Forage yield of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) under irrigated and dry farming conditions in Zanjan province

Document Type : Scientific Letters

Authors

1 Assistant Prof., Research Division of Natural Resources, Zanjan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center, AREEO, Zanjan, Iran.

2 Prof., Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research Education and extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) is one of the most important grasses in the temperate climate which there is a lack of information on its adaptability in cold and semi-arid regions. The forage yield and quality of the species were evaluated using 36 domestic and exotic populations in Zanjan agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education centre.A RCBD design layout was also chosen for analysing the data of irrigated and dry farming conditions. Forage yield was used to evaluate the forage quantity. Hence, leaf to stem ratio, digestibility and crude protein percentage were used to evaluate forage quality. Results showed significant differences in all traits except for digestibility. Based on the results, genotype 4 (from Australia) with average yield of 3402 kg/h and genotype 19 (from Russia) with average yield value of 2113 kg/h was recommended for irrigated and dry farming condition, respectively. However, genotype 35 (from Ireland) was recommended for both conditions. Considerably high forage yield and quality in native genotype 16 (from Charmahal o Bakhtyari was reported. In conclusion, tall fescue could be recommended for cold climate such as Zanjan province, because of its cold tolerance, high forage production and soil protection.

References

-Arnold, G. W., and Hill, J. L., 1972. Chemical factors affecting selection of food plants by ruminants. In J. B. Harbome, ed Phytochemical ecology. Academic Press London, 72-89.
-Buxton, D. R. and Fales, S. L., 1994. Plant environment and quality. In: “Forage Quality, Evaluation and utilization” (eds. Fahey et al), ASA, CSSA, and SSSA, Madison, USA, 155-199.
- Jafari, A., Connolly, V., Frolich A. and Walsh, E.K., 2003. A note on estimation of quality in perennial ryegrass by near infrared spectroscopy. Irish Journal of Agricultural And Food Research 42: 293-299.
- Hafenrichter, A.L., Schwendiman, J. N., Harris, H.L.,MacLaughlin, R.S. and Miller, H.W., 1968. U.S. Department of Agriculture - Soil Conservation Service (USDASCS). Agronomy Handbook, 339 p.
- Hannaway, D.B., Fransen, S., Cropper, J.B., Teel, M., Chaney, T., Griggs, T.D., Halse, R.R., Hart, J.M., Cheeke, P.R., Hansen, D.E. and Klinger, R., 1999. Tall fescue (festuca arundinacea Schreb.). [Corvallis, Or.]: Oregon State University Extension Service; [Pullman, Wash.]: Washington State University Cooperative Extension; [Moscow, Idaho]: University of Idaho Cooperative Extension Service.
- Karn, J. F. and Berdahl, J. D., 1984. Nutritional, morphological and agronomic characteristics of selected intermediate wheatgrass clones Canadian Journal of Plant Science 64: 909-915.
- Kasperbauer, M.J., 1990. Biotechnology in Tall Fescue Improvement. CRC Press. 199 p.
- Walton, P. D., 1981.Production and management of cultivated foraged. Alberta Canada. , 225-233.
 
Iran Nature
Volume 4, Issue 1 - Serial Number 14
March and April 2019
Pages 51-56

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics