Forage Yield and Nutritive Value of Selected Quackgrass. (4411)
Authors:
C.C. Sheaffer - Univ. of Mn, St. Paul, MN N.J. Ehlke - Univ. of MN, St. Paul, MN D.L. Wyse - Univ. of MN, St. Paul, MN D.J. Vellekson - Univ. of MN, St. Paul, MN D.R. Swanson - Univ. of MN, St. Paul, MN J.L. Halgerson - Univ. of MN, St. Paul, MN R.D. Mathison* - Univ. of Minnesota
Abstract:
Quackgrass (Elytrigia repens (L.)is a widely distributed perennial that colonizes pastures and hayfields in the northern USA and is often considered a weed. Recently, the first quackgrass cultivar, Everett, was released for use in soil conservation. Our objective was to compare the forage yield and nutritive value of Everetts, common, and a leafy quackgrass selection with orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) and reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinaceae L.) when each was grown in pure stands and in mixture with alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Grass and grass-alfalfa mixtures were harvested three time per year for 3 year at St. Paul and Grand Rapids, MN. Yields of quackgrass entries were similar and averaged 5.0 and 2.2 tons/acre at St. Paul and Grand Rapids, respectively, while reed canarygrass yielded 5.4 and 2.8 tons/acre. Forage yield of quackgrass-alfalfa mixtures was similar to or exceeded yield of reed canarygrass or orchardgrass alfalfa mixtures each year. Quackgrass entries had similar yields in mixtures and contributed an aveage of 42 and 33% to mixture yield at St. Paul and Grand Rapids, respectively. Nutritive value of quackgrass was similar to reed canary grass and often higher than that of orchardgrass. Quackgrass is a valuable forage crop and the availability of Everett quackgrass seed will allow promotion of its use for soil conservation and forage.
Speaker Information: Russ Mathison, Univ. of Minnesota, NCROC 1861 Hwy 169E, Grand Rapids, MN 55744; Phone: 218-327-4352; E-mail: [email protected]
Session Information: Wednesday, November 3, 2004, 3:00 PM-5:00 PM Presentation Start: 3:00 PM (Poster Board Number: 1169)
Keywords: quackgrass; cultivar; persistence; forage
