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Utilization of indigenous grazing species as alternative to Introduced forages
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Prepared By :
Prof. Dr. Mehdi Altimimi
Forages and Frazing plant Expert,
Ministry of Environment & Water
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| shows the height of buffel grass (Cenchrus Ciliaris) Al thaid, MOEW, UAE. |
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MAF started to adapt strategy of cultivation and utilization of indigenous grazing species which have a tolerance to drought conditions. This strategy becomes an important issue toward replacing the existing forage system which depends largely on Exotic species such as Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) and alfalfa (Medicago Sativa). |
| MAF in the United Arab Emirates, adapted a new project of introduction drought tolerance indigenous species into Agricultural system together with research programme aimed to develop a proper management of those species. In this respect, four indigenous species of good forage quality, have been chosen for the above work, namely, Lepid (Cenchrus Ciliaris), Thimam (Panicum turgidum) Dukhna (Coelachyrum piercei) and Dhaii (lasiurus scindicus). |
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| shows Dukhna grass (Coelachyrum Piercei) in seed multiplication field, Al Thaid, MOEW, UAE. |
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| shows the growth habit of Dhai grass (Lasiurus Scindicus), Al Thaid, MOEW, UAE. |
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Research work has been conducted in different locations in UAE to evaluate water use efficiently, nutritive value, fertilizers response and varieties comparison.
Data of nutritive value studies have shown that indigenous species, in particular, cenchrus ciliaris, has as good as quality as introduced chloris gayana. The following table shows the quality of indigenous species as compared to Rhodes grass:
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Species |
Crude protein % |
NDF % |
ADF % |
Ash % |
Rhodes (chloris gayana) |
9.4 |
72.9 |
38.7 |
9.6 |
Lepid (Cenchrus ciliaris) |
9.6 |
70.1 |
38.6 |
10.0 |
Dhaii (Panicum turgidum) |
7.8 |
75.8 |
38.8 |
10.2 |
Dukhna Coelachyrum piercei |
7.8 |
71.9 |
40.1 |
8.8 |
Dhaii lasiurus scindicus |
6.9 |
79.1 |
49.3 |
7.2 |
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| shows the growth density of buffel grass, Al thaid, MOEW,UAE. |
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Intial results of the conducted research work also indicate that indigenous cenchrus ciliaris has a higher dry matter yield by 30 - 40% as compared to Rhodes grass. Moreover, the water requirement of cenchrus ciliaris was significantly lower than that of Rhodes, as well as the indigenous species has a better water use efficiency.
In the varieties comparison Experiment, the results indicate that Indigenous biotype of cenhrus ciliaris have a higher dry matter yield as compared to three Australian varieties (Gayndah, USA and Biloela). |
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