Growth Characters of Guinea Grass (Panicum Maximum Jacq.) Under Varying Light Intensity and Potassium

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1 Growth Characters of Guinea Grass (Panicum Maximum Jacq.) Under Varying Light Intensity and Potassium ABSTRACT M.R. Anita 1 and S. Lakshmi 2 1Ph.D Scholar, 2 Professor Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India riyasraj1997@gmail.com Field experiment was conducted at the instructional Farm, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala to find out the potash requirements for guinea grass varieties under varying tree shade levels. Results of the experiment revealed that lower levels of shade as well as higher levels of potassium had significant positive influence in improving the growth characters of guinea grass. Among the varieties, Hamil registered higher yield compared to Haritha. Lower levels of shade and higher doses of potassium significantly increased the growth parameters viz. height, number of tillers and leaf : stem ratio. Keywords: Shade Intensity, Height, Tiller Number, Leaf: Stem Ratio INTRODUCTION The climate of tropical areas is characterized by intense year-round solar radiation above the atmosphere. However, during the wet season, solar radiation reaching the earths surface may be quite low due to dense cloud cover. In many areas where tree crops are grown (eg., Coconut, rubber trees), forage crops and pastures may be grown in the partial shade of these trees. Compared to an open environment, the modified micro climate under trees will have reduced solar radiation, a lowered red: far-red light ratio, a more moderate temperature regime, higher humidity, lower rates of evapo-transpiration and higher soil moisture levels. Globaltrend in animal production indicates a rapid and massive increase in the consumption of livestock products. The urban population in India is projected to reach 58% by Urbanization has brought a marked shift in the lifestyle of people in feeding habits towards milk products and meat. Due to the increasing population pressure of human beings, arable land is mainly used for food and cash crops resulting in little chance of availability of good quality arable land for fodder production. Hence wherever possible fodder crops should be filled into the multiple cropping system. In Kerala coconut occupies an area of lakh hectares in the uplands and guinea grass is recommended as intercrop in the partial shade of coconut garden. Grass species suitable for the coconutunderstorey are relatively short, sod forming and shade tolerant. They should provide a moderate carrying capacity, easy to establish from cuttings, compete well with aggressive weeds and do not compete excessively with coconuts (Reynolds, 1988). Shading has both direct and indirect effects on

2 Growth Characters of Guinea Grass (Panicum Maximum Jacq.) Under Varying Light Intensity 339 forage production in that it can alter morphological development and yield (Kephart and Buxton, 1996). Shading of grasses generally causes elongated growth, reduced specific leaf weight and increased leaf area ratio. Plants grown in shade are also more succulent, resulting in a lower DM percentage. Optimum quantity of potash is required for the efficient utilization of nitrogen and phosphorus for herbage production. This study was conducted to evaluate the growth parameters of guinea grass cultivars in different shade levels under varying levels of potash. MATERIALS AND METHODS Field experiment was conducted in the upland area of the Instructional Farm of College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram in split-split plot design with 3 replications. Three levels of tree shade (0, 25, 50% ), three levels of potassium (50, 100, 150 kg ha -1 ) and two varieties of guinea grass (Hamil and Haritha ) were combined to form eighteen treatment combinations. 10 t ha -1 was applied uniformly to all the plots at the time of final preparation of land. Entire dose of phosphorus was given as 50 kg ha kg ha -1 was given in two equal splits one as basal and one after the second harvest. Healthy slips of guinea grass varieties as per treatments were planted at 40 x 20 cm 2 slips hill -1. Harvesting of the crop was done at a height of 15 cm from the base. Six cuts were taken, starting with the initial cut at 60 days after planting. Subsequent harvests were done at 45 days interval. Six observational plants were selected from each plot and observations were taken on plant height, number of tillers/ hill and leaf: stem ratio. Data relating to each character was analyzed by applying the analysis of variance technique (ANOVA ) as suggested by Panse and Sukhatme (1967). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The results of the study revealed that the plant height increased as the shade intensity increased. This increase in plant height with increase in shade intensity was observed in all the five cuts. Production of auxins are more under shaded conditions which results in strong apical growth, preventing side shoot sprouting. A similar result was also reported by Mullakoya (1982) in guinea grass cv. Mackuenii. There was significant difference in plant height between the varieties only at the second harvest. Hamil recorded more plant height compared to Haritha. Similar results were also reported in Hamil by George (1996) and in Haritha by Babu (1996). Application of potash had shown linear increase in the height of plant with increasing levels (Table 1). Potash is essential for various metabolic activities of living cells. This function of potash in the plant might have stimulated grasses to grow taller under higher doses of potash applications. It is well known fact that potassium promotes the growth of meristematic tissues (Tisdale et al., 1995). A similar linear increase in plant height due to potassium application was reported by Mullakoya (1982) in guinea grass cv. Mackuenii.

