Abstract
The evaluation of forage crops for adaptability and performance across production systems and environments is one of the main strategies used to improve forage production. To enhance the genetic resource base and identify traits responsible for increased feed potential of Napier grass, forty-five genotypes from Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA), Brazil, were evaluated for forage biomass yield and feed nutritional quality in a replicated trial under wet and dry season conditions in Ethiopia. The results revealed significant variation in forage yield and feed nutritional qualities among the genotypes and between the wet and dry seasons. Feed fiber components were lower in the dry season, while crude protein, in vitro organic matter digestibility, and metabolizable energy were higher. Based on the cumulative biomass and metabolizable energy yield, top performing genotypes were identified that are candidates for future forage improvement studies. Furthermore, the marker-trait association study identified diagnostic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and SilicoDArT markers and potential candidate genes that could differentiate high biomass yielding and high metabolizable energy genotypes in the collection.
Highlights
Forage provides an essential component of the feed resource for small scale dairy-producing farmers in developing countries [1]
Forage yield was lower during the dry season, with the mean total dry weight for wet season harvests almost three-fold higher compared to the dry season harvests (Table 3)
Was over two-fold higher during the dry season compared to the wet season, presumably reflecting the fact that genotypes produce a higher proportion of stem associated with the increased yield during eight weeks of regrowth in the wet season (Table 3)
Summary
Forage provides an essential component of the feed resource for small scale dairy-producing farmers in developing countries [1]. Production by the farmers, is affected by seasonal fluctuations of forage performance, both in terms of quantity and quality. Several national research institutes are aiming to improve forage productivity and to provide new forage cultivars by the identification of adaptable, higher quality forage accessions, mainly through the introduction and evaluation of different options in their forage development programs [4,5]. Pennisetum purpureum Schumach), called elephant grass, is one of the most popular tropical forage crops [6]. Napier grass is valued for its high biomass production, Agronomy 2020, 10, 542; doi:10.3390/agronomy10040542 www.mdpi.com/journal/agronomy
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