Vegetation Dynamics in Grass Flora and Forage Productivity in Salt-Affected Soils of Indo-Gangatic Plains

Farmers in the tropical areas of India are not familiar with improved fodder production technologies. Vegetation survey was conducted during 1997–98 at the Uttar Pradesh Land Development Corporation Farm, Shivery, Lucknow; Crop Research Station at Ghagharaghat, Behraich on the Ghaghara river bank and during 1992–95 at the NARP, center, Daleepnagar, Kanpur. During these surveys, the natural species were found in order of Sporobolus arabicus, > Vitevaria zizanoides, > Sporobolus coromendelinses(A) > Eragrostis cynosuroides > Cynodon dactylon > Echinochloa sps. and others. Introduction of exotic (cultivated species) and grown for two to four years incre~sed organic carbon content, nitrogen and infiltration rate and decreases pH, EC and ESP of the soil. These ch!3nges in the crop rootzone helped the crops to grow well in such problem areas. Growing of forage grasses for two to three years and thereaffer switching over to the cultivation of food crops like rice maintained both food grain and fodder production. Cultivation of grasses in between rice crop rotation in combination with chemical and biological measures ameliorated sodic soils. The farmers were advised to grow /transplant forage grasses in high density in Iivestocks areas and further cultivate suitable varieties of rice if proper irrigation facilities are available. Under rainfed situations crops like barley, . oats senji, Lucerne can be tried in temperate regions and the field boundary plantation may comprise salt tolerant MPTS /shrubs like Sesbania, Mesta, Casurina etc. Organic carbon was initially 0.12 to 0.2% after growing grasses for two years and rice in the following seasons. With the application of gypsum and growing of rice followed by winter forages there was a noticeable increase in organic carbon, while EC of the upper soil decreased ESP of the 0–15 cm depth was considerably reduced from 89 to 37 in four years cropping.