3 340 Green India: Strategic Knowledge for Combating Climate Change: Prospects & Challenges The study revealed that shade has dominating influence on inhibition of tiller production. Tiller number declined with shading in first, second and fifth cuts (Table 2). Maximum number of tillers were recorded at zero percent shade. The increase in number of tillers may be due to the higher leaf area index which might have resulted in more carbohydrate assimilation. These findings are also in agreement with the observations made by Buxton (2001) in forages and by wong (1993) in two tropical grasses Paspalummalacophyllum and Paspalumwettsteinii. Tiller number was also significantly influenced by the varieties in all cuts except in fourth cut. Among the varieties, highest tiller number was recorded by Hamil compared to Haritha. Significant response for potash application was recorded in all cuts. Higher doses of potassium recorded the maximum tiller numbers. Among various plant hormones, cytokinins, have been known to play important role in the growth of buds and tillers (Bruins, 1979). Therefore better potassium nutrition in fertilized plots resulted in significant increase in the number of tillers, probably through the increased chlorophyll content of leaves observed in this study. However in the third and fourth cuts tiller number increased under 25 per cent shade when compared to that under full sunlight. This reduction in tiller number under full sunlight may be due to the higher mean daily temperature perevailed during this period which may be above the optimum temperature required for growth of tropical grasses. Evaporation demand will be greatly reduced in the shaded environment and soil water availability for the pasture will be maintained at a higher level than in the open (Wilson and Wild, 1991) through the combined effects of less evaporation from the soil and lower transpiration rates of the pasture. This is in conformity with the fact that temperature affects the growth rate and productivity of grasslands (Ramus, 1995) separately affecting each process of development as well as rates and direction of metabolic pathways associated with growth. Results on leaf: stem ratio showed that shade levels had significant influence in all harvests except in third cut. Leaf: stem ratio was higher in the open condition. The greater availability of sunlight in the open has greatly enhanced vigorous growth and higher tillering in grasses resulting in the higher production of larger leaves as evidenced by the high leaf area index under open. Leaf: stem ratio is a measure of the quality of fodder and hence determine its preference by animals. Similar improvement in forage leaf: stem ratio consequent to decrease in shade levels was reported by Pillai (1986) in guinea grass and setaria grass. From this experiment it could be conducted that lower levels of shade and higher doses of potassium registered maximum plant height, number of tillers and leaf: stem ratio. Among the varieties, Hamil registered maximum growth characters in all harvests.

4 Growth Characters of Guinea Grass (Panicum Maximum Jacq.) Under Varying Light Intensity 341 Table 1: Main effects of shade levels(s), varieties(v) and potassium(k) on plant height of guinea grass (cm) Main effects I cut II cut III cut IV cut V cut Shade levels s s s F2, ** ** ** ** ** SE CD Varieties v v F1,6 NS NS NS NS SE CD Potash levels k k k F2, * ** 33.23** 77.86** 19.65** SE CD *Significant at 5 per cent level ** Significant at 1 per cent level NS Not significant Table 2: Main Effects of Shade Levels(S), Varieties(V) and Potassium(K) on Number of Tillers of Guinea Grass Main effects I cut II cut III cut IV cut V cut Shade levels s s s F2, ** ** ** ** ** SE CD Varieties v v F1, ** ** ** NS 40.31** SE CD Potash levels k k k F2, ** ** ** ** ** SE CD *Significant at 5 per cent level ** Significant at 1 per cent level NS Not significant

5 342 Green India: Strategic Knowledge for Combating Climate Change: Prospects & Challenges REFERENCES [1] Babu, R (1996). Seeding progeny analysis is selected dones of guinea grass (PanicummaximumJacq.) M.Sc. (Ag.) Thesis, Kerala Agricultural University, Trichur, p [2] Buxton, D.R Growing forage under variable Enviornmental conditions. Research Bulletin No. 21. U.S. Dairy Forage Research Centre, Iowa State University, Ames, p [3] George, S Agronomic evaluation of biofarming technique for forage production in coconut gardens. Ph.D Thesis, Kerala Agricultural University, Trichur, p [4] Bruins, K.C Split application of potash for rice. Indian potash J. (1) [5] Kephart, K.D. and Buxton, D.R Non structural carbohydrate in Cool and Warm season Perennial Grasses Adapted to Shaded Conditions. Research Bulletin No. 16. U.S. Dairy Forage Research Centre, Iowa State University, Ames, p [6] Mullakoya, P Shade tolerance of guine grass cv. Mackuenii under different levels of potassium. M.Sc. (Ag.)Thesis, Kerala Agricultural University, Trichur, p [7] Pillai, R.G Production potential of two fodder grasses under different management practices. Ph.D thesis, Kerala Agricultural University, trichur, p [8] Reynolds, S.G Pastures and Cattle under Coconuts. FAO plant production and protection paper No. 91. FAO of United Nations, Rome, p [9] Ramus, D.A.H Forage growth and its relationship to Grazing Management. Research Bulletin No. 21. University of South Western Louisiana, Lafayett, p. 96. [10] Panse, V.G and Sukhatme, P.V Statistical Method for Agricultural Workers. Second edition. Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi p [11] Tisdale, S.L, Nelson, W.L. and Beaton, J.D Soil Fertility and Fertilizers. Fourth edition. Macmillan Publishing Co., New York, p [12] Wilson, J.R. and Wild, D.W.M Improvement of nitrogen nutrition and grass growth under shading. Proceedings of workshop on Forages for Plantation Crops, ACIAR Proc. No. 32, June 27 29, 1990 (eds. Shelton, H.M. and Stur, W.W) ACIAR, Melbourne, pp [13] Wong, C.C Strategies for Sustainable Production of Tropical Forages under Shade. Research Bulletin No. 21. MARDI, Kuala Lumpur, p. 285.