EVALUATION OF FORAGE GRASSES FOR MID HILLS OF SIKKIM (EASTERN HIMALAYA)

摘要

In a humid climate and acid inceptisol soil condition of a mid hill of Sikkim (eastern Himalaya), bajra x napier hybrids, guinea grass, guatamala grass, kajungla grass and broom grass were found promising for forage production. These grasses gave meanannual yields of more than 901 fresh/ha and 25 t dry matter/ha. Broom grass, a multipurpose one produced 6.6 t/ha spike for broom sticks, 10.2 t/ha leaves for green fodder during lean period i.e. dry winter months and 7.5 t/ha stem for fuel or pulp on dry/matter basis. 20 grasses which survived and produced forage were analysed for their nutritive values. Among the eight grasses tested for seed production and germination, thin napier ranked first for seed yield and teosinte in germination per cent.