Effect of Saline Water on Productivity of Native Grass Forages in Sandy Soil under Three Salinity Irrigation Levels

Project/Experiment Duration: 2014 - ongoing

Objectives:

1. To evaluate agronomic performance and biomass yield of 14 native grass cultivars under three salinity irrigation levels.
2. To assess the nutritional quality of fresh and dry biomass of 14 cultivars.
3. To evaluate the effect of salinity irrigation and Na Cl on the plants in a long-term experiment.

Date of Planting: 2014

Variables:

• 8 Species: Buffel Grass, Rhodes Australia, Elephant Grass, Sudan Grass, Sorghum, Mseablo and Blue Panicum
• Replications: 12
• Number of rows per cultivar: 3
• Salinity levels: 3 (5 dS/m, 10 dS/m, 15 dS/m)

This experiment forms part of ICBA’s extensive research on salt-tolerant grasses. It is aimed at investigating the effect of saline water irrigation on the productivity of native grasses under sandy soil conditions in the UAE. The experiment aims to:

1. Evaluate the agronomic performance and biomass yield of 14  cultivars under three levels of saline water irrigation;
2. Assess the nutritional quality of fresh and dry forages of 14 cultivars;
3. Determine the effect of saline water irrigation on the plants as part of a long-term study.