Rajasthan Veterinary vasrity develops 'Sewan' grass seedling

Scientists at Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (RAJUVAS) Bikaner has said it has developed Sewan grass seedling in 7 days through soil less cultivation using hydroponics technology.
The university claims that it can open doors for technology driven, soil-less cultivation of seedling in the state.
Hydroponics is a subset of hydroculture and is a method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions, in water, without soil. Terrestrial plants may be grown with their roots in the mineral nutrient solution only or in an inert medium, such as perlite, gravel.
Sewan grass is an important perennial grass in Western parts of the state which has high nutritional value and good drought tolerance capacity.

R K Dhuria, Principal Investigator, said that major problem with sewan seed was that it could not be sown by seed drill and plough due to its very less weight.
When broadcasted in conventional cultivation, most of the sewan seed do not germinate as they are picked up by ants, rats, birds and termites.

Further, these seeds have less reserve nutrient in their endosperms which also inhibit their proper germination.
He said that taking a clue from the use of hydroponics technology in preparing planting material for rice crop, scientists of Livestock Feed Resource Management and Technology Centre of the University engaged in developing planting material from seeds of sewan grass.

Vice Chancellor A K Gehlot said that hydroponics technique was focused on cultivation of plants without soil, using water as a medium to supply all the requisite nutrients.
Agriculture Minister Prabhulal Saini has appreciated the efforts made by the University in development of this technology.
"The technology could prove to be a viable tool to give boost to the ambitious pasture development programme of the state leading to better availability of monsoon herbage for precious livestock of the state," Saini said in a statement.
Sewan, popularly known as the king grass of desert, has high protein content of 7-11 percent.

This grass is relished by ruminants like buffalo, sheep, goat and camel but has not withstood heavy grazing and eventually degraded.