Effect of Salinity and Irrigation on Productivity, Nutritional Quality, and Irrigation Water and Fertilizer Use Optimization of Forage Grasses

Objectives:

1. Conduct agronomic and physiological characterization, and evaluate the potential yield of different forages under salinity and drought stress.
2. Assess the nutritional quality of forage cultivars in response to different irrigation regimes.
3. Determine the crop water requirements at different levels of salinity.
4. Optimize fertilizer and irrigation water use.
5. Evaluate seed production.
6. Identify the best management practices for forage crops in marginal regions.

Planting date: 2020-2021

Field Variables:

• Experiment layout: split plot design (in randomized complete block design)
• Mainplot factor: three salinity levels (control + 2 levels)
• Sub-plot factor: three irrigation levels (control, one higher and one lower)
• Sub-subplot factor: 10 genotypes including Cenchrus ciliaris, Panicum, Festuca arundinacea, Rhodes Grass
• Number of replications: 3