Brief Notes on Some Grasses & Legumes Useful for Soil Conservation in India

Abstract

THE study of grasses and legumes in relation to soil conservation is a sub-ject which has as yet received very little attention in India, In planning for the execution of soil conservation programme on national basis, these crops are expected to play a leading role where climatic condi-tions are not suitable for the establishment of forests. It is, therefore, high time that the study of this multipurpose group receives due attention from our research workers. Such intensive studies on the various as-pects of the study of grasses and legumes have been in progress at the Indian Agri-cultural Research Institute since 1947. It is the purpose of this note to bring to the notice of the workers promising plants in our collec-tion which could be very profitably utilized in soil conservation. It is emphasized here that in the choice of the species priority should be given to those which, while simul-taneously giving protection to the soil, would also be of good fodder value. The plant material discussed here possess both the qualities.