Performance of various forage grasses under spring and monsoon seasons at Pothowar plateau (Pakistan).

Abstract

A long term field experiment was conducted to investigate the performance of various warm season forage grass species under rain-fed conditions at National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad during 1998 2003. The maximum fresh and dry biomass was obtained from Pennisetum purpureum (Elephant grass) followed by Pennisetum purpureum (Mott grass). Eragrostis superba, Panicum maximum, Bothriochloa pertusa and Cenchrus ciliaris cultivars produced similar fresh and dry biomass and were next to the Pennisetum purpureum. Among the various grasses under study the average lowest biomass was obtained from Digitaria diversinesis and Digitaria swazilandensis, while Eragrostis curvula, Vetiveria zizynoides, Digitaria decumbens and Chloris gayana produced statistically similar and slightly higher biomass than that of Digitaria swazilandensis and Digitaria diverersinesis. Forage yield of all the grasses was higher in monsoon compared to spring season due to prolong growing season. Maximum percent moisture contents were observed during spring season.