Effects of shade on guinea grass genotypes Megathyrsus maximus (Poales: Poaceae)

Abstract

Introduction: Light stress is an important factor limiting the biomass yield while combining forage production with crops or forestry. Guinea grass is a widely adapted perennial fodder grass. The species exhibits high degree of variation for morphology, adaptation and biomass yield. Objective: Since there is a need in identifying shade adapted forage grasses for the expanding area under agroforestry/silvipastures, the present investigation took the task of understanding how the morphologically distinct genotypes of guinea grass respond under different shaded intensities. Methods: In the present study, forty-four genotypes related with the shade response were studied in varying shading conditions (pure sunlight, 25, 50 and 75 % shade) created artificially. Results: Based on green and dry matter yields ranking, the genotype IG 01-98 performed the best followed by genotypes IG 01-92, IG 97-5, IG 97-6 and IG 01-89 in decreasing order. Particularly, IG 01-93 was identified as the best performing under 50 % shading conditions. On the other hand, most of the top ranking genotypes performed well both under open and up to 50 % of shade. Morphologically, these genotypes were taller and possessed longer and broader leaves. Under shaded conditions (over 50 %), leaf length and width showed an increasing trend compared to open conditions. Also, chlorophyll content increased with shading intensity. Conclusions: Most of the genotypes collected from the southern Indian humid tropical environment with early flowering nature were tolerant to shade. Differential genotypic response was observed for biomass yield and yield attributes under shade. The study established appreciable variability for shade tolerance among genotypes

Assessment of Suitable Grass and Legume Fodders for the Development of Pastures under Coconut Garden

“…2) followed by Brachiaria mutica (T 5 ) with 159 cm (Fig. 3) under shade which was found to be similar with findings of Malaviya et al [12]. Among legumes Desmodium gangeticum (T 10 ) was found to be the taller (181 cm) than other legume fodder crops (Fig.…”

“…Under shadowing both green and dry biomass of genotypes, increased. It seems that the higher moisture availability in shaded situations balanced the lower light intensity compared to open conditions [16]. Lowest yield was found in Dichanthium annulatum (T 6 ) with 32 t ha -1 year -1 among grasses.…”

Productivity of Benggala grass (Panicum maximum) at different ages of oil palm

“…Whereas at the location of oil palm more than 5 years it shows higher plant height compared to the location of the plant less than 5 years. The height of shade-tolerant Benggala grass plants increased in 50% (moderate) shade compared to no shade reported by Malaviya et al [3] and Matta et al [12] The highest high plant cultivars was Hamil cultivars. Hamil cultivars also have higher when compared to other cultivars in control, oil palm age less and over than 5 years.…”

“…Palm oil plantations have the main limiting factor, namely low light intensity as the age of oil palm plant increases, causing a decrease in forage production in oil palm plantations [2]. Light limitations, resulting in the acclimatization of morphological forage to compensate for the low rate of photosynthesis per unit of leaf area through an increase in editorial ratios: roots, rods: leaves, and weight ratio of leaf area [3].…”

Review of the invasive forage Grass, Guinea grass (Megathyrsus maximus): Ecology and potential impacts in arid and semi‐arid regions

“…maximus is adapted to grow under trees. It is reported to grow well under 25–50% shading, but growth declines at 75% shading (Malaviya et al, 2020). Under shaded conditions, M .…”