 2-3 cm depth. |
| Chemical fertilizer (kg/ha) | 20 kg N:100 kg P during planting to be followed by 80 kg P: 40 kg K per year. |
| Farm Yard Manure (tons/ha) | 20-25 t mixed in soil 25-30 days before planting. |
| Irrigation | Every 15-20 days in the rainy season and every 10-12 days in the summer season. |
| When to harvest | First cutting at flowering stage (45-60 days) and subsequently after 25-35-days. |
| Green fodder yield (tons/ha) | 80-100 t annually from 10-12 cuttings. |
| Scientific name | Trifolium alexandrinum L. |
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| Important features | This is a prominent legume fodder crop of rabi season that adds organic carbon, phosphorus, and nitrogen to the soil. It is highly suitable in temperate or winter conditions and has 20-24% crude protein and 70% dry matter digestibility. It is the most potent milk multiplier in dairy animals. |
| Varieties | Wardan, Bundel Berseem-2, Bundel Berseem 3, Pusa Giant, Mescavi, Berseem Ludhiana-1. |
| When and how to plant | It is preferably planted in October or November. About 25-35 kg seed/ha is planted by broadcast method after flooding the beds with 5-6 cm deep water. |
| Chemical fertilizer (kg/ha) | 20 kg N and 80 kg P as basal dose. |
| Farm Yard Manure (tons/ha) | 20-25 t for saline or light textured soils and 15-20 t under normal conditions. |
| Irrigation | 5–6 days after planting following germination. The crop may be irrigated after 15-20 days and after each cutting. |
| When to harvest | First cutting at 55-60 days and subsequent cutting after 30-35 days. |
| Green fodder yield (tons/ha) | 65-90 t |
| Scientific name | Desmanthes virgatus (L.) Willd. |
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| Important features | This legume crop contains 22% crude protein and is rich in vitamins and minerals. It aids atmospheric nitrogen fixation in soil and can yield fodder for 3-4 years. |
| Varieties | Hedge Lucerne (local variety). |
| When and how to plant | It is grown throughout the year under irrigation and during June - October as a rainfed crop. Soak 20 kg seeds in sulphuric acid for 8-10 minutes and plant at a distance of 45-60 cm in rows. |
| Chemical fertilizer (kg/ha) | 15 kg N:50 kg P:20 kg K during planting to be followed every year with 80 kg P and 40 kg K. |
| Farm Yard Manure (tons/ha) | 12-15 t 30 days before planting. |
| Irrigation | Mostly grown as a rainfed crop under harsh conditions, with irrigation every 12-15 days if necessary. |
| When to harvest | First cutting at 80-90 days (crop height of 50-55 cms) and subsequent cutting at 35-40-day interval. |
| Green fodder yield (tons/ha) | 60-80 t annually from 6-8 cuttings. |
| Scientific name | Stylosanthes sp. |
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| Important features | A legume fodder crop rich in crude protein that can be cultivated as grassland or pasture. Animals can feed on it directly. It is adapted to tropical climates and tolerant to low fertility, drought, acidic soils and poor drainage. The highly palatable Stylosanthes hamata species is preferred by animals. |
| Varieties | Stylosanthes hamata (suitable in orchards but can be grown otherwise), Stylosanthes scabra (low rainfall areas), Stylosanthes seabrana (black soil), Stylosanthes guinensis (high rainfall areas), Stylosanthes humilis (annual type), PhuleKranti (low rainfall areas). |
| When and how to plant | Planting is preferred in June - July to September - October when 10 kg seeds are treated with rhizobium culture. These seeds are mixed in a paste of dung and soil and planted at 30 × 15 cm spacing at 2-3 cm depth. |
| Chemical fertilizer (kg/ha) | 20 kg N:40 kg P:40 kg P during planting to be followed every year with 40 kg P and 15 kg N. |
| Farm Yard Manure (tons/ha) | 5-8 t 30 days before planting. |
| Irrigation | Suited to rainfed conditions but needs irrigation every 12-15 days if necessary. |
| When to harvest | First cutting at 90 days and subsequent cutting depends on the growth. |
| Green fodder yield (tons/ha) | 30-35 t annually. |
| Scientific name | Vigna unguiculata L. |
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| Important features | Important in dryland farming and usually grown as a kharif crop, it is used as a pulse, for fodder and green manure and can be grown year round. |
| Varieties | UPC- 625, UPC-622, Fodder Cowpea- CO (FC)-8, Konkan Fodder Cowpea-1, Bundel Lobia-2, Sweta, Kohinoor, EC 4216, MFC 09-1, MFC-08-14. |
| When and how to plant | It is preferably planted in June-July (rainy crop) and march-April (summer crop), 30-40 kg seed/ha at a spacing of 30-45 cm. It thrives well between 21°C and 35°C. |
| Chemical fertilizer (kg/ha) | 15 kg N:60 kg P:30 kg P at planting. Apply less than 10 ppm sulphur in sulphur-deficient soils. |
| Farm Yard Manure (tons/ha) | 5-8 t 8-10 days before planting. |
| Irrigation | Every 12-15 days during the rainy season and every 7-10 days in the summer. |
| When to harvest | Rainy season: 50-60 days (50% flowering stage). Summer season: 70-75 days. |
| Green fodder yield (tons/ha) | 35-45 t annually. |