PERFORMANCE OF SOME FORAGE GRASS SPECIES IN HALOMORPHIC SOIL

Abstract

In this study, performance and yield and quality parameters according to standard soil conditions of four forage grass species (Cynodon dactylon, Chloris gayana, Agropyron elongatum and Festuca arundinacea) which have different tolerance levels for salinity and alkalinity were compared. In this respect, research was carried out in four locations (control, highly saline, highly alkali, highly saline-alkali) which have the same climatic conditions but different soil characteristics for three years between 2011 and 2013. The trial was set up according to a randomized complete block design split-split plot with 3 replications.  The research was established in Saraçli and Aşagi Camurlu with an altitude of 820 m in East Igdir Plain. Agropyron elongatum demonstrated growth in all locations while Cynodon dactylon demonstrated growth in all locations except highly saline-alkali.  On the other hand, Festuca arundinacea and Chloris Gayana showed growth only in control and highly saline locations. According to the results of research, saline and alkali soils caused a decrease in dry matter yields, plant heights and leaf area index in Agropyron elongatum and Festuca arundinacea species. According to non-saline soil, salinity and alkalinity were resulted in an increase in crude protein ratio of Agropyron elongatum while it’s were recorded in a decrease in crude protein ratio of Cynodon dactylon, Chloris gayana and Festuca arundinacea. On the other hand, while neutral detergent fiber of Cynodon dactylon increased, neutral detergent fiber of Chloris gayana, Agropyron elongatum and Festuca arundinacea in salinity and alkalinity soils.