ECOLOGICAL STUDY OF DECCAN GRASSLAND. 89 



Andropogon contortus appeared on the cultivated area but in 

 patches only. Andropogon monticola was prominent in the cultivated 

 area, some of this from the sown, and some from the original seeds 

 probably. The same remark applies to A. annulatus and A. caricosus. 

 Other grasses of the strip were Paspalum sanguinalc, Manisuris 

 granularis, Iseilema anot/iophoroidcs, Aristida tedacta, A. adscc?isio?iis 

 A.ftmicidata, Panicum ramosum, P. javanicum, Elcusine aegyptiaca, 

 and Thclepogon elegans. 



The bajri appeared very late, and then only as a few scattered 

 dwarf plants. 



Summary and Conclusions. 



We have followed for one rainy season the behaviour of a small 

 piece of bad land in the Deccan. We are struck with the variation 

 of vegetation in so small an area, the soil conditions determining the 

 species. In rocky and eroded soil found on high levels certain poor 

 grasses dominate, in the deeper and moister soils of the lower levels, the 

 vegetations consists of good fodder grasses. 



Even in the higher and rocky parts however, the good fodder 

 grasses Iseilema laxum and Andropogon monticola, have firmly estab- 

 lished themselves. Loth are perennials. It is not too much to hope 

 that they will gradually dominate the higher levels, thereby fixing the 

 soil, and gradually producing the conditions suitable for the more 

 tender Andropogon annulatus and Andropogon caricosus. 



There is nothing in the climate, except when the rains fail to pre- 

 vent these excellent fodder grasses establishing themselves if the land 

 conditions are right. The question appears to resolve itself into one of 

 permanent land improvement. 



The question arises : What stage of the succession are we at ? 

 It can hardly be the climax, in an area so trampled, burned and 

 grazed as this is. Is it the very first stage of the sere, to use 

 Clements' term ? It is difficult to say, but in certain parts of the area 

 we cannot be far off the initial stage, marked in this case by the 

 small short-lived and xerophytic grasses Oropetium Thomaeum and 

 Tripogon Eoxburghanus. Future years will enable us to pronounce 

 on this point with more decision. 



What may we expect as the climax, woodland or grassland ? 

 The climate is typically neither a woodland nor a grassland climate/ 

 Rainfall is confined to five months of the year. In the hot months 

 all the aarial parts of grasses die. Trees have to be of the most 

 xerophytic character to stand these dry months also. From observa- 

 tions of the neighbourhood, it would appear likely that the climax is 

 Acacia arabica forest. Acacia arabica is checked in its young stages 



