Grasspea as food /feed crop in crop-livestock system in Nepal

N.K Yadav, Sr.scientist

Nepal Agricultural Research Council ,Nepal

Abstract

Grasspea (Lathyrus sativus. L), is the important pulse crop in Nepal. It plays an important role in
human and animal nutrition, soil nitrogen economy, and crop intensification/diversification
perspectives. Previously it was prioritized crop and was an integral part of existing cropping
system but its area is drastically reduced due to ban on trade because of toxic effects which cause
paralysis. One of the major challenges consider under 10th 5 years plan is higher cost of
production of the cereal crops. Efforts are under way to alleviate poverty in Nepal by focusing
increasing attention to projects that generates income and economic opportunities. priority has
been given to involve participation of CBOs (community based organization), NGOs, INGOs
and private sector in agriculture research, extension and development and generate low cost
technology(Yadav 2003). Low ODAP containing grass pea may be the one which required less
cost of cultivation. Grain legumes occupy 10.38% (311170 ha) of the total cultivated land in
Nepal. Lentil (lens culinaris Medikus.), chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and grasspea (Lathyrus
sativus L.) are winter pulses covering 66% of both area and production of total pulse in Nepal.

Introduction.

Grasspea (Lathyrus sativus L), also known as chickling pea or Indian vetch, Kheshari, Lattary
(Local name) is one of the important legumes which ranks third in area among winter legumes
(fig:4) The crop is cultivated for human food and feed and fodder for livestock in Nepal. Average
number of livestock (cattle, buffalo, goat and sheep) per family is 4.33 and in winter there is
scares for fodder. Grasspea can supplement the fodder demand to some extent in winter. It can
withstand weeks, even months, without rain as well as endure long periods of water-logging.
Grasspea can be successfully grown under different cropping systems. It is cultivated in water
logged lowland areas where farmers usually cannot take a good winter crop of wheat and other
pulses. Therefore it is called poor men's insurance crop. It is harmless to human in small
quantities, but a steady diet of grasspea seeds over several months can result in irreversible
paralysis of the leg muscles and, under certain conditions, retardation and death in young
children. Its area and production have registered a declining trend in the recent years. His
majesty’s Government has imposed a ban on marketing of grasspea since 1991-92 due to the
presence of presumed neurotoxin 3-(N-Oxalyl)-L-2-3 diamino propionic acid (ODAP) that
causes neurological disorder called lathyrism. Farmers plant grasspea primarily as a forage crop
for livestock, which are unaffected by the toxins and yet, despite the risk, thousands of people
confronting drought and crop failures in Ethiopia, India, Pakistan and Nepal will also use the
crop to supplement their measure diets. Researchers from national programmes are currently
being trained by ICARDA scientists to develop locally adapted selections of the newly
developed non-toxic hybrids, which remain tolerant to drought and water-logging, and to begin
seed production programmes in countries most in need.
_________________
Paper presented in Grasspea meeting in ICARDA,Syria,22.24,Nov,2004.
Grasspea contributed human diet and play an important role in enhancing the fertility status of
soil as it fixes atmospheric nitrogen in symbiotic association with bacteria and reduces soil
erosion due to their deep penetrating root
system. Per capita consumption of pulses in Nepal is around 10 kg/annum which is very low as
compared to the standard FAO recommendation of 36 kg /capita/annum (Joshi, 1999). So, there
is an urgent need to boost up the production and productivity of pulses by many folds in Nepal
by promoting improved technologies and expand the acreage of this crop.

Area Production and Productivity

Currently grass pea is cultivated approximately in 6255 ha. & its production is 5389 mt in
2002/03 while in 1993/94, its area and production were 40880 ha and 21002 mt respectively
(MOAC, 2002/03). Over the past one-decade area is reduced by 84.70% and production is
decreased by 74.34 %while at same period productivity is increased by 47.08%. Its cultivation is
more concentrated in southern part which is low lying and remains water logged for longer
period. Regional distribution of the crop indicated that 59 percent of the total cultivated area and
production is in central region and 26 percent in eastern region. (Figure 2). Significant changes
in area and production have been occurred because of unavailability of low toxin varieties and
previously lathyrus growing area is shifted to lentil and wheat where irrigation is available.

