Grass Treatments Research Articles

Reclamation of a saline-sodic soil by gypsum and Leptochloa fusca

Amelioration of sodic and saline-sodic soils by chemical amendments requires high capital input. Cultivation of salt tolerant grasses may mobilize the native lime (CaCO 3) in these soils through root action to substitute the chemical approach. A saline-sodic soil (pH s = 9.1, EC e = 9.8 dS m −1, SAR = 103, CaCO 3 = 9.4%, CEC = 122 mmol c L −1, texture = sandy clay loam) was experimented for reclamation. Concrete cylinders (60 cm long, 30 cm internal diameter) were used to prepare the soil columns. The bottom of each column was padded with a 5 cm layer of gravel and sand to facilitate leaching. In each lysimeter, soil was added in small increments to obtain a uniform soil column. The soil was packed to a height of 40 cm, making the soil depth in each column 35 cm. Four treatments, one cropped i.e. kallar grass ( Leptochloa fusca) and three non-cropped (control, gypsum @ 50%, and 100% gypsum requirement) were leached with four leaching cycles (LC 1 to LC 4) at different time intervals. Canal water (EC =0.28 dS m −1, SAR = 0.8) was used for leaching. Two leaching cycles, LC 2 and LC 3, were completed during the peak growth of kallar grass (summer) and the remaining two, LC 1 and LC 4, were completed during winter when its growth was very slow. After the completion of LC 4, soil samples were collected from the lysimeters at 0–15 and 15–30 cm depths. The treatment receiving gypsum at higher rate (100% GR) removed the greatest amount of Na + from the soil columns and caused a substantial decrease in soil salinity (EC) and sodicity (SAR). Performance of the grass treatment in enhancing the leaching of Na + was between the gypsum treatments. Kallar grass removed more Na + during summer than during winter. Effectiveness of the treatments for soil reclamation was in the order: 100% GR > kallar grass > 50% GR > control.

Forage Grasses Decrease Alfalfa Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Damage and Larval Numbers in Alfalfa-Grass Intercrops

The effects of intercropping forage grasses with alfalfa, Medicago sativa (L.), on larval numbers, number of damaged tips, and intensity of feeding damage by alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Gyllenhal), were studied in 1990 and 1995 field experiments. The 1990 experiment consisted of treatments that included alfalfa seeded alone and in combination with 3 forage grasses: smooth bromegrass, Bromus inermis (Leyss.); orchardgrass, Dactylis glomerata (L.); and timothy, Phleum pratense (L.). There were significantly more alfalfa weevil larvae in alfalfa monocultures than in alfalfa-forage grass mixtures on 2 sampling dates in 1990. Alfalfa weevil damage also was greater in alfalfa monocultures than in 4 of 6 mixtures at harvest. The 1995 experiment consisted of treatments that included alfalfa seeded alone and in combination with smooth bromegrass, orchardgrass, timothy, and Kentucky bluegrass, Poa pratensis (L.) studied 1 and 2 yr after establishment. Number of alfalfa weevil larvae, number of damaged tips, and intensity of weevil feeding were significantly reduced in alfalfa-forage grass treatments in the 1st but not the 2nd year after establishment. Overall reductions in larval numbers of up to 80% and tip damage of up to 25% were documented in the alfalfa-forage grass intercrops. Intercropping forage grasses with alfalfa is a potential cultural control tactic to reduce alfalfa weevil populations and their damage in legume forage production systems.

Contour grass strips: A laboratory simulation of their role in erosion control using live grasses

The effectiveness of contour grass strips in controlling erosion was studied in a laboratory experiment involving two grass treatments ( Festuca ovina and Poa pratensis) and a bare soil control, five slopes (5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 degrees) and two discharge types (runoff only and rainfall-runoff combined) with two replications. Significant differences were observed between the two grass species with Festuca ovina giving the greater reduction in soil loss. This is explained by the greater root density and the interwoven nature of the stems and leaves.

