Creation of new varieties of comb-shaped wheat grass (Agropyron pectinatum (Bieb.) Beauv.) as a factor of increasing the efficiency of grass growing in arid conditions

Abstract

Perennial grasses play the most important role in solving the problem of production of energy-saturated high-protein bulky feed and biologization of agriculture. Perennial grasses are the most affordable and stable source of cheap plant food and a means of preserving soil fertility with intensive farming, which has an anthropogenic negative impact on agroecosystems. Perennial grasses play a special role as a biological means of countering the degradation of biological, water-physical and agrochemical properties of soils, their dehumidification and erosion processes. In arid climates, the most effective species of perennial bluegrass is the comb-shaped Wheatgrass (Agropyron peintforme Roem et Schult.). Compared to two other species used in agricultural practice – Siberian (sand) granary (Agropyron fragile (Roth) P. Candargy) and desert (narrow-leaved) (Agropyron desertorum (Ksch. ex Link.) Schult), the comb-shaped wheat grass is characterized by a wider range of growth, high productivity and environmental plasticity. In the State register of breeding achievements approved for use in Russia as of 2020, only 10 varieties of comb-shaped wheat grass are registered, which limits the effective use of this crop and makes it necessary to intensify breeding work in order to create new varieties with improved economic and useful characteristics. At the Voronezh experimental station, active breeding work is being carried out on perennial grasses to develop new varieties of comb-shaped wheat grass. Currently set up and ready to transfer to a new variety of Pridonskoy, characterized by drought tolerance, high forage and seed productivity and longevity. Thus, when the washed-out slopes were grazed, the abundant participation of the granary in the grass mixture was noted in the third year. From the fifth year, the granary dominated the herbage, and in the 10th-12th year of use, the cenoses were represented only by the granary.

Wheatgrass Is the Most Important Field Crop in Russia

“…Виды кормовых трав, которые отличаются засухоустойчивостью, приобретают особое значение в связи с аридизацией климата в южных регионах России [9][10][11].…”

Role of the Voronezh Experimental Station for Perennial Herbs – A Branch of the Federal Williams Research Center of Forage Production and Agroecology in Breeding and Primary Seed Production of Perennial Grasses in Russia

“…В таблице 2 представлены результаты конкурсного сортоиспытания сортов и селекционных образцов житняка гребневидного в 2016-2019 гг. В результате был выделен и передан в Государственное сортоиспытание новый сорт житняка гребневидного Ненароковский [26].…”