Relative performance of aromatic grasses under saline irrigation

Abstract

The relative performance of aromatic grasses like citronella (Citronella java), lemon grass (Cymbopogon cit- rates Stapf), palmarosa [Cymbopogon martini (Roxb.) Wats.] and vetiver [Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash] was evaluated for their suitability to saline irrigation in a field experiment conducted on a calcareous sandy-loam soil during 1995-97 at Bir Reserved Forest, Hisar. After the establishment of grasses, these were irrigated with either of the canal and saline (ECw 8.5 dS/m) water or with these waters alternatively. On an average, the maximum bio- mass (90.9 tonneslha dry weight basis) was produced by vetiver, followed by palmarosa (29.1 tonnelha) and lemon grass (16.1 tonneslha), whereas citronella could not survive. Reduction in yield with saline irrigation ranged from 24 to 29%, whereas it ranged from 3 to 21% with alternation in irrigation with canal and saline waters, vetiver being least affected.