Germination of two native wheatgrass (Agropyron) species under different temperature and water potential regimes

Non-Peer ReviewedNative wheatgrass species are important for land reclamation or rangeland re-seeding. The objective of this study was to evaluate seed germination of slender wheatgrass (Agropyron trachycaulum Link Malte) and northern wheatgrass (Agropyron asystachyum (Hook.) Scribn.) under different temperatures and water potentials. Over a 10 d period, germination was studied in four growth chambers with constant temperatures of 5, 10, 20 and 25°C and water potentials of –1.0, –0.8, –0.6, –0.4, –0.2 and 0.0 Mpa at each temperature. Two wheatgrass species showed a good germination at or higher than –0.4 Mpa water potentials when temperature was 20-25°C, but the percentage was reduced at or lower than –0.6 Mpa. Compared to northern wheatgrass, higher percent of seed germinated for slender wheatgrass at lower water potential, but slender wheatgrass required higher germination temperature

Evaluation of parent plants for alfalfa breeding

Non-Peer Reviewe

Relationship of morphological traits and seed yield of plain rough fescue grass (Festuca hallii (Vasey) Piper) with different origins

Non-Peer ReviewedSeed production in plains rough fescue (Festuca hallii (Vasey) Piper) is infrequent and unpredictable. The objective of this study was to compare seed yield of plain rough fescue collections and to determine correlation between phenotypic characteristics and seed yield. In 2006, a field nursery was established from 11 collections of plain rough fescue grass at the Semiarid Prairie Agricultural Research Centre near Swift Current (50°25' N, 107°44' W), Canada. Plot design was a randomized complete block design with three replications. Six phenotypic variables were measured in summer 2010. Seed yield varied among collection sites. Plant vigour rating (r=0.29, P<0.01) and number of reproductive tiller (r=0.47, P<0.01) were positively correlated to individual plant seed yield, while reproductive tiller height (r=-0.47, P<0.01) and crown width (r=0.62, P<0.01) were negatively correlated to seed yield. Individual plant biomass didn’t have any correlation with seed yield. Selecting vigorous individual plant with higher number of reproductive tillers may improve seed yield of rough fescue grass

A comparison study of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) populations with long-term grazing history

Non-Peer ReviewedUnderstanding the effect of long-term grazing on alfalfa populations is important for identifying superior alfalfa genotypes adapted to animal grazing. The objective of this study was to compare alfalfa populations collected from 14 ranch sites across four soil zones of Saskatchewan for dry matter at first and second cuts, stem number) plant height forage nutritive value (protein, fibers), and verticillium wilt resistance. Crude protein concentration was significantly different (P<0.001) among the populations, but fiber concentrations (acid detergent and neutral detergent fiber) were similar. Resistance (%) to verticillium wilt varied (P=0.0028) among the alfalfa populations. The initial results indicated that DM at first cut was significantly different (P<0.0001) among 14 alfalfa populations, with alfalfa population from MacDowell had the highest first cut DM (287.8g) and regrowth DM (121.7g). Among the four soil zones, alfalfa populations from Black Soil Zone had the highest DM (P<0.0001) at first cut than alfalfa populations from Brown, Dark Brown and Grey wooded soil zones. During regrowth, alfalfa populations from Black (99.7g) and Grey wooded soil zones (99g) had significantly (P<0.001) higher DM than those from Dark Brown (82.6g) and Brown (81.9g) zones. Also, plant height (PH) among 14 alfalfa populations was significantly different (P<0.0001), with plants in MacDowell being tallest (90.4 cm), and in Val Marie population being the shortest (67.3 cm). Furthermore, stem number at first cut was significantly different (P<0.0163), with MacDowell had the highest stem number (98 stem plant-1), and Val Marie had the lowest (68 stem plant-1). There were positive correlations between DM yield with plant height at first cut (R=0.68, P<0.0001) regrowth DM with stem number (R=0.76, P<0.0001). In conclusion, alfalfa populations from these long-term grazing sites had diverse for the measured traits in this study, which may be useful for further selection for grazing tolerance and regional adaptation

Promising native forage options for semi-arid prairies of western Canada

Non-Peer ReviewedThere is growing interest in native plant species for their use as forage, pasture, energy crop, and as land reclamation and revegetation materials. This article reports the results of population improvement work on northern wheatgrass (NWG), purple prairie clover (PPC), white prairie clover (WPC) and plains rough fescue (PRF) carried out at Swift Current Research and Development Centre - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Substantial selection differential were achieved in all species in terms of growth vigour, plant health, biomass and seed yield in all species. This suggests ample scope for selection gain for the desirable traits. Seed shattering is one of the challenges facing the domestication and commercialization of these native plant species

Evaluation of Forage Yield and Quality of Low-Lignin Alfalfa in Monoculture and Binary Mixtures in the Dark Brown Soil Zone of Saskatchewan

