Abstract:
Attempts to identify potential drought tolerance fodder species are limited in
Sri Lanka. This study investigated drought tolerance in CO3, CO4, Super
Napier, and Brachiaria brizantha under 100%, 40%, and 25% irrigation
levels in the dry zone part of Sri Lanka. Fodder grsses were established in
plots with three replicates for each grass type inside nine poly tunnels. After
continous irrigation for 21 days, they were cut at 5cm heigth from the ground
level which was followed by continous irrigatation for 11 days as per the
protocol. Half the of grasses from each type was transferred to pots from the
plots and irrigated continously for 11 days and followed by the first drought
imposed for 15 days till the apperence of wilt then irrigated for 2 days. The
second drought was imposed for another 30 days and follwed by irrigation
for 2 days. The grasses were harvested and DM% was determined seperatley.
The multivariate analysis revealed that the mean DM% between irrigation
levels were significant different (p<0.05). Considering the DM% of different
fodder types, a significant difference was observed among the tested fodder
types (p<0.05) with the highest mean DM% for Brachiaria brizantha under
25% irrigation level and plot conditions. The method of cultivations also
significantly affected the mean DM % distinguishing between pot and plot
cultivation (p<0.05). By considering the drought tolerence and DM% among
the four fodder types under plot conditions, it is concluded that Brachiaria
brizantha was the suitable fodder grass species for dry zone in Sri Lanka
and can be recommended for drought-prone regions for sustainable livestock
production in Sri Lanka.
