EVALUATION OF TWENTY GRASS POPULATIONS AS IRRIGATED HAY CROPS FOR SOUTHWESTERN SASKATCHEWAN

Abstract

Twenty grass populations were evaluated for dry matter yield, N content, P content, organic matter content, organic matter digestibility and winterhardiness. Of these populations, Agropyron intermedium was most suitable for a hay crop on a well-drained irrigated soil. Agropyron trichophorum, Bromus inermis, and Phalaris arundinacea were lower-yielding alternatives that had a satisfactory N content and good digestibility. Elymus angustus shows promise as an irrigated hay crop and should be evaluated further. The usefulness of the following populations was limited by one or more of these factors: low yield (Y), low N content (N), low digestibility (D) and lack of winterhardiness (W): Dactylis glomerata ’Kay’ (Y,N,D), Dactylis glomerata ’Chinook’ (Y,N,W), Elymus sibiricus (Y), Festuca arundinacea ’Kenmont’ (Y,N,W), Festuca elatior ’Trader’ (Y,N), Phleum pratense (Y,N,D), Poa ampla ’Sherman’ (N,D), Poa bulbosa cv. P4874 (Y,N,D), and Poa pratensis (Y,N,D).