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© 2007 Plant Management Network.
Accepted for publication 27 June 2007. Published 18 September 2007.

Evaluation Studies on the Dry Matter Production and Quality of Annual and Perennial Grasses

N. A. Dar, Assistant Professor (Agrostology), CRS, Manasbal; H. U. Khan, Associate Professor (Agronomy), Division of Agronomy, Shalimar; N. A. Ganai, Senior Scientist I/C CRS, Manasbal; and K. Burman, Assistant Professor (Animal Nutrition), CRS Manasbal Cattle Research Station, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Manasbal, Jammu and Kashmir, India

Corresponding author: N. A. Dar. naseerahdar@gmail.com

Dar, N. A., Khan, H. U., Ganai, N. A., and Burman K. 2007. Evaluation studies on the dry matter production and quality of annual and perennial grasses. Online. Forage and Grazinglands doi:10.1094/FG-2007-0918-02-RS.

Abstract

A field experiment for determining dry matter and quality of annual and perennial grasses was conducted during 2005 and 2006 at Cattle Research Station, Manasbal on a silty clay loam soil that was low in available nitrogen, medium in available phosphorus and potassium, with neutral pH. The treatments consisted of one annual grass (Oat, Avena sativa L.) and four perennial grasses (orchardgrass, Dactylis glomerata L.; perennial ryegrass, Lolium perenne L.; tall fescue, Festuca arundinacea L.; and hybrid Phalaris, Phalaris stenoptera L.). Dry matter yields of oat at first cutting on 15 April 2005 (8.05 Mg/ha) and 15 April 2006 (8.10 Mg/ha) were similar to hybrid Phalaris (7.23 and 7.74 Mg/ha during 2005 and 2006, respectively) but were significantly greater than other grasses, while dry matter yields of hybrid Phalaris at second cutting during 2005 (5.21 Mg/ha) and 2006 (5.27 Mg/ha) were significantly greater than oat and other grasses. The plant height of hybrid Phalaris at first cutting during both years was significantly greater than oat and other grasses, while at second cutting on 25 May 2005 and 2006 both hybrid Phalaris and oat were similar but significantly taller than other grasses. Crude protein content of hybrid Phalaris at two cuttings during both the years was significantly greater than oat and other perennial grasses, while crude fiber of the perennial grasses was significantly more than oat except at second cutting on 25 May 2005. In conclusion, hybrid Phalaris gave significantly greater plant height, more dry matter, and higher crude protein content, while tall fescue gave significantly more crude fiber during both years.

Introduction

Livestock production is important in agriculture and provides milk, meat, and wool as well as recycling of plant nutrients through excreta added to the soil. Animal performance is dependent on level of proteins. Forages are considered the lowest-cost alternatives for providing nutrients. Estimates have shown that nutrients from wheat, oats, or barley grains can be as much as three times more costly than from forages.

The state of Jammu and Kashmir, with temperate, sub-tropical, and cold arid climates in the Kashmir, Jammu, and Ladakh regions, respectively, face an annual fodder deficit of 0.8 mt to feed the livestock population of 9.175 million (1) mainly because less than 2% of their total cultivated area is under fodder cultivation as well as the presence of low yielding potential grasses (Agrostis species, Agropyron canium, Bromus mollis, Alopecurus himalaicus, and Poa annua) in native pastures. The recent introduction of potential exotic grasses (orchardgrass, tall fescue, perennial ryegrass, and others) show yield variability at different altitudes. The average dry matter yield of both native and exotic grasses varies considerably from 2.5 tons/ha in Agrostis species to 10.0 tons/ha in Dactylis glomerata (5).

In view of this, a study was initiated to determine the yield potential and quality of grasses for improving native pastures and for substitution for oat on the vacant space under trees in orchards where soils are continuously disturbed by seasonal tillage.

Determining Dry Matter and Quality of Grasses

A field experiment was conducted at Cattle Research Station, Manasbal, Jammu, and Kashmir, India (34°50'N, 74°63'E at an altitude of 1,630 m above mean sea level) during 2005 and 2006 on a silty-clay loam (Typic Hapludalpfs) soil, low in available nitrogen, medium in available phosphorus and potassium with neutral pH. The treatments consisted of one annual grass (oat, Fig. 1) and four perennial grasses (orchardgrass, Fig. 2; perennial ryegrass, Fig. 3; tall fescue, Fig. 4; and hybrid Phalaris, Fig. 5). The grasses were planted in 3 × 4 m plots at row spacing of 22 cm in a randomized block design with 3 replications. The perennial grasses were transplanted through slips (3 plants per hill) on 10 April 2004 and were allowed to establish during the year. ‘Sabzar’ oat was sown on 25 October 2004 and 2005 at the rate of 100 kg/ha. A uniform dose of N, P₂O₅ and K₂O at 120, 60, and 30 kg/ha, respectively, was applied to each plot. A full dose of P₂O₅ through diammonium phosphate (156 g/plot) and K₂O through muriate of potash (58 g/plot), and a half dose of N through urea (128 g/plot) was applied to oat at sowing (25 October 2005 and 2006) and to perennial grasses on 10 April 2005 and 2006. Remaining half dose of N was applied to oat in two equal splits viz,. at a 15-cm height (10 March, 2005 and 2006) and soon after first cutting (15 April 2005 and 2006) and to perennial grasses in one split soon after first cutting on 15 April 2005 and 2006. The first and second cut to oat and perennial grasses was made on 15 April and 25 May during both years. The dry matter yield of grasses recorded after 25 May until the onset of winter was not included in the experimental results because the objective was to make yield comparisons of perennial grasses with seasonal oat.

