Nutritive Quality of Four Perennial Grasses as Affected by Species, Cultivar, Maturity, and Plant Tissue

摘要: Improved perennial grasses provide ranchers with high-quality forage for grazing and hay. However, in the Northern Great Plains of USA, nutritive quality information is limited on both established new cultivars. This study compares more recently released cultivars crested wheatgrass [Agropyron desertorum (Fisch. ex Link) Schultes] (CWG), intermediate [Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkworth Dewey] (IWG), western [Pascopyrum smithii (Rydb.) Love] (WWG), smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) (SBG); evaluates effect plant maturity tissue quality; differences among species; relationships. Smooth leaf had highest (P , 0.05) vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) lowest neutral detergent fiber (NDF), but IWG WWG higher stem IVDMD. Few were detected between within a species, ‘Rosana’ 0.10) whole IVDMD than ‘Rodan’. Leaf percentage differed significantly (49.8%) having highest, CWG (21.2%) lowest. Correlation coefficients measurements suggest that if grass selected IVDMD, leaves should also have crude protein (CP) lower NDF. relationship was best illustrated all three types. The apparent Rodan compared older cultivar, Rosana, caution breeders to monitor ensure selection improved agronomic traits does not compromise quality.