Impacts of FIVE Forage Grass SPECIES ON Selected SOIL PROPERTIES.

IMPACTS OF FIVE FORAGE GRASS SPECIES ON SELECTED SOIL PROPERTIES
Iin P. Handayani ¹⁾, Robert S. Tokosh ¹⁾ and Mark. S. Coyne ²⁾

 1)      School of Agriculture, Murray State University, Kentucky

2)      Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky

Grasslands cover a proportional area in the terrestrial biosphere and their importance is critical to help prevent soil degradation. Grasses can stabilize soil particles, reduce leaching, add organic matter, and reduce compaction.  The objective of this study was to determine selected soil properties under five forage grasses in silt loam soils following five years of planting.  Specific grass types were selected by field availability in the area of Calloway County, western Kentucky.  Soil samples were collected from the fields of bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), rye grass (Lolium multiforum), johnson grass (Sorghum halapense), and mixed grasses at the depth of 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm.  After collecting, the samples were measured for soil total carbon, bulk density, and porosity.  The results show that the surface soils under mixed grasses have the highest total porosity (62%).  The lowest soil porosity (52%) and the highest bulk density (1.2 g cm^-3) were found in johnson grass fields.  Bermuda grass fields provide the highest total carbon (31g kg^-1) and the lowest bulk density (1.0 g cm^-3), while rye grass fields have the least amount of total carbon (13 g kg^-1).