Productivity and nutritional value of four forage grass cultivars compared to Rhodes grass irrigated with saline water

Abstract

Shortage of fresh water resources and deterioration of groundwater quantity and quality is an increasing problem globally. Effects include limitations on the number of crops that can be successfully grown. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has one of the world's harshest environments, with scarce surface and groundwater. The present study assessed the performance of five forage cultivars under different salinity stresses to determine their salt tolerance. Two Buffel grass ('Cenchrus ciliaris') cultivars Laredo and Pecos, two Guinea grass ('Panicum maximum') cultivars Guinea and Green Panic, and one Rhodes grass ('Chloris gayana') cultivar Katambora were evaluated over two successive years for their potential yield and nutritional values under four salinity levels of irrigation water viz. control (200 ppm), 6000, 12000, 18000 ppm. The highest dry yield production was observed in 'Cenchrus ciliaris' cv. Pecos and Laredo, 'P. maximum' cv. Green Panic, and 'Chloris guyana' cv. Katambora under moderate salinity (6000 ppm). All forage grasses showed significant yield reductions at 12000 ppm ranging between 14 to 23%, compared to control. Salinity slightly improved forage quality parameters by significantly increasing crude protein (CP) and decreasing acid-detergent fibre (ADF). These results identifed salt tolerant forage species that could enhance saline agriculture scheme in the UAE. 'Cenchrus ciliaris' cv. Laredo and Pecos exhibited good productive potential under salinity and can be grown to enhance farm productivity in arid environment and conserve freshwater for other usages.