Most forage grasses grown in the northeastern USA are introduced species. Interest in native plant species for conservation and production has increased because of new federal policies. We evaluated northeastern accessions of the native cool‐season grass Virginia wildrye (Elymus virginicus L.) for yield, persistence, and plant morphological traits. Thirteen accessions, one cultivar (Omaha), and one commercial ecotype of Elymus were transplanted into single‐row field plots in late summer of 2000 at Beltsville, MD, Rock Springs, PA, and Big Flats, NY. Two orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) cultivars were the checks. Yield and morphology (leaf width, length, mass, area, and tillers per plant) data were collected during 2001 and 2002. The Elymus accessions produced as much dry matter (28–57 g per plant) as the cultivar and commercial ecotype. Orchardgrass yielded more than twice as much dry matter than the mean of all Elymus entries (94 vs. 34 g per plant averaged for years and locations). The difference in productivity was related to reduced tillering in Elymus especially during regrowth. Yield per plant was strongly correlated (r = 0.62–0.81, P < 0.01) with the number of tillers per plant. Differences in productivity were also reflected in leaf blade traits, with Elymus having a lower leaf area and mass than orchardgrass. Leaf traits were positively correlated (r = 0.35–0.56, P < 0.05) with plant yield. Some northeastern Elymus accessions would probably perform as well as the commercial sources of Elymus in conservation plantings.
rye (E. glaucus Buckley), and Dahurian wildrye (E. dahuricus Turcz ex Greiseb) as the most noteworthy of the Most forage grasses grown in the northeastern USA are introduced Elymus wildryes and briefly mentioned Virginia wildrye species. Interest in native plant species for conservation and producfor revegetating prairie (Asay and Jensen, 1996). Virtion has increased because of new federal policies. We evaluated ginia wildrye is closely related to Canada wildrye. Both northeastern accessions of the native cool-season grass Virginia wildrye (Elymus virginicus L.) for yield, persistence, and plant morpholog-species are highly self-fertile allotetraploids (2n ϭ 28) ical traits. Thirteen accessions, one cultivar (Omaha), and one comwith the SSHH genome constitution (Asay and Jensen, mercial ecotype of Elymus were transplanted into single-row field plots 1996). Very little breeding has been done in either spein late summer of 2000 at Beltsville, MD, Rock Springs, PA, and Big cies. In an evaluation of 30 grass species in Saskatche-Flats, NY. Two orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) cultivars were wan, Canada, E. virginicus was considered a promising the checks. Yield and morphology (leaf width, length, mass, area, and forage grass, but lack of winterhardiness limited its pertillers per plant) data were collected during 2001 and 2002. The Elymus sistence (Lawrence, 1978). Hereafter in this paper, the accessions produced as much dry matter (28-57 g per plant) as the terms "Elymus" and "wildrye" will refer to E. virginicus. cultivar and commercial ecotype. Orchardgrass yielded more than twice Leaf and tiller development are key determinants in the as much dry matter than the mean of all Elymus entries (94 vs. 34 g growth, yield, and persistence of the grass sward (Rhodes, per plant averaged for years and locations). The difference in productivity was related to reduced tillering in Elymus especially during re-1969, 1971, 1975; Nelson et al., 1977). For example, plants growth. Yield per plant was strongly correlated (r ϭ 0.62-0.81, P Ͻ of a tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) genotype 0.01) with the number of tillers per plant. Differences in productivity with high yield per tiller had long erect leaves and a were also reflected in leaf blade traits, with Elymus having a lower reduced tillering rate, which made for an open sward. leaf area and mass than orchardgrass. Leaf traits were positively corre-Plants of a genotype with low yield per tiller had shorter, lated (r ϭ 0.35-0.56, P Ͻ 0.05) with plant yield. Some northeastern lax leaves and a high tillering rate (Zarrough et al., Elymus accessions would probably perform as well as the commercial 1983a,b). In perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), sources of Elymus in conservation plantings. The experiment was conducted at the USDA-NRCS Plant cock, 1971). It is recommended as a component in some Materials Center in Big Flats, NY (42ЊN, 76Њ54Ј W, 290 m asl), the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rock conservation plantings for revegetation. A recent re...
Interest in native plant species for conservation and production has increased because of new federal policies. We evaluated accessions of the native cool‐season grass Virginia wildrye (Elymus virginicus L.) from the northeastern USA for nutritive value and its association with plant morphological traits. Thirteen accessions, one cultivar (Omaha), and one commercial ecotype of Elymus were transplanted into single‐row field plots in late summer of 2000 at Beltsville, MD, Rock Springs, PA, and Big Flats, NY. Two orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) cultivars were included. Primary growth was harvested in April (Beltsville) or May (Rock Springs and Big Flats) of 2001 and 2002 and analyzed for neutral detergent fiber (NDF), crude protein (CP), and digestible NDF (dNDF). Nutritive value measures were related to plant morphological attributes [leaf width, length, area, and leaf‐to‐stem mass ratio (LSR)]. Virginia wildrye accessions differed (P < 0.01) in nutritive value and often had lower NDF and higher CP and dNDF than the commercial ecotype, Omaha cultivar, and orchardgrass. The LSR accounted for most of the variation in nutritive value. Orchardgrass was more mature at harvest than Elymus entries and thus lower in nutritive value. Neutral detergent fiber was negatively correlated with LSR (r = −0.26 to −0.74, P < 0.05), whereas CP and dNDF were positively correlated (r = 0.36 to 0.80 for CP and 0.44 to 0.74 for dNDF, P < 0.05). Neutral detergent fiber was also positively correlated (r = 0.27 to 0.86, P < 0.05) with leaf length. Virginia wildrye is comparable to other cool‐season grasses in nutritive value.
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