Production and Quality of Irrigated Timothy Hay in Saskatchewan for Export Hay Markets

Abstract

A market for timothy (Phleum pratense L.) hay exists in Asia and is adapted under irrigation in southern Saskatchewan, but variation among cultivars for the required quality characteristics was unknown. We evaluated forage yield and quality for export and traditional hay markets of timothy cultivars on two irrigated sites in southern Saskatchewan. Eleven cultivars were grown at two N fertilizer rates (100 and 150 kg N ha−1) at Swift Current and Outlook for 3 yr. Seed head length, stem length, leaf/stem ratio, forage dry matter yield, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and crude protein concentrations were determined. Seed head length and stem length, which are quality characteristics for export to Japan, were subject to site × cultivar × year interaction due to instability of some cultivars. ‘Drummond’ had the longest seed heads in five of six site‐years while ‘Toro’ had the shortest in four site‐years. ‘Timfor’ and Toro ranked first to fourth for stem length while Drummond and ‘Bottnia II’ had the shortest stems. Thus, the requirement for long heads and long stems was not met by one cultivar. Principal component analysis separated cultivars based on maturity compared with yield. Richmond, the earliest‐maturing cultivar, was distinct from Drummond, the latest cultivar. The second principal component separated Timfor, a high‐yield and low‐quality cultivar from Bottnia II, a low‐yield and high‐quality cultivar. Drummond is the best cultivar for export markets while Richmond is better suited for traditional markets.

Yield and quality responses of irrigated timothy to fertilizer application in southern Alberta

“…The amount of N fertilizer required for maximum yield was slightly higher than estimated in Saskatchewan studies. Under irrigated conditions with similar yield potential to our study, Jefferson et al (2001) found that annual DM yields were only 4% higher at an annual N rate of 150 than 100 kg N ha…”

The effect of the interaction of various spawn grains with different culture medium on carpophore dry weights and stipe and pileus diameters of Lentinus squarrosulus (Mont.) Singer

“…The experiment was conducted in a split-split plot design replicated thrice, with medium as the main plot, oil type and rate as the sub-plot and spawn grain as the sub-subplot treatment (Sheaffer et al, 2001;Jefferson et al, 2001). The fruiting bodies from different flushes (1-3) in the different experiments were collected and the pileus and stipe diameters as well as the stipe lengths measured (Largent, 1986;Bhandari et al, 1991).…”

Improving the nutritive value of timothy through management and breeding

“…This indicates that, for a given DM yield, early-and late-maturing cultivars have similar digestibility. More recent research conducted in Saskatchewan with only one sampling date, however, indicated that the relationship between NDF concentration and DM yield was not necessarily the same for early-and late-maturing cultivars when a greater number of cultivars was studied (Jefferson et al 2001). This suggests that there is genetic variability for the relationship between digestibility and DM yield when cultivars of different maturity are considered.…”

“…Early-maturing timothy cultivars are less digestible than late-maturing cultivars when harvested on a given date (Mowat et al 1965;Kunelius 1990;Bélanger and McQueen 1996). When compared at the same growth stage, however, early-maturing cultivars have a greater DM digestibility and a lower NDF concentration than late-maturing cultivars (Bélanger and McQueen 1996;Jefferson et al 2001). The rate of decline in DM digestibility is greater for early-maturing cultivars than for late-maturing cultivars (Koch 1976;Mika 1983;Bélanger and McQueen 1996).…”