Grasses belong to one of the most fascinating families of flowering
plants and have a wide range of diversity and play significant role in
the lives of human beings and animals. The value of grasses to mankind
has been recognized since the dawn of human civilization, and culture of
cereal grasses dates back to period when man was emerging from wild
beast stage. Grasses inhabit the earth in greater abundance than any
other comparable group of plants, some are present in warm, humid and
tropical climates, while others have adopted the polar regions, where
the growing season is two months or less and direct sunlight is absent
for many months of the year. Grasses are used as food for human and
forage for domesticated animals. A high proportion of the world's most
fertile and productive soil is developed under the vegetation cover of
grasses. Roots, stolen, rhizomes and littler form the annual replacement
of leafy culms, not only are soil builders but also are effective soil
stabilizers. Wild life is also dependent upon grass and grassland
habitats for food, shelter and normal completion of their life cycle.