Virginia Wildrye Evaluated as a Potential Native Cool‐Season Forage in the Northeast USA

Abstract

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.

Nutritive Value of Virginia Wildrye, a Cool‐Season Grass Native to the Northeast USA

“…The nutritive value characteristics of Elymus in our study indicate that it is comparable to other cool‐season grasses such as orchardgrass and tall fescue and would provide suitable forage for livestock. Our previous research, however, showed that Elymus lacked persistence and produced low yields and regrowth relative to commercially available orchardgrass cultivars (Sanderson et al, 2004). These traits would require improvement in Elymus to make it a suitable forage grass.…”

“…Some inconsistency in nutritive value data may have resulted from tillering differences among Elymus accessions and the orchardgrass cultivars. Some accessions produced fewer tillers in 2002 than in 2001, and the orchardgrass cultivars produced more tillers than Elymus (orchardgrass averaged 120 tillers per plant, whereas the Elymus accessions averaged 94 tillers per plant averaged across years; Sanderson et al, 2004). Concentrations of dNDF were not different between Elymus and orchardgrass at Beltsville perhaps because orchardgrass produced more vegetative tillers per plant than did Elymus (Sanderson et al, 2004), which may have affected relative nutritive value differences between species.…”

“…Differences in nutritive value among Elymus accessions were probably due to differences in plant morphology, specifically LSR (Table 6; Sanderson et al, 2004). Concentrations of NDF were negatively correlated with LSR in each year and each location, whereas CP and dNDF were positively correlated with LSR (except dNDF at Rock Springs in 2001; Table 7) Correlations of NDF with LSR ranged from −0.26 to −0.74 at Rock Springs.…”

“…After measurements, the leaf blades and stems (including the leaf sheath) were dried at 55°C for 48 h, weighed, and the specific leaf area (SLA, cm 2 leaf area g −1 leaf mass) and LSR calculated. Leaf length, width, and SLA data were presented in Sanderson et al (2004)…”

“…We could not find any information on the nutritive value of Elymus as a forage grass in the northeastern USA. Previously, we reported on the productivity, morphology, and persistence of several Elymus accessions at three locations in the northeastern USA (Sanderson et al, 2004). Our objective in this study was to evaluate the same northeastern accessions of Virginia wildrye for nutritive value.…”