Assessment of loss of nutrient contents in some palatable grasses due to black leaf spot disease in Garhwal

Quantitative analysis of total nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, crude protein% and the caloric values has been carried out on some palatable grasses of Garhwal Himalaya are infected with Phyllachora sp., causing black leaf spot disease. These estimates have duly been compared with those of the healthy specimens growing under similar ecological conditions. It has been observed that all the studied parameters show a decline in their values for the diseased plants, the extent of decline; off course depends upon the plant species and the severity of infection. This decrease in nutrients has been attributed to reduce the rate of photosynthesis and a subsequent hindrance to other related metabolic activities.