The Effects of Competition on Growth and Form in Glechoma hederacea

Morphological responses to competition were analysed in Glechoma hederacea, a clonal herb with plagiotropic shoots. Ramets of clones were grown either in isolation or in competition with cut or uncut Lolium perenne swards. G. hederacea produced the same above ground biomass, but different morphologies when grown with short and tall grass. Despite considerable reductions in biomass and stolon branching when grown with competition rather than in isolation, the capacity for lateral extension of primary stolons was maintained. All other measured variables were reduced by competition, except for stolon internode length and petiole length and mass. These variables reached their greatest values in the uncut grass treatments. These responses could promote avoidance of competition by escape in both the horizontal and vertical planes; growth through vegetated sites would be rapid, and sites where competitors are absent would be occupied more densely. Reductions in PAR and in the R/FR ratio incident on the plant are both implicated in inducing these morphological changes. Differences in relative humidity, caused by the proximity of neighbours, also appeared to exert a considerable influence upon growth and morphology of G. hederacea. Connected parts of G. hederacea clones grown with and without competition developed different morphologies; each primary stolon behaved as an integrated physiological unit, developing a morphology appropriate for the conditions in which it was growing.

Reduction of proteolysis during ensilage of perennial ryegrass by protease inhibitors

AbstractTwo experiments were carried out to assess the effectiveness of protease inhibitors in reducing proteolysis during ensilage. Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) (279 g dry matter (DM) kg−1, experiment 1 and 170 gDM kg−1 experiment 2) was ensiled in laboratory silos for 82 and 50 days, respectively. With the exception of the application of formic acid (1.5 g kg−1) plus formalin (3 g kg−1) in experiment 1, all silages had pH values of less than 4.0 and lactic acid concentrations of greater than 100 g kg−1 DM. Application of the cysteine endopeptidase inhibitor E‐64 (1‐trans‐epoxysuccinyl‐leucylamido(4‐guanidino) butane, 22.5 mg kg−1 reduced proteolysis during ensilage as measured by a reduction in the quantities of soluble non‐protein N in silage to 0.76 and 0.91 of control values (528 and 643 g kg−1 total N) in experiments 1 and 2, respectively. In experiment 2 increasing the application rate of E‐64 from 22.5 to 45 mg kg−1 further reduced the extent of proteolysis from 0.91 to 0.75 of control soluble non‐protein N concentrations. Proteolysis was also reduced in experiment 2 by two other cysteine endopeptidase inhibitors, antipain (32 mg kg−1, 0.81 of control) and cystain (1.2 mg kg−1; 0.89 of control). Pepstatin A (300 mg kg−1), an inhibitor of aspartic acid endopeptidases, did not reduce soluble non‐protein N concentrations in experiment 1 but did do so in experiment 2 (0.81 of control). Treatment of grass at ensiling with Lactobacillus plantarum (106 g−1) reduced silage non‐protein N concentrations to 0.83 of the control. The effects of E‐64 and pepstatin A and of E‐64 and L plantarum in experiment 2 were addive. Cysteine endopeptidases therefore play an important role in protein breakdown during ensilage.

Influence of Macroclimate, Landscape Position, and Management on Soil Organic Matter in Agroecosystems

We investigated patterns of soil organic matter, microbial biomass, and potential C and N mineralization in soils across landscape, regional, and management treatments in eastern Colorado. Total soil C, N, and P, microbial biomass, and C and N mineralization were highest at a northern site and on toeslope landscape positions. No‐tillage and perennial grass treatments had significantly higher microbial biomass and C mineralization rates than conventional tillage treatments after only 5 yr of treatment, but only at the sites and landscape positions with high production and organic matter contents. Potential N mineralization was not different among management treatments. We suggest that a simple relationship between total soil organic matter and nutrient supply rates holds for relatively static systems represented by spatial gradients, but that transient systems undergoing losses or gains in soil organic matter may have a lag in nutrient supply responses due to immobilization dynamics.

An agroforestry practice for the development of salt lands usingProsopis juliflora andLeptochloa fusca

High salt concentration in the soil is a serious problem in vast areas of otherwise productive agricultural lands in India. Establishment of salt tolerant vegetation could be an effective way of ameliorating this problem. In an 8-year field trial on an alkali soil, growth and biomass production ofProsopis juliflora was greater in sole stand than when interplanted with the grassLeptochloa fusca, but soil improvement was greater for the mixed tree-grass treatment.Prosopis accumulated substantially more biomass nutrients when in sole stand, but total nutrient recycling was similar with and without grass. Less salt tolerant but more palatable fodder crops such asTrifolium resupinatum, T. alexandrium andMelilotus denticulata were successfully grown withProsopis after removingL. fusca in theProsopis plus grass treatment 50 months after commencement. Tentative economic analysis suggests theProsopis plus grass system gives higher returns. TheProsopis-Leptochloa system combines production with biological reclamation, and is an appropriate form of reclamation agroforestry for alkali lands.

