Introduction

Grasses are a ubiquitous and diverse group of flowering plants that play a crucial role in the world’s ecosystems. They are important for soil stabilization, carbon sequestration, and as a source of food, fodder, fuel, and fiber for human populations and wildlife [1]. However, grasses are often overlooked in studies of plant diversity, and their ecological and economic significance is not well recognized.

Porbandar district located in the western part of Gujarat, India, is known for its rich and diverse flora, including grasses. However, it can be observed from previous literatures [4, 10], that there has been limited research on the composition and distribution of grasses in the area, which limits our understanding of their importance and potential threats to their survival.

The aim of this study was to contribute to the growing body of knowledge on the grass flora of Porbandar by conducting a comprehensive survey to compile a checklist of grass species in the district. Additionally, it aimed to investigate the ecological and economic importance of grasses in Porbandar, including their role in soil conservation, livestock grazing, and traditional cottage industries. Also, highlighting the need for their conservation and management.

Study Area

Porbandar is a district located in the southwestern part of the Saurashtra Peninsula in Gujarat State, India (Fig. 1). The district is primarily agrarian, with agriculture and animal husbandry being the major occupations [2]. Porbandar is known for its rich and diverse flora, which play a critical role in the local ecosystems and human well-being. Figure 2 shows the general vegetation in the different habitats.

Fig. 1
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Location map of study area

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Fig. 2
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Different habitats showing general vegetation (a Sandy Sea Shore, b Seasonal Grassland, c Wasteland d. Rocky area)

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The district is divided into three talukas, namely Porbandar, Ranavav, and Kutiyana, and is bounded by Devbhumi Dwarka district on the north, Junagadh district on the south, Rajkot district on the east, and the Arabian Sea on the west. The geographic area of this district is about 1,97,419 ha, which includes the important Barda forest [3].

Material and Methods

The study area was explored from July 2021 to March 2022, covering all three talukas of Porbandar. The frequent field trips were planned to collect plant specimens during their flowering and fruiting stages with the aim of obtaining a comprehensive understanding of the grass flora of Porbandar and ensuring that the maximum diversity of species was sampled. Plant specimens collected during the study were identified using various local floras, including those by Thaker, Shah, Bhandari, Bole and Pathak, and eFloras [4,5,6,7,8]. The most up-to-date nomenclature was confirmed using, World Flora Online website [9]. Information about scio-economic utilization was collected through interviews. All the herbarium specimens have been deposited in the Department of Life Sciences, Bhakta Kavi Narsinh Mehta University, Junagadh for future reference.

Results and Discussion

A total of 82 species were recorded from the area. These belongs to 48 genera of 13 tribes from 2 groups (Table 1). Figure 3 shows No. of Genera per Tribe.

Table 1 Checklist of grass flora of Porbandar district
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Fig. 3
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Tribe and their no. of Genera in Porbandar district

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The most dominant genus is Setaria (5 Species), followed by Chloris, Eragrostis, Panicum (4 species each), Brachiaria, Cymbopogon, Dactyloctenium, Digitaria, Saccharum (3 species each), Arthraxon, Bothriochloa, Cenchrus, Echinochloa, Eleusine, Paspalidium, Pennisetum, Sorghum, Sporobolus, Triticum, Zoysia (2 species each) and Aeluropus, Apluda, Aristida, Avena, Bambusa, Chrysopogon, Cynodon, Dendrocalamus, Desmostachya, Dichanthium, Dimeria, Dinebra, Eremopogon, Eriochloa, Halopyrum, Heteropogon, Hordeum, Imperata, Ischaemum, Iseilema, Melanocenchris, Paspalum, Phragmites, Tetrapogon, Tragus, Urochloa and Zea (1 species each). Figure 4 shows major genera with their no. of species.

Fig. 4
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Major genera with their no. of species in Porbandar district

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A comparison between the grass flora of Porbandar district and that of Gujarat, as reported by Shah [5], revealed that 32% of the species found in Gujarat are also present in Porbandar district, while six species were newly recorded (Table 2). In addition, 20 species are newly recorded in Porbandar district when compared to the work of Nagar [10] (Table 3). Figure 5 Shows photos of the some newly recorded grass species compared to that of Nagar and Shah.

