Forage Crops

Abstract

Forage crops are grasses and legume plant species that are domesticated/protected or propagated or grown for livestock feed. It is the vegetative portion of the plant, mainly leaves and stems, which are consumed by livestock. The Indian gene center possesses a rich genetic diversity in native grasses and legumes. For grasses, there are reports of 263 genera and 1291 species of Gramineae/Poaceae of which about 21 genera and 139 species are endemic. One-third of Indian grasses are considered to have fodder value. Most of the grasses belong to the tribes Andropogoneae (30%), Paniceae (15%), and Eragrosteae (9%) (www.icar.org.in/files/forage-and-grasses.pdf). Similarly, out of about 1192 species of 173 genera of Leguminosae/Fabaceae, 21 genera are reported to be useful as forage. The main centers of genetic diversity are peninsular India (for tropical types) and northeastern region (for subtropical types) besides some micro-centers for certain species spread over the subcontinent (Fig. 8.1).