FORAGE PRODUCTION OF SELECTED PALATABLE GRASSES IN BUNDELKHAND REGION (U. P.)
NEEL RATAN AND U. N. SINGH*
Department of Botany
D. V. Postgraduate College,
Orai-285 001 (U. P.), India
*(e-mail : uma_nath_singh@yahoo.co.in)
SUMMARY
Inspite of as soil binders and aid in soil conservation, the grasses assume prime importance as
livestock feed. In their principal role, the tropical grasses stand as the highest potential yielder of starch and proteins equivalent to any other crop plants and further being the dominant component of tropical pastures, as the cheapest sources of animal feed (Rajora, 2002). The grass and grazing are important constituents of fodder resources in India. Out of the total land area of 3.2 million sq. km of this country, about one-third falls under arid and semi-arid zone (Vora and Bhatnagar, 2003). Perennial grass species like Dichanthium annulatum, Iseilema laxum, Sehima nervosum and Panicum antidotale are grouped as “High Perennial” species as they give high forage yield under natural rainfed conditions.
Key words : Palatable grasses, Dichanthium, Iseilema, Sehima, Panicum