Feed Quality and Productivity in Some Varieties of Italian Ryegrass- Lolium Multiflorum Lam.

Abstract

The Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) provide a large amount of feed per surface unit due to its high productivity. Due to its wide use, a number of varieties are found on the market, the farmer being put in the situation to choose between those varieties that best meet the needs of his own farm. In this context, the paper aims to evaluate the production capacity at anthesis and the content of feed in protein and fiber in two vegetation phenophases in three varieties of Italian ryegrass. Three varieties were used as biological material; two tetraploids (Linos and Ivan) and one diploid variety (Sprint), grown under the conditions of Agricultural Research and Development Station Lovrin, Romania. According to the research, the tetraploid varieties Linos and Ivan are more productive than the diploid variety Sprint. The Linos variety behaved the best, which in the anthesis phenophase (BBCH65) recorded a production of 92 t.ha-1, with the feed containing 8.7 % protein and 36 % fiber. Regarding the protein and fiber content, the varieties analyzed are grouped according to the harvesting phase: BBCH49 and BBCH65. The highest content in the protein was found in the BBCH49 phenophase and decreased in the BBCH65 phenophase as the fiber content increased. These results can be useful for the farmer in making decisions on the choice of varieties of Lolium multiflorum Lam. and the harvest period.