​Assessment of Hydrocyanic Acid (HCN) Content during Different Stages of Growth in Johnson Grass (Sorghum helepensis)

Background: Johnson grass (Sorghum helepensis) is not a cultivated fodder crop but it is a wild variety seen on farm bunds after rainfall in which Sorghum vulgare (Gundrijowar) fodder crops were cultivated in kharif season in Saurashtra region of Gujarat state. At different stages of growth, Johnson grass contains cyanogenic glycosides of varying level which liberate hydrocyanic acid in rumen when it consumed by ruminant animals due to rumen microflora (Toxic level of HCN is 20 mg/ 100 gm dry matter). The current study aimed to estimate varying levels of HCN in Johnson grass to keep dairy farmers informed of safe level of HCN for harvesting. Methods: An investigation was carried out at Cattle Breeding Farm, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, Gujarat for three consecutive years 2013-2015 in kharif season. Non-cultivated (Sorghum helepensis) fodder samples were collected for quantitative HCN concentration from farm bunds nearby eight sown plots of Gundrijowar (Sorghum vulgare) from 15 DAS and sampling were continued at fortnightly intervals till the plots exhibit 25% flowering stage. Result: Result of obtained data in present study revealed that concentration of HCN in Johnson grass in kharif season decreased significantly (p less than 0.05) on attaining 25% flowering stage during the year 2013, 2014 and 2015. It was concluded that Green Johnson grass can be fed to ruminant animals safely at 25% flowering stage.

Sorghum halepense (Johnson grass).

S. halepense is a perennial grass which can be cultivated for fodder, but is also an extremely invasive weed with a worldwide distribution. Its extensive spreading rhizome and shoot system and high rate of seed production make it extremely invasive and difficult to eradicate. The species has a number of detrimental effects including: toxicity to grazing stock, fire risk during summer and competitive exclusion of other plants. It reduces soil fertility, acts as a host for crop pathogens and is a known allergen. It is regarded as a serious weed in 53 countries and in a wide range of field crops.

The inhibitory effect of some plant extracts in the laboratory growth characteristics of tomato seedlings

"An Laboratory experiment was carried out in the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Gardening - Faculty of Agriculture - Diyala University for the spring season 2017 in order to study the inhibitory effects of some plant extracts on the laboratory growth characteristics of the Tomato seeds, using Petri dishes designed in Completely Randomized Design ( CRD) in three replicates to study the effect of three different concentrations (zero , 50% and 100%) of water extracts of onion, Blady grass, Nut grass and Johnson grass in the percentage of seed germination of Tomato seeds and the growth rate and some other growth characteristics of theTomato seeds. The experimental results can be summarized as follows, Plant extracts affected For each of the onion, Blady grass, Nut grass and Johnson grass and the concentrations used, and interferences between them, have a significant effect in all studied traits of Tomato seeds the treatment resulted in the plant extract of Nut grass and Johnson grass On the occurrence of high and clear inhibitions in all the studied traits of the tomato seeds, while the other plant extracts varied with the degree of inhibition.