Non-Peer ReviewedThe objective of this study was to compare low-lignin Hi-Gest® 360 alfalfa to a conventional legume in both monoculture and binary mixtures. Two varieties of alfalfa (monoculture) [Medicago sativa L. cv. AC Grazeland (Grazeland) and Hi-Gest 360 (Hi-Gest] or in mixture (binary) with AC Success hybrid bromegrass (HB) (Grazeland+HB and Hi-Gest+HB) were grown at a Dark Brown soil zone site (52o07′ N, 106o 38′ W) in Saskatchewan and harvested at 3 maturity stages (stage) of alfalfa [1 = 10% bloom; 2 = 40% bloom; and 3 = 100% bloom)] over 2 yr. Forage was harvested on June 21, June 25, and June 29 2018, and July 8, July 12, and July 16 2019. All plots were established in a randomized complete block design with four replications using forages as treatments. Plot size was 6.2 m × 1.2 m (7.44 m2) with 4 rows and total of 48 plots. Dry matter yield (DMY; 2-yr) and nutritive value (1-yr) of forages were determined. Results indicate that monoculture Hi-Gest alfalfa had greater (P 0.05) for forage quantity and quality. However, forages at maturity stage 3 had greater DMY (1058 vs. 783 kg), but lower CP (17.6 vs. 19.6%) and IVNDFD48 (37.1 vs. 42.3%) than those at maturity stage 1. The sugar content of forages linearly increased (P 0.05) observed between AC Grazeland+HB and Hi-Gest+HB mixtures for DMY or quality profiles. Monoculture had greater CP (18.5 vs. 12.0 %), ADFCP (2.5 vs. 1.5%), lignin (6.9 vs. 4.7%), fat (3.0 vs. 2.6%), RFV (174.8 vs. 91.8), NEm (1.6 vs. 1.3 Mcal/kg), NEg (0.96 vs. 0.77 Mcal/kg), but lower DMY (920 vs. 3343 kg/ha), ADF (27.4 vs. 35.9%), NDF (36.3 vs. 61.9%), starch (0.41 vs. 0.82%), and IVNDFD48 (39.2 vs. 50.7%), compared to binary mixtures. Results suggest that Hi-Gest alfalfa as a monoculture yielded less than AC Grazeland, however Hi-Gest monoculture had higher nutritive value than AC Grazeland, but was similar for yield and quality in mixture, suggesting Hi-Gest 360 alfalfa is a viable alternative legume for Dark Brown soil zone of Saskatchewan

Forage yield and quality, cattle grazing capacity, cost of production and soil carbon in an annual polycrop mixture versus barley swath grazing

Non-Peer ReviewedThe extensive swath grazing systems of barley (Hordeum vulgare) and an annual polycrop mixture were evaluated for forage yield, forage quality, cattle grazing capacity, and cost of production in 2017 and 2018. A 13.2 ha site located at Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence Termuende Research Ranch was seeded in June and grazing commenced in November of each year. The annual polycrop mixture was Union Forage Ultimate Annual Blend with the addition of 40-10 forage peas (Pisum sativa). The Ultimate Annual Blend included the following species: hairy vetch (Vicia villosa), crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum), Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), Winfred forage brassica (Brassica napus ssp. biennis), Hunter Brassica (Brassica rapa syn.B campestris), and Graza Forage Brassica forage brassica (Raphanus sativa ssp. maritimus). The barley cultivar was CDC Maverick barley

Low-Lignin Alfalfa Evaluated in the Black Soil Zone

Non-Peer ReviewedA small-plot study was conducted at Lanigan (lat 51°51´N, long 105°02´W) SK, in the Black soil zone, to compare low-lignin Hi-Gest®360 alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) to a conventional alfalfa (AC Grazeland, check cultivar). Each cultivar was seeded in August 2017 as both a monoculture and binary mixture (binary) with AC Success hybrid bromegrass (HB). Plants were sampled in 2019 at 3 different maturity stages of alfalfa (1 = 10% bloom; 2 = 40% bloom or commercial harvest stage; and 3 = 100% bloom). Forage was harvested 27 June, and 8 and 29 July, 2019 for stage 1, stage 2 (11 d after stage 1), and stage 3 (21 d after stage 2), respectively. Treatments were replicated 4 times, a total of 48 plots with plot size of 6.2 — 1.2 m. Forage — maturity stage interaction was not observed (P > 0.05) for all measured parameters. AC Grazeland and Hi-Gest exhibited similar (P > 0.05) DMY (2978 ± 405 kg/ha). Likewise, AC Grazeland+HB and Hi-Gest+HB did not vary (P = 0.62; 9120 ± 647 kg /ha) in DMY. There was little difference between Hi-Gest and AC Grazeland (P > 0.05) in nutrient profile. As alfalfa maturity advanced, DMY increased (P 0.05) were observed between AC Grazeland+HB and Hi-Gest+HB for nutrient profiles. The ADL concentration of Hi-Gest + HB was 106.3%, 93.7%, and 90.9% of (avg. 96.7%) AC Grazeland+HB, for the stage 1, stage 2, and stage 3, respectively. Hi-Gest alfalfa had greater (P 0.05) greater EDCP (8.2% more; 370 vs. 342 g/kg CP), but had similar EDDM (388.4 g/kg DM) and EDNDF (250 g/ kg NDF) relative to AC Grazeland+HB. In both mono- and binary systems, as the maturity advanced, EDDM, EDCP, and EDNDF declined (P Hi-Gest+HB > Hi-Gest > AC Grazeland. Compared to conventional alfalfa (AC Grazeland) that was harvested at the commercial harvest stage (stage 2; 40% bloom), Hi-Gest alfalfa harvested at stage 3 (100% bloom) had $169.23/ha and$143.57/ha greater market value in mono- and binary system, respectively. Preliminary results suggest that Hi-Gest alfalfa (in both monoculture and binary systems) did not differ in DMY and nutrient profiles, but was greater in rumen degradation potential relative to AC Grazeland, suggesting Hi-Gest 360 alfalfa is a viable alternative legume in both monoculture and binary systems for the Black soil zone of Saskatchewan