Publication Date
1989
Description
In the semi-arid clima\e of the Canadian Prairies most herbage production occurs in May and June whereas the grazing season lasts until October. Summer and fall pasture consists largely of mature, quiescent vegetation with senescent leaves and lignified stems. Floral tillers of some temperate grasses have a higher rate of leaf senescence than non-floral tillers (Bittman et al., 1988) and are rejected by grazing cattle. Floral tillers of Stipa viridula Trin. and Pascopyrum sinithii (Rydb.) Love had 2 and 4 % units lower protein content and digestibility, respectively, than non-floral tillers (White, 1983). In the Parkland region of the prairies, smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) is the most commonly seeded pasture grass. Cultivars of smooth bromegrass have been selected for high seed yielding potential to ensure their commercial success. The smooth bromegrass cultivars that produce seed prolifically in Canada (Carlton, Magna, and Signal) are derived from the northern ecotype while the less prolific varieties are derived from the southern ecotype. In the seed growing areas of the Canadian Prairies, southern cultivars yielded about 47 % less seed than northern cultivars (Knowles, 1984). The objective of this study was to compare the proportion of floral tillers and leaves and the nutritional quality of northern (prolific) and southern (non-prolific) cultivars of smooth bromegrass.
Citation
Bittman, S; Mir, Z; and McCartney, D H., "Proportion of Leaves and Floral Tillers and Nutritional Quality of Prolific and Non-Prolific Seed Yielding Cultivars of Smooth Bromegrass" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 37.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1989/session7/37
Included in
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Proportion of Leaves and Floral Tillers and Nutritional Quality of Prolific and Non-Prolific Seed Yielding Cultivars of Smooth Bromegrass
In the semi-arid clima\e of the Canadian Prairies most herbage production occurs in May and June whereas the grazing season lasts until October. Summer and fall pasture consists largely of mature, quiescent vegetation with senescent leaves and lignified stems. Floral tillers of some temperate grasses have a higher rate of leaf senescence than non-floral tillers (Bittman et al., 1988) and are rejected by grazing cattle. Floral tillers of Stipa viridula Trin. and Pascopyrum sinithii (Rydb.) Love had 2 and 4 % units lower protein content and digestibility, respectively, than non-floral tillers (White, 1983). In the Parkland region of the prairies, smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) is the most commonly seeded pasture grass. Cultivars of smooth bromegrass have been selected for high seed yielding potential to ensure their commercial success. The smooth bromegrass cultivars that produce seed prolifically in Canada (Carlton, Magna, and Signal) are derived from the northern ecotype while the less prolific varieties are derived from the southern ecotype. In the seed growing areas of the Canadian Prairies, southern cultivars yielded about 47 % less seed than northern cultivars (Knowles, 1984). The objective of this study was to compare the proportion of floral tillers and leaves and the nutritional quality of northern (prolific) and southern (non-prolific) cultivars of smooth bromegrass.
