Yield, nutritive value, and phenotypic variability of tall wheatgrass grown in a nonsaline environment

Abstract

The phenotypic variation of 10 important botanical traits and 2 traits related to herbage quality was measured in tall wheatgrass (Thinopyrum elongatum) cv. Tyrrell. Five certified lines of Tyrrell were compared among themselves and with cvv. Largo and San Jose. Significant differences, both between cultivars and within lines of Tyrrell, were observed for several traits. The phenotypic variability measured confirms that Tyrrell is distinct from its progenitor, Largo, and has sufficient variability to make it suitable for use in a selection program. In a second experiment, from November 1990 to February 1993, the yield and nutritive value of Tyrrell, Largo, and San Jose were compared with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) cv. Ellett and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) cv. Demeter. There were no differences (P>0.05) between cultivars for either total dry matter yield or total yield of digestible dry matter. Seasonal differences in growth and nutritive value were observed. Ellett showed superior growth in winter and early spring, while tall wheatgrass and Demeter were more summer-active. In 6 of the 11 harvests measured for nutritive value, there were no differences (P>0.05) between treatments for yield of digestible dry matter; for 2 of the remaining 5 harvests, Tyrrell yielded more digestible dry matter than Ellett. Dry matter digestibility of tall wheatgrass did not fall below 60%. The results suggest that with appropriate management, tall wheatgrass can produce nutritious forage in quantities sufficient for animal production systems, particularly as a special purpose summer pasture.

Perennial growth and salinity tolerance in wheat × wheatgrass amphiploids varying in the ratio of wheat to wheatgrass genomes

“…Although no palatability study was done on the CSLt and LDNLp forage, it is possible that the presence of four or five Lophopyrum genomes will have detrimental effects on palatability of such forage. Previous studies suggested that palatability of L. ponticum forage was similar to that of perennial ryegrass ( Lolium perenne ) and tall fescue ( Festuca arundinacea ) (Smith et al, 1994), although concerns were raised about potentially toxic levels of boron, selenium and molybdenum which Lophopyrum ponticum tends to accumulate on salinized soils (Diaz & Grattan, 2009). However, the logical reference point for perennial wheat is not ryegrass or fescue but annual wheat, triticale and oats.…”

Growth, Rhizosphere Carboxylate Exudation, and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Colonisation in Temperate Perennial Pasture Grasses Varied with Phosphorus Application

“…Dundas)-were chosen considering their importance in the Australian farming systems and positive responses to biofertiliser in our earlier experiment [27]. Tall fescue has a wide adaptability to diverse environments, and tall wheatgrass has a wide adaptability to the saline environments [28]. Veldt grass has high palatability and adaptability to nutrient-poor sandy soils [29].…”

Adaptive mechanisms of tall wheatgrass to salinity and alkalinity stress

“…In soils with neither salinity nor alkalinity issues, digestibility of tall wheatgrass has been shown not to differ from that of other perennial grass species (e.g. tall fescue ‐ Festuca arundinacea Schreb.‐ and perennial ryegrass ‐ Lolium perenne L.‐) if it is maintained in a vegetative rather than reproductive state (Insua et al, 2018; Smith et al, 1994). In inhospitable soil environments, restrictions to shoot growth should be expected to translate into increased metabolizable energy given that shoot biomass and digestibility are inversely related (Lemaire & Belanger, 2019).…”

“…Other contributors to nutritive value are concentrations of crude protein, minerals, and secondary compounds which may present their own peculiarities in harsh soil environments (Masters et al, 2007). No consistent differences in crude protein content have been found between tall wheatgrass, tall fescue, and perennial ryegrass in soils with neither salinity nor alkalinity issues (Smith et al, 1994); while increasing salinity translated into an increase in crude protein content in tall wheatgrass but not in other grasses (Robinson et al, 2004). It has not yet been elucidated, however, if the latter would only be a consequence of slower time to maturity or if non‐protein compounds that are synthesized by plants when coping with salinity are playing their part (Norman et al, 2013).…”