Table 2 Newly recorded species (Compared with [5])
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Table 3 Newly recorded species (Compared with [10])
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Fig. 5
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Some newly recorded grasses after Nagar and Shah (a Tetrapogon villosus, b Cymbopogon gidarba, c Andropogon pumilus, d Zoysia japonica, e Dactyloctenium aristatum, f Panicum miliaceum, g Avena barbata, h Eleusine coracana)

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Socio-Economic Utilization

Grasses are the most important source of fodder for livestock, especially in the agrarian communities of Porbandar district. The present study recorded 82 grass species, out of which 23 were found to be highly palatable, 19 moderately palatable, and 33 species were least palatable. Additionally, seven grass species were deemed unpalatable (Table 1). Out of the 23 highly palatable species, it was found that 4 of them were being cultivated by local farmers for use as fodder, these include Dichanthium annulatum, Panicum miliaceum, Pennisetum purpureum, and Zea mays. The palatability of grasses is an important factor for the socio-economic utilization of grasses as a source of food for livestock. In fact, the nutritional value of grasses is crucial for the growth and productivity of livestock, making it an essential component of the animal husbandry sector.

Nine species out of the recorded 82 species are being cultivated as crops. These crops play a vital role in the sustenance of the rural population in the region and are an important source of income for small-scale farmers. These cultivated species include Avena barbata, Eleusine coracana, Hordeum vulgare, Pennisetum typhoides, Saccharum officinarum, Setaria italica, Sorghum bicolor, Triticum aestivum, and Triticum dicoccum.

Species with miscellaneous utilization (Fig. 6) include, Zoysia japonica used as a lawn grass. While Cymbopogon citratus is cultivated for the purpose of tea flavoring agent in home gardens. Grains of Echinochloa colona and Echinochloa crus-galli are edible and eaten during the fast. Farmers grow Saccharum bengalense and Sorghum halepense on the boundaries of agricultural fields to prevent soil erosion. The juice made from Saccharum officinarum is a popular drink among locals during the summer months. A twig of Dendrocalamus strictus is planted in front of the house of the bridegroom for performing the marriage rituals. Cynodon dactylon and Desmostachya bipinnata are believed to be auspicious by the local Hindu communities. Children use the stem of Phragmites karka and Sorghum bicolor to make toys.

Fig. 6
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Some miscellaneous utilization of grass species by local communities (a Toys made of Phragmites karka and Sorghum bicolor, b juice made from Saccharum officinarum, c Cynodon dactylon in worship, d a twig of the Dendrocalamus strictus planted in front of the house of the bridegroom)

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Threats

The grassland area in Porbandar district is rapidly declining due to both natural and human causes. Habitat destruction caused by mining (Fig. 7) and urbanization, as well as uncontrolled grazing, are the major anthropogenic threats to the grasses of district.

Fig. 7
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Mining activity in the district

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On the other hand, invasive or alien species are the most significant natural cause for the decline in population of grasses. In some cases, even non-invasive species can have negative impact on local plant communities due to environmental favorability. In Porbandar district, a total of five species have been reported to have a negative impact on grasslands which include:

Hyptis suaveolens: Alien and native to Tropical America.

Lantana camara (Dhanidariya): Alien and native to Tropical America.

Parthenium hysterophorus (Gajar ghas): Alien and native to Tropical America.

Prosopis juliflora (Gando baval): Alien and native to South Africa.

Senna tora (Kuvadio): Non-Alien and native to Asia.

These invasive species, characterized by their aggressive growth and ability to outcompete native grassland plants, can lead to a reduction in grassland biodiversity. They form dense stands or monocultures, displacing native grasses and other plant species thus altering the overall structure and composition of the ecosystem. The loss of plant diversity can disrupt ecological balance and diminish the functioning and resilience of grassland ecosystems. These species also compete with native grasses and other plants for essential resources such as water, nutrients, and sunlight. This competition often results in the suppression of native vegetation, leading to a decline in productivity and the availability of forage for livestock. Livestock grazing can be hindered, affecting the livelihoods of farmers and ranchers and impacting agricultural productivity in grassland areas. Parthenium hysterophorus and Senna tora, can cause allergic reactions and health issues in humans and animals, impacting the well-being of those living in or near infested areas. Overall, the invasion of these species in grasslands can result in a range of negative impacts, including reduced biodiversity, altered ecosystem functioning, challenges for livestock grazing, altered soil properties, and potential health issues.

Conclusion

Grasses are a crucial component of the plant diversity in the Porbandar district and play a vital role in the livelihoods of local communities. The declining grassland area in the district due to natural and human causes could have significant implications. Further studies on the impact of these factors on the grassland ecosystem are needed to develop effective conservation strategies. Overall, the findings of this study can help in the development of sustainable grassland management practices and conservation policies in the region.