Sensitivity of total, light fraction and mineralizable organic matter to management practices in a Lethbridge soil

Crop management influences the quantity and quality of organic matter in agricultural soils. A crop rotation study established at Lethbridge, Alberta in 1951 was sampled in September 1992 to determine the effect of crop management on total, light fraction and mineralizable (10-wk) organic matter contents. Spring wheat was the dominant cropping system; treatments examined include fallow frequency, forage hay production in rotation, manure amendment, N fertilizer application, and native grass. The two latter treatments were introduced in 1985. Total and light fraction organic matter did not vary among phases of the rotation whereas mineralized C tended to be lowest during and shortly after a fallow phase. When averaged across rotation phases, total, light fraction, and mineralized organic matter were enhanced by reduced fallow frequency, manure additons, hay production and native grass. Highest concentrations of total and labile organic concentrations in the 0- to 7.5-cm soil depth were generally found in the continuously-cropped wheat and native grass treatments. Hay production significantly increased soil organic matter in the 15- to 30-cm soil depth. Nitrogen fertilization did not increase soil organic matter in this study, likely because of minimal yield response over the treatment period. Sensitivity of the various indicators to treatment [(highest–lowest)/lowest] was 0.2 for total, 2.5 for light fraction, and 1.5 for mineralized soil organic C. Light fraction organic matter was the most robust indicator of management-induced effects on soil organic matter. Key words: Labile organic matter, fallow frequency, forage hay production, manure, native grass

Effect of long term cropping on availability of Cu, Mn and Zn in soil following clearing of a boreal forest

Temporal changes in labile soil Cu, Mn and Zn were measured for up to 23 years after conversion of a boreal forest to the following crop production systems: (i) continuous barley, (ii) continuous legume and (iii) continuous bromegrass for hay, and (iv) barley/legume-bromegrass hay rotation. Decreases in labile Mn and Zn were greater than can be accounted for by crop offtake except for the continuous grass treatment. Some Mn and Zn was probably converted to less labile forms due mostly to reduction in soil organic matter associated with soil cultivation and some cropping systems. Labile copper was increased slightly with time under agriculture.

Feeding-patch choice by red deer in relation to foraging efficiency : An experiment.

We tested the idea that ruminants allocate their feeding time to habitat patches in relation to foraging efficiency. We used five tame red deer (Cervus elaphus) in an enclosure planted with four treatment of timothy grass (Phleum pratense) differing in their stage of growth. Older swards offered higher biomass but lower nutritional quality than younger swards. We observed time spent feeding in each treatment during each of seven trials. We measured goodness-of-fit between observed times and predictions from two alternative hypotheses differing in optimization strategy (maximizing versus matching), and a third, null hypothesis. We tested the hypotheses using two alternative currecies: digestible protein, and digestible dry matter or energy. Although digestible protein concentration and dry-matter digestibility were highly correlated (r=0.763, P<0.001), the wider range of digestible protein made it the much more sensitive measure of forage quality. Distributions of feeding time closely matched estimated intake rates of digestible protein (R infPredsup2 =0.899) across all animals and trials. The other hypotheses were rejected. The results have important ecological implications in showing the underlying role of food in the selection of habitat by ruminants, and that simple, mechanistic models of forage intake and digestion can be scaled up to the level of animal behavioural choices.

Succession on an Alaskan Tundra Disturbance with and without Assisted Revegetation with Grass

The long-term effects of planted grass on the rate and pattern of succession were evaluated on a construction-disturbed alluvial fan tundra site in the central Brooks Range of Alaska. Plots were evaluated 4 and 11 yr after the site was scarified and partially fertilized and seeded in strips with a grass mix. Cover of the surviving planted grass, Festuca rubra, was < 5%. In comparison with the no-grass treatment, the grass treatment inhibited or delayed establishment and growth of native plants. Many species, particularly nonlegume forbs such as Epilobium latifolium, failed to establish on the grass treatment; establishment of other nonlegume forbs and some shrubs, including Artemisia tilesii and Salix glauca, was delayed; and growth of the dominant shrub Salix alaxensis was inhibited. In contrast, legumes such as Astragalus alpinus established and grew equally well on both treatments. Grass treatment effects were attributed to the very dense shallow root system of the planted grass and to higher moss cover, which probably reduced soil moisture in the upper portion of the soil profile, decreased the number of safe sites for seedling establishment, and competed for limited nutrients.

