Relative Productivity of Important Pasture Grasses and Their Genotypes in Arid Zone of India

Three separate field experiments on selection of high yielding genotypes of Cenchrus ciliaris, Cenchrus setigerus and Lasiurus sindicus were conducted at Agricultural Research Station, Keshwana, Jalore, Rajasthan (India) for two years (2010–11 and 2011–12). A wide range of variation has been observed for forage yield among pasture species and their genotypes. Green forage yield of C. ciliaris ranged between 256.63 and 345.19 q/ha with an average of 290 q/ha. In C. setigerus, forage yield ranged between 210.07 and 292.39 q/ha with an average of 264.84 q/ha. In case of Lasiurus sindicus, forage yield ranged between 185.31 and 222.95 q/ha with an average of 204.95 q/ha. The overall pasture productivity of C. ciliaris was found 55.32 and 9.50% higher over L. sindicus and C. setigerus, respectively. Therefore, high yielding genotypes of C. ciliaris and C. setigerus may be preferred for pasture development programme in district Jalore (Rajasthan).