Search Results (5)

Subtribe Cenchrinae, so-called as the “bristle clade”, is a monophyletic group of panicoid grasses characterized by having sterile branches or bristles on the inflorescences in most of its species. Within this subtribe is also placed Panicum antidotale Retz., an “incertae sedis” species of Panicum L. which lacks bristles along the inflorescence. In this study, we present an update of the subtribe Cenchrinae based on molecular, morphological, and anatomical evidence to clarify the systematic position of P. antidotale in the Cenchrinae, excluding it from Panicum and establishing it in a new genus (i.e., Janochloa Zuloaga & Delfini); the morphological features distinguishing the new genus from other closely related taxa are properly discussed and an identification key to the 24 genera recognized within Cenchrinae is presented. We also add American Setaria species, not tested before, of subgenera Paurochaetium and Reverchoniae, discussing the position of these taxa in actual phylogeny of the genus as well as defining placements in the tree of Setaria species that were imprecisely located in previous analyses. A comparison with the results from other studies, comments on Stenotaphrum Trin. and a brief discussion on conflicting placements in Cenchrus and related taxa, and of Acritochaete Pilg. are also included. Full article

Soil salinity limits forage productivity in ~1125 million ha of particularly arid lands across continents. Grass-legume mixtures are known to enhance soil nutrient cycling and forage productivity in non-saline conditions. We tested if these benefits can be replicated in the saline soils (EC_e > 14) of Laayoune-Morocco during the year 2021, based on a randomized complete block design (RCBD) experiment with 50–50 and 30–70% blue panicum grass (Panicum antidotales Reitz), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) mixtures compared to their monocrops. There was no significant variation (p = 0.36) in forage accumulation across treatment, but the blue panicum grass and alfalfa mixture had slightly greater forage yield compared to each in monocrop (13% and 5% Mg ha⁻¹). Blue panicum grass proportionate dry matter exceeded alfalfa in mixtures (62 and 54%). During establishment, blue panicum grass buffers against effects of high salinity on forage productivity in mixtures with alfalfa. Full article

This study aimed to investigate the functional response of Panicum antidotale Retz, Chenopodium quinoa, and Zea mays L. to different levels of saline irrigation water. Nutrient uptake, biochemical content, and growth response were evaluated to select potential crops best suited for biosaline agriculture. The results suggest that blue panicum is highly tolerant to saline water irrigation, followed by quinoa up to 10 dS m⁻¹, and then silage maize which is sensitive to saline conditions. The introduction of blue panicum as an alternative crop on salt-effected soils, such as the irrigated perimeter of Foum El Oued in Laâyoune in Morocco, would exhibit high performance better than traditional crops such as silage maize and therefore would improve the local farmers’ income. Full article

Soil salinity and drought are the two major challenges agriculture is facing in marginal environments, such as desert areas, which limit the growth and productivity of traditional cultivated crop species. In the Sahara Desert of the southern region of Morocco, livestock is the major agricultural activity, and forage supply is severely affecting livestock production. Blue panicum (Panicum antidotale Retz.) is an alternative salt-tolerant crop recently introduced to Morocco’s Sahara to enhance forage availability for livestock. The aim of this study was to increase the productivity and nutritional quality of blue panicum through the use of integrated agronomic practices, such as planting methods (bed or flat), crop establishment (direct seeding, transplantation, and rhizome propagation), organic and/or mineral amendments, and grass–legumes intercropping. The preliminary results showed that in the highly saline conditions, the combined application of organic amendments, seedling transplanting, and bed planting method gave the highest production (56 t/ha/year) of fresh biomass, which is higher than 50% compared to the control. This study suggests that in the southern region of Morocco and the Sahara Desert, the adoption of the blue panicum with integrated agronomic practices sustains livestock production. Full article

High soil salinity, drought, and poor soil fertility, especially phosphorus (P) deficiency, are serious challenges for crop production in arid and desert climate regions. In these regions, irrigation water (mostly groundwater) is saline, and fertilization is one of the strategies used to cope with salinity stress. Crop livestock is one of the major agricultural activities in marginal regions, and blue panicum (Panicum antidotale Retz.), the perennial forage grass, has the potential to furnish forage demand. Thus, a field experiment testing the combination of three levels of irrigation water salinity and three P rate was carried out to evaluate the potential of P fertilizer to enhance yield and salinity tolerance of blue panicum grass. The experiment was conducted for two years between 2019 and 2020 in Foum el Oued, Laayoune, Morocco. It was implemented in a split-plot design with three replications considering irrigation water salinity as the main plot and P rates as sub-plot treatments. The evaluated P rates were 0, 90, and 108 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ (P1, P2, and P3, respectively), and the irrigation water salinities were 5, 12, and 17 dS·m⁻¹. The results revealed that increasing irrigation water salinity significantly decreased the biomass production and stomatal conductance of blue panicum. Increasing irrigation water salinity from 5 to 12 and 17 dS·m⁻¹ decreased fresh biomass production by 20 and 29%, respectively. Irrigation water salinity also decreased (p < 0.05) leaf N, P, K, Ca, and Zn concentration. However, supplementation of P fertilization enhanced (p < 0.05) biomass production and stomatal conductance mainly by improving leaf OM, Zn, and Fe content. P fertilization at 108 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ increased fresh biomass by 27%, 32%, and 19% under 5, 12, and 17 dS·m⁻¹, respectively. Considering increased fresh biomass yield, P application at the rate of 108 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ can be suggested for saline drylands. P application is recommended to reduce the adverse effects of high salinity on growth and productivity and improve salinity tolerance of blue panicum in salt-affected arid and desert regions. Full article