Evaluation of exotic grasses in the mesic climate of Pothwar plateau, Pakistan
2007
Afzal, J. (National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad (Pakistan). Rangeland Research Programme) | Ullah, M.A. (National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad (Pakistan). Rangeland Research Programme) | Anwar, M. (National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad (Pakistan). Rangeland Research Programme) | Begum, I. ((National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad (Pakistan). Pulses Programme)
Continuous heavy grazing has reduced drastically the biomass productivity of rangelands in Pakistan. Therefore, to improve brazing potential of the rangelands. 10 promising exotic grass species along with an indigenous benchmark, Blue Panic Grass (Panicum antidotale) were tested in the Rainfed conditions of National Agricultural Research Center (NARC), Islamabad for biomass production comparison. Data on plant height, number of tillers, aboveground fresh and dry matter (DM) production were collected. Hybrid Bajra/Mott grass (Pennisetum purpureum var. Mott.), Green Panic (Panicum maximum var. Gatton), and Elephant/Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum var. elephant) gave significantly greater aboveground dry matter than that of indigenous benchmark (P less than 0.01). Among these grasses, only Green Panic could be grown through seeding, whereas the other two grass species are grown through cutting or slip planting. Since cutting or slip planting i s highly labour intensive, Green Panic is recommended for range seeding in the mesic areas of Pothowar plateau. However, establishment of on-farm forage reserves of Mott and Elephant grass through cutting/slip planting on the marginal lands of high rainfall areas of Pothwar could provide not only additional forage to the livestock for emergency use but will also help reduce grazing pressure on the overstocked rangelands of the Plateau.
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