Evaluation of Wildrye (Elymus spp.) As a Potential Forage and Conservation Planting for the Southeastern USA.

Evaluation of Wildrye (Elymus spp.) as a Potential Forage and Conservation Planting for the Southeastern USA

J. Brett Rushing¹ and Brian S. Baldwin¹

¹Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Box 9555 Mississippi State University, MS 39762

 

            Introduced species account for a majority of forage grasses grown for livestock in the southeastern U.S.. Cool-season non-native species include: tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), annual and perennial ryegrass (Lolium spp.), bluegrass (Poa spp.), and orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata). Wildrye (Elymus spp.) is a native cool-season perennial grass with forage potential. It may also be planted in prairie restoration and conservation projects. Literature usually cites only two species, E. virginicus and E. canadensis, however there are six main species that are commonly found in the southeastern U.S.: E. canadensis, E. virginicus, E. hystrix, E. riparius, E. villosus, and E. glabriflorus. Information regarding agronomic principles of these species (i.e. germination characteristics, planting depth, weed control, etc.) as well as forage yield and quality is lacking. The goals of this project are to define optimum germination requirements, planting depth, forage yield, and quality. E. glabriflorus was the species used for germination experiments. The optimum temperature for germination was 20^oC (five accessions; four temperature treatments). There were no significant differences for light treatments (constant dark and light, short day, long day). Removal of physical structures surrounding embryo does not enhance germination (glumeless, beardless, combination of both). Optimal planting depth ranges from 0.6-1.2 cm (five depth treatments). In terms of forage yield and quality, an eighteen entry cool-season variety trial was established in the fall of 2010 including tall fescue, wheatgrass (Agropyron spp.) timothy (Phleum pratense), orchardgrass, and seven accessions of wildrye. Cumulative yield (three spring harvests) resulted in ‘Jesup MaxQ’ tall fescue as the entry with the greatest yield (11.2 Mg/ha) followed by ‘Profit’ orchardgrass (10.7 Mg/ha), ‘Kentucky 31' tall fescue (10.0 Mg/ha), and Virginia wildrye (9.7 Mg/ha). Forage quality analysis is pending.