Cropping system

In Nepal Grasspea is cultivated after late maturing rice as sole crop in (Rice-Rice/Grasspea or
Rice /Grasspea system. Sometimes it is mixed with linseed in Rice /Grasspea + Linseed cropping
pattern).Grasspea can be grown in all soil types including very sandy loam soil heavy clays
(Bharati 1986), as it has a very hardy and penetrating root system. This hardiness together with
its ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen makes the crop well designed to grow under unfavorable
condition (Campbell et.al.1994). In Nepal grasspea is relayed into standing crop of rice about
one to two weeks before the rice harvest. It used the residual moisture, no extra fertilizer is
required and it used rice straw for traveling.

Utilization

Grasspea is used in many ways for human and cattle consumption in Nepal. Some of the major
uses are:
• Green vegetable:- The young vegetative parts are plucked (4-6 cm length) and cooked as
green vegetables. Also it is rolled and dried for off season vegetable.
• Pods/ Seeds:- Green pods and seeds are eaten as snacks directly or whole pods are cooked
and eaten as vegetable.
• Split dal:- Most often its split grain is used as dal . It is often used as adulterate to chickpea or
pigeonpea dal
• Flour:- Flour is used for pancake like preparation (badi or pakoda). Increasingly grasspea
flour is being used to adulterate the high price flour like chickpea and is used as satu (roasted
flour mixed with water).
• Feed: Ground splitted grain or flour are used as feed for lactating cattle or for bullock at the
time of heavy field use like land preparation(Yadav 1995)
• Fodder: Grasspea in is used as forage from the young vegetative stage to maturity for cattle
by cutting and mixing with small pieces of rice straw.
• .The threshed dried crop residue commonly used as hay .
Major challenges consider in Agriculture under the 10th Five years plan

• Agriculture for survival

• Low increment in crop production
• Unavailability of high quality seed
• Mainly dependent on rainfall
• Low crop intensity
• High cost of cultivation as compare to output.
• No systematized marketing.
• High risk in crop production
• Fragmentation of Agriculture Research and Development.

Varietal Improvement

At present research work in grasspea is almost absent except for maintenance of local
germplasm. In 1987 seventy six genotypes were collected from 18 districts of terai. (Bharti and
Neupane 1989). One set of active collections (both exotic and local) is maintained at GLRP
headquarters at Rampur, using upright freezers. Duplicate set of germplasm collected during
1987 has been sent to Agriculture Canada for long term storage. Germplasm collected during
for long term storage with a duplicate sample being kept at PGRU, Khumaltar for
medium term storage. Coordinated varietal trials of locally collected genotypes were conducted
at Rampur and Parwanipur but due to high ODAP content till now none of the variety were
recommended for farmer cultivation. It is reported that genotype, environment and their
interaction were found to be significant for ODAP content, so it is suggested to select the
varieties that show minimum interaction with environment.

Under the project "lentil and lathyrus in the cropping system of Nepal " funded by CLIMA some
of materials were tested in observation nursery at Rampur during 2002/03 and 2003/04 ( Table-1)
Data showed that yield range is very high and varying from 45 to 2000 kg/ha. The genotypes
Sarlahi local produced 2000 kg/ha followed by CLIMA Pink (1500 kg/ha),19A(1075 kg/ha) and
Sirha local(1000 kg/ha) At Rampur during 2002/03 breeder of NGLRP, made the cross of Sirha
local with 250-79 line (Australian line) and its F1 was grown during 2003/04.

Agronomic Research

Agronomical research on grasspea has not been conducted in Nepal so far. It is mostly
relay planted in late maturing rice field during November. When the field moisture is less
over night soaking in water and mixed with the fresh cow dung before broadcasting. Farmers are
under the impression that mixing of cow dung with seed will help to protect the seed from birds
and insects, and also enhance germination. Neither chemical fertilizer nor any insecticide spray
is generally used for grasspea cultivation. Grasspea is commonly mixed with linseed during
relaying. In recent years it is also gaining popularity in upland areas of inner terai and is grown
after maize with minimum land preparation and sometimes planted mixed with mustard, barley
or other winter legumes.