Fig. 1. Oat, Avena sativa L.		Fig. 2. Orchardgrass, Dactylis glomerata L.

Fig. 3. Perennial ryegrass, Lolium perenne L.

Fig. 4. Tall fescue, Festuca arundinacea L.		Fig. 5. Hybrid Phalaris, Phalaris stenoptera L.

One day before each cut, the plant height of five randomly selected plants from each plot was recorded, averaged, and expressed in centimeters. Plant height was taken with a meter scale from the base to the upper tip of plant. At each cutting with hand sickle, fresh yield per plot was taken with a spring balance and a plant sample of 2 kg from each plot was sun-dried for 24 h followed by oven drying at 60 to 65°C to constant weight. The fresh yield per plot was converted into Mg/ha and dry matter yield (Mg/ha) was determined through dry matter yield of plot sub-samples. The dried samples were finely ground and analyzed for crude protein and crude fiber content by modified kjeldahl method (4) and AOAC method (3),respectively. The data was analysed by the method described by Cochran and Cox (2).

Yield Potential and Quality of Grasses

The results presented in Table 1 revealed that at first cutting during 2005 oat had significantly higher dry matter (8050 kg/ha) than other grasses; however, during 2006, dry matter yield of oat (8100 kg/ha) and hybrid Phalaris (7740 kg/ha) was similiar but significantly greater than other grasses. At second cutting, the dry matter obtained in hybrid Phalaris during 2005 and 2006 (5200 and 5370 kg/ha) was significantly greater than other grasses. The cumulative dry matter production at two cuttings during 2005 and 2006 was greater in hybrid Phalaris (12490 and 13110 kg/ha) compared to oat (12010 and 12110 kg/ha). The plant height of hybrid Phalaris at first cutting during experimental years was significantly more than oat and other perennial grasses. However, at second cutting the height of hybrid Phalaris and oat was similar but significantly more than the other perennial grasses (Table 2)

Table 1. Dry matter yield (kg/ha) of annual and perennial grasses.

 * CD = least significant difference at and above which all other differences are significant.

Table 2. Plant height (cm) of annual and perennial grasses

 * CD = least significant difference at and above which all other differences are significant.

Regarding the quality parameters (Table 3), hybrid Phalaris had significantly higher crude protein content at first and second cutting during 2005 and 2006. The crude fiber content at first and second cutting during 2 years was more in perennial grasses than oak; however, crude fiber of oat and hybrid Phalaris was similar at both cuttings in both years. The lowest crude fiber content was recorded in oat and the highest recorded in tall fescue.

Table 3. Crude protein and crude fiber content (%) of annual and perennial grasses.

 * CD = least significant difference at and above which all other differences are significant.

Conclusions

The higher sward density of grass, the rapid regeneration after each cut, and greater plant height and hybrid vigour could have contributed to the higher dry matter yield of hybrid Phalaris compared to other grasses. Singh et al. (6) working under Indian conditions have also reported higher dry matter yield of hybrid Phalaris compared to orchardgrass and tall fescue.

Significantly higher crude protein content in hybrid Phalaris compared to other grasses could be attributed to higher uptake of nitrogen by the grass. Higher crude fiber recorded in tall fescue and other perennial grasses compared to annual oat could be ascribed to higher cellulose per cent in the perennial grasses, especially tall fescue. In general, oat matures earlier compared to perennial grasses.

The higher cumulative dry matter yield recorded in hybrid Phalaris compared to oat during the same growth period, together with its greater crude protein content justifies its cultivation under orchards in place of oat hybrid Phalaris could also be exploited in the pastures. However, more study needs to be conducted regarding the performance of grass at different altitudes because native pastures of the valley exist at varied altitudes. The grass would provide protein rich food to the livestock compared to existing exotic grasses, thereby producing more meat and milk.

Literature Cited

1. Anonymous. 2004. Livestock, sheep and animal husbandry Pages 132-134 in: Digest of Statistics, Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Planning and Development Dept. Govt. of Jammu and Kashmir, India.

2. Cochran, G. C., and Cox, N. M. 1963. Experimental Designs. Asia Publ., Mumbai.

3. Helrich, K. ed. 1990. Official Methods of Analysis of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists, 15th Ed. Assoc. of Offic. Analyt. Chem. Inc., Arlington, VA.

4. Jackson, M. L. 1967. Soil and Plant Chemical Analysis. Prentice Hall Inc. Cliffs, NJ.

5. Singh, L. N. 1988. Forage production in temperate and sub-alpine regions: Pasture and forage crops research. 3rd Int'l Rangeland Congress, New Delhi, India. 56-62.

6. Singh, L. N., Bhandari, J. C., and Dogra, K. K. 1977. Forage production in temperate and sub-alpine regions. Forage Res. 3:27-33.