Russian wildrye nutritive quality as affected by accession and environment

Abstract

. 2005. Russian wildrye nutritive quality as affected by accession and environment. Can. J. Plant Sci. 85: 125-133. High-quality forage for spring and fall grazing is an important need of ranchers in the Northern Great Plains and Intermountain-West regions of the United States of America and in the prairie provinces of Canada. Russian wildrye [Psathyrostachys juncea (Fischer) Nevski] has been used to meet this grazing need, especially in Canada. However, its use has probably been limited by its reputation for seedling establishment difficulties and scattered reports of grass tetany. The purpose of this research was to characterize the variation in nutritive quality of Russian wildrye accessions used in a multi-location grass tetany project, to access the effect of environment on quality components, and to determine the relationship between forage nutritive quality components and entities associated with grass tetany. Sixty-seven Russian wildrye accessions from the US National Plant Germplasm System were established in spaced-plant nurseries at Logan, UT, Mandan, ND, and Swift Current, SK, Canada. Plants were sampled at two stages of development over 2 yr. Location, year, and stage of development effects were significant (P < 0.01) for in vitro true dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), crude protein (CP), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF). At the early stages of development used in this study the range in nutritive quality traits among entries was rather narrow. Relatively high positive correlation coefficients between K and IVDMD, and K and CP suggest that breeding for higher nutritive quality may also produce a more tetany-prone forage, because high K concentration is usually associated with grass tetany. On the other hand, Mg concentrations were also highly correlated with IVDMD and CP, and higher Mg concentrations would be beneficial in preventing grass tetany. The K/(Mg + Ca) ratio, which has been suggested as an indicator of grass tetany, was only moderately related to IVDMD, CP, and NDF.

Yield and Nutritive Value Responses of Forage Barley Cultivars and Lines

“…In the 2010–2011 crop season at heading, IVDMD concentration had a negative correlation with NDF concentration ( r = –0.7547, P < 0.10). This result agreed with those of other studies (Stratton et al, 1979; Greub et al, 1986; Karn et al, 2005). Therefore, high IVDMD concentration of Saikaikawa 67 may be related to lower NDF concentration.…”

Comparative mapping of fiber, protein, and mineral content QTLs in two interspecific Leymus wildrye full-sib families

“…Experimental grass varieties with high magnesium content were developed to reduce KRAT and evaluate grass tetany potential in tall fescue (Festuca arundinceae) (Sleper et al 2002), Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) (Hides and Thomas 1981;Mosely and Baker 1991), and orchardgrass (Saiga et al 1992;Saiga and Izumi 1997). Nutritionally relevant variation in mineral concentrations and KRAT have been also documented in crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum and A. desertorum) (Asay et al 1996; and Russian wildrye (Psathyrostachys juncea) Asay and Mayland 1990;Jefferson et al 2001;Karn et al 2005). In comparisons with crested wheatgrass and Russian wildrye, Altai wildrye (Leymus angustus) had especially high KRAT values (Lawrence et al 1982).…”