EVALUATION OF LOW-INPUT PECAN ORCHARD FLOOR MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

Legume ground covers in pecan orchards can reduce nitrogen inputs and increase beneficial insects. Preliminary data indicate that certain legumes can supply over 100 kg·ha-1 N. Additionally, certain legumes have high aphid populations which attract beneficial insects. When aphid populations on the legumes crash, beneficial insects seek alternative food sources in the pecan trees, thus reducing the necessity for pesticide applications. Preliminary studies suggest that a mixture of 'Dixie' crimson clover and hairy vetch produces high populations of beneficial insects and over 100 kg·ha-1 N. Treatments were established at four pecan orchard sites in Oklahoma, each with 5 ha of a crimson clover/vetch mixture and 5 ha of native grass sod. Additions of 0-200 kg·ha-1 N were added to the sod plots but no supplemental N was added to the legume plots. Nitrogen and biomass production by the legumes, and leaf N concentration of pecans were determined. In addition, both aphid and beneficial insect populations were monitored in the legume and grass treatments, and in the pecan trees. Results will be discussed in the presentation.

The effect of maxgrass silage additive and level of concentrate supplementation on silage intake, animal performance and carcass characteristics of finishing beef cattle

Maxgrass (BP Chemicals Ltd), a product containing ammonium hexamethanoate, ammonium hexapropionate and carboxylic acids, has been claimed to restrict the extent of WSC fermentation in herbage during ensiling. This has been shown to result in increased DM intake and subsequent animal performance (Kennedy 1990). The objective of the present experiment was to further investigate the effects of this treatment of grass at ensiling and in particular to examine the interaction of the responses with levels of concentrate supplementation when offered to finishing beef cattle. Evaluation parameters included an assessment of additive effect on silage intake, animal performance and carcass characteristics.Approximately 70 tonnes of primary growth grass was ensiled from 22-24 May 1990 into each of eight concrete covered, walled silos (4 per treatment). Grass was treated with Maxgrass (6 l/t) or left untreated. Seventy-two Continental cattle (460 kg) were blocked into groups of 9 according to liveweight and allocated at random to either untreated or Maxgrass treated silage supplemented with 0, 1.5, 3.0 or 4.5 kg/day of a 15% CP proprietary beef concentrate or slaughtered.

Effects of rapeseed oil on rumen enzyme activity and in sacco degradation of grass silage

The effects of rapeseed oil (double zero variety, 00) supplement (RSO) on rumen protozoal, microbial carboxylmethylcellulase (CMCase) and xylanase activity was studied on four rumen-fistulated Friesian bulls in a 2×2 changeover design. Each experimental period lasted 21 days. The basal diet was 4.8 kg day −1 dry matter (DM) fresh cut grass silage and 2.6 kg day −1 DM rolled barley. The test feed (RSO) was formulated by supplementing the basal diet with 0.5 kg crude rapeseed oil. Crude RSO contained 98.2% fatty acids and was mixed daily with rolled barley manually. Feeding took place twice a day at 07:00 and 19:00 h. Drinking water was available at all times. In sacco rumen degradability of RSO-treated (RSOT) and untreated (UTS) fresh cut grass silage was determined on both basal and RSO diets during both periods. A daily supplement of 0.5 kg RSO had no effect ( P = 0.53) on rumen pH but decreased ( P = 0.01) protozoal mass (gl −1). It also depressed ( P = 0.07) rumen digesta CMCase and xylanase ( P = 0.01) activities. Carboxylmethylcellulase and xylanase activities from rumen-incubated grass silage fibre was depressed by both dietary RSO and RSO treatment of grass silage prior to incubation. In sacco degradability of grass silage DM, neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) was lowered both by dietary RSO and RSO treatment of grass silage prior to rumen incubation. However, RSO treatment of grass silage was not as effective in fibre degradation as dietary RSO. The value for the soluble fraction ( a) of RSOT silage NDF and ADF was negative on both diets, whereas the value for the insoluble, potentially degradable material ( b), was high for RSOT silage. Lag time was extended by both dietary RSO and RSO treatment of silage prior to rumen incubation. The relationship of rumen CMCase and xylanase activity levels to in sacco NDF degradation of both RSOT and UTS on both diets was linear ( r = 0.97).

