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Graminae
Common names
Machuri (Uttar Pradesh), musel (Maharashtra), moshi (Gujarat)
(India).
Description
Perennial, stems 15-50 cm long, ascending from a stout, hard,
sometimes shortly creeping root-stock, very slender, simple or sparingly
branched; root-fibres wiry. Leaves 7-15 cm long by 1-3 mm wide, linear;
panicle occupying one-third to one-half of the stem, long, narrow, of distant
axillary fascicles 6-12 mm long. Involucral spikelets truly whorled, 4
mm long. Pedicellate spikelets on long, ciliate pedicels. Bisexual spikelets
narrowly lanceolate, 5 mm long (Cooke, 1958). Roots reach 105 cm, with
most activity at 38 cm (Dabadghao & Shankarnarayan, 1973).
Season of growth
Summer.
Altitude range
Sea-level to 760 m in Mysore, India.
Rainfall requirements
500-1 375 mm in India.
Soil requirements
It favours medium- to fine-textured loamy soils with a pH of
6.1- 7.4. Usually found in heavy, black, waterlogged soils (Whyte, 1964).
Sowing methods
The seed is broadcast.
Sowing time and rate
Sow at 4.5-6.7 kg/ha.
Dry-matter and green-matter
yields
Fertilizer studies have shown that dry matter production can
be boosted from 4 490 kg/ha to 6 370 kg/ha by applying 40 kg Ntha. There
was no response to potassium. The forage yield varies little from year
to year because of the wet habitat.
Suitability for hay and
silage
In the Dichanthium/Iseilema zone in India it is used mainly
for hay.
Seed yield
Seed loses viability quickly after 12 months.
Palatability
One of the top-ranking fodder grasses, relished by cattle,
and the main feed of the Ongole breed of cattle in Andhra Pradesh, India.
Natural habitat
Favours low-lying situations where water stands for two to
four months a year.
Genetics and reproduction
2n=8m 24, 28, 36 (Fedorov, 1974). It is a variable species.
Reproduction is sexual.
Economics
It is so valued that it replaces paddy cultivation and brings
a high price in the Bombay grass market (Dabadghao & Shankarnarayan,
1973). It can be grazed, but is usually cut for fodder.
Further reading
Whyte, 1964.
Tolerance to salinity
It is mildly tolerant, associated with Sporobolus marginatus
(Whyte, 1964).
Land preparation
A good seed-bed is prepared.
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