AUTECOLOGY OF PENNISETUM DIVISUM (J.F.GMEL.) HENRARD AND LASIURUS SCINDICUS HENRARD

Abstract

The present work presents a detailed and a thorough investigation of the autecology of Pennistum divisum and Lasiurus scindicus. The ultimate aim, however, is to pinpoint those two fodder desert grasses which are important for many grazing animals in Egyptian deserts. The geographical distribution of the two plants in Egypt and throughout the world were studied. Environmental setting supporting one of the natural habitat of the two plants in Wadi Etheily along Cairo-Suez desert road was studied. The phytosociology of the communities dominated by the two studied plants in Wadi Etheily was examined. Effect of temperature and light on seed gerimination of the two investigated plants revealed that 30°C in dark coditions is the most suitable for germination of seeds of both plants. Cultivation of the two studied plants under three different water treatment was studied. The present investigation indicates that for the two plants, cutting of summer months give higher productivity values than those of winter months, and the plants of treatment that receive higher amount of water, give much higher or lower productivity values in P. divisum and L. scindicus, respectively. Period extending from May to August is the most favorable period for flowering of the two studied species. In the last section of the product work. The anatomical features and mineral ion composition were given in a comparative study between cultivated and wild plants aiming at the understanding of the effect of drought on the anatomical features and the chemical composition for the two studied plants.