A model for backscattering characteristics of tall prairie grass canopies at microwave frequencies

We have developed a discrete microwave scattering model, describing the radar backscattering coefficient from two treatments (burned and unburned) of tall prairie grass canopies at VV (electric field vector of the transmitted and received signals are vertically oriented) and HH (electric field vector of the transmitted and received signals and horizontally oriented) polarizations, based on the physical, biophysical, and geometrical characteristics of such canopies. Grass blades are modeled as thin and finite dielectric ellipsoids with arbitrary orientations. Scattering by an individual grass blade is formulated using a generalization of the Rayleigh—Gans approximation with a quasistatic solution for the expansion of the interior field. By associating, with each grass blade, various appropriate distribution functions, the relative orientation, location, height, cross section, and permittivity of each grass blade is taken into account. This makes for a more realistic overall description of the canopy. Kirchhoff's surface scattering is used to model the backscatter from the soil surface. An incoherent summation of the effect of grass blades and soil surface is adopted to obtain the total canopy backscattering coefficient, taking into account the attenutaion experienced by the signal as it travels through the canopy. The results of this model are given for 1.5, 5, and 10 GHz (L-, C-, and X-band). Although for the shorter wavelengths (X-band) the Rayleigh—Gans criteria is not totally satisfied, nevertheless, the limited available measured X-band data compare relatively well with the results of this model both quantitatively and qualitatively.

Prophylactic treatment of grass pollen‐induced asthma with cetirizine

In a double-blind randomized parallel-group study, six investigators enrolled 43 subjects to study the prophylactic effect of 10 mg cetirizine b.i.d. on grass pollen-induced asthma. The control group received 60 mg b.i.d. terfenadine, given to avoid withdrawals from the trial because of hay fever symptoms. Subjects were included in the study between the appearance of the first symptoms of hay fever and those of pollen-induced asthma. The hay fever and asthma symptoms, visual analogue scores (VAS), FEV1 and self-assessment data on complaints, salvage treatment and peak-flow values were statistically analysed. Both treatments were well tolerated, with a low and similar incidence of side-effects. During the last 3 weeks of treatment, six (32%) of the 19 subjects on cetirizine who were evaluable for efficacy remained free of asthma complaints, and another two (10%) had only a single minor attack. None had a grade 3 (incapacitating) attack. Conversely, only one (5%) of the 20 evaluable subjects on terfenadine remained complaint free, and all others (95%) had multiple attacks, which incapacitated three (15%) of them. Nasal obstruction, dyspnoea, morning peak flow, consumption of beta 2-mimetics and an efficacy index on asthma, combining complaints and rescue drug consumption, were significantly better on cetirizine (P less than 0.05). It is concluded that cetirizine is able to prevent the exacerbation of asthma induced by grass pollen.

The influence of grass root systems on growth and form of Trifolium repens

Pure swards of the grasses Dactylis glomerata, Holcus lanatus, and Lolium perenne were allowed to grow in boxes in a standard growth medium; one additional set of boxes with no grasses was used as a control. After 43 weeks, all aboveground parts of the grasses were removed by harvesting at 2 cm below ground level. Next, clones of Trifolium repens collected from patches in a pasture dominated by these three grasses were introduced into each of the grass boxes, in all combinations of grass treatment and T. repens origin, and allowed to grow for 16 weeks. Both the site of origin of the T. repens clones and the treatment imposed by the grasses had significant influences on the growth and form of T. repens. Treatment effects were consistent for most characters, and on average, depression of growth was in the following order: Dactylis &gt; Lolium &gt; Holcus &gt; control. This ranking differs from that reported by many other studies where either whole plants or shoot systems alone were used as the treatment effects on T. repens. Key words: interference, growth, morphogenesis, roots, Trifolium repens.