Constraints to Production-
1. Institutional constraints : Currently Lathyrus is not a priority crop for research
in Nepal. Research work is only at maintenance level. Subsequent policy and funds for research
is a problem.
2. Agro ecological constraints : Lathyrus is mostly grown as a rainfed crop in marginal
lands under minimum or zero inputs levels. Little agronomic work have been
done to optimize seeding date, seed rate, plant establishment and inter/mixed
cropping ratios.
3. Genetic constraints : Available local genotypes have high ODAP content resulting
in lathyrism if consumed in excessive quantity. Besides this, tiny growth and
poor harvest index are important draw backs of Lathyrus.
4. Biotic constraints : Thrips and aphids among insects and powdery mildew, rust,
wilt are some of the important biotic constraints.
5. Socioeconomic : Lathyrus seeds have low market price, and are less preferred
by consumers. Extension service for Lathyrus is almost nil(Neupane 1995).

Future Needs, Opportunities for Expansion

Rice is the number one crop in Nepal it covered 1516980 ha while 667077 ha went to the
wheat and 307111 ha to grain legumes lowland rice, a large area about 300000 ha remains fallow
during winter. Because of the versatility of Lathryus, both in waterlogged and drought
conditions, the opportunities for area and production expansion are enormous if suitable varieties
having low ODAP content along with the package of practices are made available. His Majesty' s
Government, Nepal has given priority in this aspect in Agriculture Prospective Plan (APP),
which keeps due concern in line of poverty alleviation by increasing income generating
opportunities. The adaptability of Lathyrus even in mid hills (1000 - 1500 m) has shown the
opportunities for its cultivation and use as food, feed and fodder.

Mechanism of operation of grass pea network

Sustainability of a grass pea network seems feasible because it is an important crop in South
Asian countries and commitment among network cooperators has been expressed. However,
both financial and human resources must be available to run the network. Key sustainability
aspects of the network are suggested as follows:

1. Some common objectives of the network must be identified.

2. Plan for funding support from among the member countries, though it will be a donor supported
projects.
3. There should be agreed commitment or MoU of participating countries of the network.
4. A steering committee from among representatives of the member countries must be formed and it
should have a coordinator to carry out a leadership role for network activities.
5. Development of a database of grasspea germplasm resources among network member countries
will be quite useful.
Research Strategy

 Collect, evaluate and select suitable varieties from local materials

 Obtained low toxin lines from ICARDA ,CLIMA and IARCs, and evaluate, select and
recommend Grasspea varieties.
 Obtained low toxin segregating materials from IARCs, and evaluate, select and
recommend grasspea. varieties.
 Continue breeding program for low ODAP content in collaborate with IARCs
 Identify sources of resistance for major diseases & pests: of major grain legume crops.
 Verify the on-station proven technology in farmer’s field through on-farm trials and
recommend it.

Acknowledgement
I would like to express my gratitude to Mr. D.S. Pathic, Executive Director, Dr. S.L Maskey,
Director, Crops and Horticulture Research NARC for providing the valuable suggestions and
excellent support. I am especially thankful to Dr. W. Eerskin, Assistant Diector General, and Dr. A.
Sarker, Lentil breeder ICARDA for his support and valuable suggestions. Author is grateful to Dr
KHM Siddque, Director and Dr. C. M. Francis, Deputy Director CLIMA for providing technical
support and breeding materials for successful implementation of the program. I am also indebted to
ICARDA staffs for technical support.

References
Bharati, M.P. 1986. Status of Lathyrus sativus among grain legumes cultivated in Nepal.
Page.142-145 in Lathyrus and Lathyrism (A.K. Kaul and D. Combes, eds.).Third World
Medical Research Foundation, New York.

Bharti, M.P., R.K. Neupane. 1988. Situation of Lathyrus sativus cultivation and screening of
germplasm in Nepal. Paper presented to the INILSEL Workshop, 2-6 May 1988, London.

