Chikori Ki Kheti: Chikori farming also provides green fodder to animals, how useful and what are the benefits?

Chikori farming is beneficial for both animals and humans due to its good amount of protein, carbohydrates, minerals and phytobioactive elements. Kasani is a crop which has many uses. Apart from green fodder, it is used medicinally in diseases like cancer. In food, it is used with coffee. Its roots are roasted and mixed in coffee, which changes the taste of coffee. Its root looks like radish.

Chikori, also known as Kasani, is grown as a cash crop in India. In India, it is mostly grown as a green fodder crop for animals. Chikori is cultivated easily in both temperate and temperate climates. Blue flowers grow on the chikori or Kasani plant, which also look beautiful. Seeds are extracted from these flowers. These seeds are small, light brown and white in color. In India, chikori is found in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Kashmir.

Use of chikori as fodder for pastures

Chikori is used as animal feed in pastures. It has high nutrition and anti-parasitic properties, which are beneficial for livestock feed.

What is chikori?

Chikori grown in Europe has been used for hundreds of years. It has also been a good alternative to the popular coffee. It is also used as a leafy vegetable. In India, it is mostly used in pastures as a nutrient-rich fodder option for animals.

About Chikori Plant

The scientific name of chikori is Cichorium intybus L. Chikori is a broad-leafed herb that comes from the sunflower family. Chikori is also known as Blue Daisy, Blue Sailor, Wild Bachelor Button, Italian Dandelion and Chikori is rich in minerals that provide high protein feed during the growing season.

The Chikori is a high-quality feed for animals. Its crude protein level ranges from 10 to 32 percent, and chikori leaves strengthen the digestive power of animals. Chikori contains high levels of minerals that provide potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, zinc and sodium to livestock.

Chikori fodder is especially popular among goat and sheep farmers. It is believed that it has the power to reduce internal parasites in goats and sheep.

Preparation of place for planting

Chikori is cultivated according to the season. It is easy to grow chikori in plowed soil. It can also be planted without plowing, but it is difficult.

When chikori is sown in 2 to 3 acres with legumes like clover, the seed mixture can be reduced. The depth of planting is about ⅛ to ¼ inch. Its plants require normal temperature for growth. However, winter season is considered the best for chikori cultivation.

When to plant chikori

It is better to plant chikori in spring or mid autumn. The seeds take 7 to 21 days to germinate.

Chikori Frost Seeding

Prepare the planting site in the fall before sowing. Then frost seed chikori in early spring. Spread the seed by hand or with a broadcaster.

Seed Mixtures in Chikori

Chikori is usually used as a mixed forage seed rather than sown alone. It mixes well with legumes. Legumes have the ability to fix nitrogen.

Chikori Life Cycle

If managed properly, chikori has a life cycle of 3 to 7 years. Ideally, chikori should be grazed to a height of about 8 to 10 inches. Using a general rule of half graze and half leave can help protect it from overgrazing. Like many plant species, once chikori flowers, its forage quality begins to decline. Keep this in mind when managing and grazing pastures.

On the other hand, if you are grazing small ruminants such as goats and sheep, wait at least 30 days before returning to feed chikori, depending on the plant’s growth and parasite cycle.

Benefits and uses of chikori

Chikori plant is used to relieve skin problems such as eczema, burns and acne. Chikori has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. It is also used for glowing skin.

Chikori leaves are used to prepare delicious salads.

Chikori roots are used to prepare chikori coffee, which is considered very delicious.

Apart from this, chikori is also used in many dishes such as soup, stew and pasta.

Chikori is also used in the form of powder or capsules for its beneficial properties for health. 

Chikori root is mainly used as a medicine. Consumption of chikori is beneficial for loss of appetite, stomach problems, constipation, rapid heartbeat and many other diseases.

Chikori is not just a fodder. Due to its beneficial properties for health, it is a true superfood.

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