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Graminae
Description
A very variable tufted or stoloniferous perennial (rarely annual)
15-90 cm high, with well-grown stem leaves; basal leaf-sheaths glabrous,
shining, often with ciliate margins. Spikelets pale- or greyish-green,
but sometimes purplish, 1.5- 2.5 mm long (Napper, 1965). The roots are
very thick and are covered with a soft felt of root-hairs (Bor, 1960).
Distribution
Northwest India, Baluchistan and tropical East Africa.
Altitude range
500-1 750 m.
Rainfall requirements
It is adapted to very dry conditions, around 300 mm per year
(Bogdan & Pratt, 1967), 125-375 mm in India.
Drought tolerance
Excellent.
Soil requirements
It grows on a wide range of soils, from loose sandy loams to
loams and alluvial silts. (Bogdan & Pratt, 1967).
Ability to spread naturally
Covers saline soil well and helps minimize upward capillary
movement of salts (Whyte, 1964).
Sowing time and rate
In summer, at 150-200 g/ha (Bogdan & Pratt, 1967).
Number of seeds per kg.
7.7 million (Bogdan & Pratt, 1967).
Palatability
It has low palatability (Verboom & Brunt, 1970).
Chemical analysis and
digestibility
Dougall and Bogdan (1960) in Kenya found 23.3 percent crude
protein, 25.7 percent crude fibre, 9.3 percent ash, 3.1 percent ether extract
and 38.6 percent nitrogen-free extract in the dry matter of fresh material
in early bloom.
Natural habitat
Dry grassland, often on alkaline soils.
Further reading
Bogdan & Pratt, 1967.
Tolerance to salinity
Excellent, it inhabits saline soils (user lands) in India and
the Kafue flood plain in Zambia. It is seen on pure salt crust.
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