Publication Date

1985

Location

Kyoto Japan

Description

Miscanthus sinensis Anderss., an indigenous summer growing tussock grass species, has been utilized traditionally in Japan for many centuries as bulk herbage to feed livestock, material for thatching roof and snowshed etc, but this species does not survive well under frequent cutting. Experiments were conducted to select more vigorous strains among fifty clones collected from various meadows throughout Niigata Prefecture in 1967. Several clones were detected for better regrowth performance and their dry matter productions were compared for four years under three cuttings a year with fertilizer application scheme. Dry matter productions of the selected clones were comparable to those of Zea mays L. and Sorghum nitidum (Vahl) Pers. even in the fourth year. It is suggested that an intensive research on breeding and utilization of this species should be undertaken as it is good for improving soil fertility if managed well, while very few research work has been done on improving its regrowth vigor which might lead to a quick domestication.

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Scope for Breeding Miscanthus sinensis Anderss. as Forage Crop

Kyoto Japan

Miscanthus sinensis Anderss., an indigenous summer growing tussock grass species, has been utilized traditionally in Japan for many centuries as bulk herbage to feed livestock, material for thatching roof and snowshed etc, but this species does not survive well under frequent cutting. Experiments were conducted to select more vigorous strains among fifty clones collected from various meadows throughout Niigata Prefecture in 1967. Several clones were detected for better regrowth performance and their dry matter productions were compared for four years under three cuttings a year with fertilizer application scheme. Dry matter productions of the selected clones were comparable to those of Zea mays L. and Sorghum nitidum (Vahl) Pers. even in the fourth year. It is suggested that an intensive research on breeding and utilization of this species should be undertaken as it is good for improving soil fertility if managed well, while very few research work has been done on improving its regrowth vigor which might lead to a quick domestication.