Publication Date
1989
Description
In 1964, one plant of billion dollar grass (Echinochloa crusgalli Link) was found by Wan Lisheng in artificial grassland in mid-part of the desert steppe in Ningxia, China. 50 g of seeds were collected in the same year. After 24 years' systematic selection breeding, a new variety named Hai zi-1 billion dollar grass (BDG) was developed. The characteristics of the grass were high-yield and fine quality with extraordinary plant height. The average height of the community was 180-230 cm, the highest plant could be 250 cm high. Its field yield was 16,866 t/ha DM in Ningxia plain irrigated area under intensive management. The efficiency of solar energy conversion (E) was 1,95 %. The yield would be still higher if the management was strengthened and given sufficient fertilizer and humidity. It was planted on 288,9 m2 area at Wu zhong stored feed station in 1986, and the yield was equal to 29,437 t/ha DM. 10,67 ha area were raised next year, and the yield reached 25,845 t/ha DM. It was planted on 533 m2 area by one farmer at another place also, but the plants were 250 cm high; the yield was 30,18 t/ha DM and E > 3 % . In the same year, it was planted on 200 m2 area by another farmer, the yield was 38,64 t/ha DM and E = 4,5 %, which exceeded the 3 % level of the high-yield artificial grasslands of the world. The yield also was higher than that of any other grass in northern China. The BDG was planted on about 867 ha in Ningxia Plain in 1987 and on about 2000 ha in northern China in 1988.
Citation
Lishong, Wan; Shenglin, Liu; Renren, Geng; Shengrong, Shao; and Wenkui, Jiang, "The Study on the High Yield Property of Billion Dollar Grass" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 25.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1989/session3/25
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
The Study on the High Yield Property of Billion Dollar Grass
In 1964, one plant of billion dollar grass (Echinochloa crusgalli Link) was found by Wan Lisheng in artificial grassland in mid-part of the desert steppe in Ningxia, China. 50 g of seeds were collected in the same year. After 24 years' systematic selection breeding, a new variety named Hai zi-1 billion dollar grass (BDG) was developed. The characteristics of the grass were high-yield and fine quality with extraordinary plant height. The average height of the community was 180-230 cm, the highest plant could be 250 cm high. Its field yield was 16,866 t/ha DM in Ningxia plain irrigated area under intensive management. The efficiency of solar energy conversion (E) was 1,95 %. The yield would be still higher if the management was strengthened and given sufficient fertilizer and humidity. It was planted on 288,9 m2 area at Wu zhong stored feed station in 1986, and the yield was equal to 29,437 t/ha DM. 10,67 ha area were raised next year, and the yield reached 25,845 t/ha DM. It was planted on 533 m2 area by one farmer at another place also, but the plants were 250 cm high; the yield was 30,18 t/ha DM and E > 3 % . In the same year, it was planted on 200 m2 area by another farmer, the yield was 38,64 t/ha DM and E = 4,5 %, which exceeded the 3 % level of the high-yield artificial grasslands of the world. The yield also was higher than that of any other grass in northern China. The BDG was planted on about 867 ha in Ningxia Plain in 1987 and on about 2000 ha in northern China in 1988.