Furman, B.J., and M.P. Bharati. 1989. Collection and characterization of legumes germplasm
in Nepal. National Grain Legumes Improvement Programme, Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal.

Joshi, M. 1997. Status of Grasspea (Lathyrus sativus L.) genetic resources in Nepal. Paper
presented in the Regional Working Group Meeting on Lathyrus Network in Asia, 7-10
December 1997, New Delhi.

Joshi, M.1999. Status of grain legumes in Nepal. Paper presented in the third National conference on
science and technology, 9-11 march, 1999 at RONAST, Kathmandu, Nepal.
MOAC, 2003. Statistical information on Nepalese Agriculture 2002/03. HMG, Ministry of
Agriculture and Co-operative. Business promotion and agriculture statistics division,
Kathmandu, Nepal.

Neupane, R.K. 1995. Status of Lathyrus research and production in Nepal. Pages. 29-35 in
Lathyrus Genetic Resources in Asia: Proceedings of a Regional Workshop, 27-29
December 1995, Indira Gandhi Agricultural University, Raipur, India (R.K. Arora, P.N.
Mathur, K.W. Riley and Y. Adham, eds.). IPGRI Office for South Asia, New Dehli.

Singh, R.B. 1993. Unexploited and potential food legumes in the Asia Pacific Region. Pages 9-
22. In: Proceeding of the Unexploited and potential food legumes in Asia. RAPA
publication no. 1993/7, Bangkok, Thailand.

Yadav, N.K., R.K. Neupane. 2002. Lentil Improvement in Nepal: Impact and adoption at farm
level. Paper presented in Workshop on lentil in South Asia, held at kathmandu during 22-
23 Feb., 2002.

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presented in 7th CLAN Steering committee meeting held at ICRISAT during-12,
November 2003.
Appendixes

Table –1 Yield and yield attributing traits of different genotypes tested at NGLRP Rampur in
observation nursery during 2002/03 and 2003/04

SN Genotypes DF DM P.Ht. Pods/ Seeds 100 Seed GY Remarks

plant /pod wt. (gm) kg/ha
1 19-A 93 131 69 130 2.3 10 1075
2 19-B 95 134 65 48 2.1 11 200
3 20-A 94 132 39 11 2.0 8 750
4 260-79-white 94 137 49 54 2.3 9 100
5 CLIMA pink 92 130 64 127 3.7 9 1550
6 CLIMA-2 white 83 132 47 62 2.3 10 694
7 CLIMA-2 Dark blue 83 137 60 64 2.5 10 875
8 CLIMA pink (New) 98 137 37 90 2.2 9 45
9 BARI-1 94 135 53 18 2.8 10 500
10 BARI-2 98 135 50 62 2.9 10 700
11 Sirha local 92 136 65 44 3.7 10 1000
12 Sarlahi local 91 135 61 138 2.3 9 2000
Mean 92 134 55 71 2.6 9.4 791
Maximum 98 137 69 138 3.7 10 2000
Minimum 83 130 37 11 2.0 8 45
SD 5.04 2.6 10.98 38.32 0.59 0.68 454
Notations
DF = Days to flowering
DM = Days to maturity
P. Ht. = Plant height (cm)
 Fig:1 Area(0ha), poroduction (0mt) and productivity (kg/ha)
of Grasspea since last ten years

4500
4000
3500
3000
Area
2500
Production
2000
Productivity
1500
1000
500
0
1993/94

1994/95

1995/96

1996/97

1997/98

1998/99

1999/00

2000/01

2001/02

2002/03
Fiscal Year
Fig: 2 Distribution of grasspea area according to political regions of Nepal

2%
4%

9%
26%

Eastern
Central
Western
Mid Western
Far Western

59%
 Fig:3 Grasspea productivity according to political Region

900

800

700

600

500
Productivity
400

300

200

100

E C W MW FW
Political Region
Fig:4 Area under winter legumes in Nepal

5% 3%

Lentil
Chickpea
Grasspea

92%