AN EVALUATION OF 15 GRASS SPECIES AS FORAGE CROPS FOR SOUTHWESTERN SASKATCHEWAN

Abstract

Fifteen grass species were evaluated for dry-matter yield, protein content, in vitro digestibility of cellulose, and winterhardiness. Of these species only Agropyron cristatum and Elymus junceus are used extensively as cultivated forage crops in the prairie area. E. excelsus, E. giganteus, E. sibiricus, and E. striatus appeared to possess fairly high forage-yielding potential as they produced nearly as much as A. cristatum in the first crop year. E. sabulosus and Stipa tenacissima lacked drought tolerance but may give satisfactory yields in moist areas. The other species yielded less forage, generally in the range of production typified by E. junceus. The cellulose digestibility of E. angustus was similar to that of E. akmolinensis and E. junceus. However, E. angustus contained less crude protein than these two species. S. viridula exhibited qualities between those of A. cristatum and E. junceus, and since its yielding capacity and drought resistance were quite good, this species should be reasonably useful for forage production. Of the 12 Elymus species, E. angustus showed the best possibilities of becoming a useful forage crop on dry land for late fall and winter grazing. After the severe drought of 1961, E. arenarius, E. excelsus, E. giganteus, E. sibiricus, E. striatus, and E. virginicus killed out completely and should therefore be considered of doubtful usefulness as cultivated forage crops in a semi-arid, cold climate despite other attributes they may possess.