PERFORMANCE OF TROPICAL FORAGE GRASSES WITH DIFFERENT METHODS OF PLANTING IN ALKALI SOILS UNDER RAIN-FED CONDITION

A field experiment was conducted during the rainy seasons of 1986 and 1987 on alkali soil of pH 10.5 in split-plot design with 5 grasses, viz. Karnal grass [Leptochloa fusca (Linn.) P. Beauv.], rhodes grass (Chloris gayana Kunth), blue panic (Panicum antidotale Retz.), gatton panic (Panicum maximum Jacq.) and para grass [Brachiaria mutica (Forsskal) Stapf], in mian plots and 3 planting methods, viz. planting on ridge, furrow and surface, in subplots replicated 4 times. In normal rainfall year of 1986, Karnal grass gave significantly greater green-forage and dry-matter yields (14.6 and 5.2 tonnes/ha respectively) than the other grasses. In extremely low rainfall year of 1987, gatton panic and rhodes grasses yielded more than the other grasses. Planting of grasses on ridges was better than the other methods. Furrow planting gave the maximum yield of para grass but minimum of rhodes grass. In 1986, Karnal grass utilized 39.5% of rain-water when planted on ridges compared 13% by blue panic when planted in furrows. The top 0-30 cm-soil layer contributed maximum to grass evapotranspiration.