CONSERVATION EFFICIENCIES OF GRASSES IN BOULDERY RIVERBED LANDS

Abstract

An investigation was carried out at Research Farm of Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Intstitute, Dehradun during 1993-94 to assess the conservation efficiencies of five grass species in bouldery riverbed lands of Doon valley. Among various grasses, Saccharum munja showed best performance with respect to clump diameter, lateral root spread, vertical root length, total number of roots, oven dry root and aerial biomass while other species showed their differential response for different root and shoot parameters. In general, the percentage root biomass decreased with increasing soil depth in all the species. Though the total root biomass was one of the lowest in Eulaliopsis binata, it was maximum in upper soil horizon (0-30cm), however, the trend was reverse in case of S.munja. The soil binding value was also the highest in S.munja (307.2) followed by Panicurn maximum (254.3), E.binata (222.6) Chrysopogon fulvus (156.9) and minimum in Arundo donax (59.1) indicating their relative soil conservation efficiencies under degraded bouldery riverbed lands and can be exploited well as vegetative measures for the rehabilitation and efficient utilization of such lands.