Organic-matter effects on soil strength properties

Measurements of bulk density, moisture retention, aggregate stability and shear strength were taken for sandy loam and loamy sand soils with different organic-matter contents ranging from 1.23 to 5.64%. Organic matter in soils originated from either being under grass treatment for some years or mixing two forms of peat each at 4, 11 and 17% rates to a control soil. Aggregate stability was measured by the percentage water stable aggregates (WSA) as well as individual aggregate energy (IAE) measured using single drop impact test. Organic matter from grass significantly increased percentage WSA from 2.15 to 21.62% and IAE from 4 to 33 mJ. While percentage WSA reduced significantly from 2.50 to 0.88 with increasing peat content, the IAE reduced only slightly from 3.93 to 3.45 mJ. This suggests that peat reduces the overall soil stability without affecting the strength of individual aggregates. Organic matter from both grass and peat reduced bulk density and increased moisture retention. While organic matter from grass increased soil shear strength from 19.17 to 24.44 kN m −2, that from peat reduced it from 15.47 to 11.90 kN m −2. The effects of both forms of organic matter on bulk density and moisture retention were expected to have reduced their strengths. However, since organic matter from grass improved aggregate stability, it reduced soil dispersion in water and improved shear strength, while peat only made the soil aggregates fall apart and reduced their shear strengths. The results from this study show that the influence of organic matter on soil shear strength depends on whether or not it improves soil aggregate stability.

Effect of organic matter on splash detachment and the processes involved

AbstractThe influence of organic matter on splash detachment was investigated using soils with grass and peat treatments. The relationship between organic matter and aggregate stability to water disruption was positive for soils with grass treatment while it was negative for those with peat treatment. Organic matter from both treatments, however, reduced splash detachment by rainfall. Soils with grass did this by increasing aggregate stability while peat acted as a mulch on the soil surface. This implies that though organic matter always reduces splash detachment, different processes may be involved, depending on the form of the organic material.Because of the different processes involved, both negative and positive relationships between splash detachment and aggregate stability as reported in literature were obtained for the soils with grass and peat respectively.

Agroforestry on alkali soil: effect of planting methods and amendments on initial growth, biomass accumulation and chemical composition of mesquite (Prosopis juliflora (SW) DC) with inter-space planted with and without Karnal grass (Diplachne fusca Linn. P. Beauv.)

Growth responses of mesquite (Prosopis juliflora (SW) DC.) during establishment stage to planting methods and amendments were studied in a highly alkali soil (Aquic Natrustalf, ESP 94), at the experimental farm of the Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal in July, 1984. Six combinations of planting methods and amendments with and without Karnal grass (Diplachne fusca Linn. P Beauv) in the inter-row space were compared in a four times replicated field experiment in randomised block design. The mean plant height (MPH), diameter at stump height (DSH), diameter at breast height (DBH), lopped biomass 16 months past planting and total biomass attained in 2 years period were significantly less when inter-row space was planted with Karnal grass. The MPH (cm), DSH and DBH (mm) attained in 2 years period were 319, 43.4 and 15.1 in with grass as compared to 405, 53.4 and 20.3 in without grass treatments. Similarly, the total biomass attained in 2 years was about 3 times more where inter-row space was not planted with grass. Growth was better when mesquite was planted by auger hole and pit methods than in trench plantation, when the original soil was treated with gypsum at 3 kg plant−1 and then refilled. However, using trenches of dimensions 30 × 30 cm and filled with a mixture of original soil, 3 kg gypsum and 8 kg farm yard manure plant−1 appeared to be promising method for establishing mesquite plantations on highly deteriorated alkali soils. The effect of amendments on growth decreased in the order gypsum + FYM, gypsum + rice husk, gypsum, control. In two years period, 37 percent mesquite died in the trenches in which the original soil was left unchanged. Effect of treatments on nutrient concentrations and total accumulations in different segments of mesquite is discussed. Karnal grass gave 25.3 t ha−1 green forage yield in 8 cuts without amendment in a growth period of 26 months proving its great potential as a folder crop for the adverse sites. The inorganic chemical composition of the shoots, including trace elements Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu, is such as to make this species a highly promising plant for the exploitation of alkali soils. Growing Karnal grass with mesquite for a period of about 2 years reduced soil pH and EC significantly and improved organic carbon and available N contents. The grass improved water infiltration rates and moisture storage in the lower layers of the profile.