BERSEEM (Trifolium alexandrinum L. A Legiminous Fodder of Rabi Season Berseem or Egyptian clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) is to provide green fodder from November to May, give 4 to 6 cuts during winter. Itsaves concentrate mixture while making the feed requirement or balance ration for animals. Soi ll drained clay to clay loam soils rich in humus, calcium and phosphorus Field and Seed bed preparation: The land should be opened with soil inversion plough followed by 2or 3 operations by desi plough/cultivator. Fine seed bed is required Sowing time: The optimum sowing time of berseem is October-November. Sowing can continue upto first week of December in eastern region... Berseem should be sown when the temperature isin the range of 25-27°C. Seed cleaning: Usually chicory (Chicorium intybus) is found admixed with berseem seed. Since the size of chicory seed resembles with berseem seed.To remove chicory seeds, 10% common salt solution is used. The chicory seeds being lighter in weight then berseem seed float on the surface while berseem seeds settle down at the bottom of container. In this way chicory seeds may be drained off and berseem seed collected. Wardan, BB-2, BB-3, BL-2, BL-10, JB-2, Mascavi, UPB-103 Seed rate: Under normal condition, the optimum seed rate of berseem has been found to be 25 kg/ha mixed with 1.5- 2.0kg seed of Japan rape or Chinese cabbage in order to compensate yield in first cutting, Varit Sowing method: The seed bed for berseem sowing is prepared by filling the water toa depth of 4-Sem, then the over night soaked seeds are broadcast in standing muddy water in crosswise directions to obtain uniform seed distribution, Fert first two doses is to be done. The potassium requirement of berseem has been found to be 30 to 40 kg K,O/ha in low r schedule: 20 kg N and 80-90 kg P,O,/ha at sowing is the optimum dose, top dressing of nitrogen in eual potassium soils, Irrigation/Water requirements: On the basis of soil type and normal climatic condition the following irrigation schedules recommended in different seasons and soils Season Soil type Clay and clay loan soil Loam soil October to February | 14-16 days interval 12-14 days interval March to April 10-12 days interval 8-10 days interval ‘Weed control: The major weed of berseem is chicory and its infestations could be minimized by treatment with 10% solution of common salt and deep summer ploughing with soil inversion plough after final harvest ofthe crop. Cutting management and Forage yield: Forge yield potential of berseem crop is very high. The crop is capable of producing 10001o 1200 q/ha of green forage. For detail information please contact to:- Nodal Officer, Agriculture Technology Information Center (ATIC), Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi (U.P.) Kisan Call center Tel: 0510-2730241 Website : www.igfri.res.in