Relative performance of aromatic grasses under saline irrigation

The relative performance of aromatic grasses like citronella (Citronella Java), lemon grass (Cymbopogon citrates Stapf), palmarosa [Cymbopogon martini (Roxb.) Wats.] and vetiver [Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash] was evaluated for their suitability to saline irrigation in a field experiment conducted on a calcareous sandy-loam soil during 1995–97 at Bir Reserved Forest, Hisar. After the establishment of grasses, these were irrigated with either of the canal and saline (ECw 8.5 dS/m) water or with these waters alternatively. On an average, the maximum bio-mass (90.9 tonnes/ha dry weight basis) was produced by vetiver, followed by palmarosa (29.1 tonne/ha) and lemon grass (16.1 tonnes/ha), whereas citronella could not survive. Reduction in yield with saline irrigation ranged from 24 to 29%, whereas it ranged from 3 to 21% with alternation in irrigation with canal and saline waters, vetiver being least affected.