Morphological characteristics of different accessions of Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. and physico-chemical properties of soil of their growing region in Bangladesh

Abstract

Distribution as well as adaptation of Cynodon dactylon to different ecological zones of Bangladesh is mainly dependant on weather and adaphic factors of their respective habitats. Generally, it is a warm season perennial grass species that initiates growth in the vernal season and its growth continues rapidly when moisture is adequate and they find the alkaline clay soil as their habitat. From that point of view, this study was aimed at analysing the morphological variations of Cynodon dactylon ecotypes along with determining the physicochemical properties of soils from their particular habitats. A total of 19 ecotypes /accessions from four different zones of Bangladesh were collected along with the habitat soil and all of them were transplanted in experimentation field of Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh. All the accessions were established in 1.5 × 1.4 m plots separately. At maturity just after started flowering, the morphological data on 26 characters were recorded quantitatively and those were analysed statistically. Rhizomatous and stoloniferous nature was observed from randomly selected areas within the plot. Both significant and non-significant variations were found among the morphological characters. Most of the vegetative and reproductive characters were found to show significant variations among the accessions. In addition, the values obtained on physio-chemical properties of soil were tabulated and their magnitude were determined and interpreted following Fertilization Recommendation Guide. In respect of soil properties variation on morphological parameters of almost of all the accessions were observed. In this study, all the accessions were found to be adapted nicely in alkaline soil of the experimentation field and that might be due to their many physiological and biochemical mechanisms.