Genotype and Planting Date Influence on Establishment and Growth of Bassia prostrata (L) A.J. Scott in a Semiarid Subtropical Dry Winter Region

Leonard Lauriault,Blair L Waldron

doi:10.3390/agronomy10020251

Abstract

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) growers in semiarid subtropical regions seek forage crops having a lower irrigation requirement. Perennial forage kochia (Bassia prostrata (L) A.J. Scott (syn. Kochia prostrata)) can potentially fill this need. The New Mexico State University’s Agricultural Science Center at Tucumcari evaluated four genotypes of B. prostrata (subspecies virescens ”Immigrant” and “Pustinny-select” and subsp. grisea “Snowstorm” and “KZ-6X”) that were direct-seeded in March and May of 2014 under irrigation in semiarid continental precipitation conditions, in three randomized complete blocks. Canopy cover was rated in 2016 and 2018 and biomass production was measured in 2018. Snowstorm did not establish on either date. Canopy cover remained unchanged across years. Immigrant established the greatest canopy cover for the March seeding and Pustinny-select had greater canopy cover for the May seeding. The May seeding tended (p < 0.10) to have greater biomass production than the March seeding (12,357 and 8909 kg ha−1, respectively, SEM = 2454). Irrigation or adequate precipitation to maintain soil moisture and weed control are critical to B. prostrata establishment by direct seeding, especially in dry winter regions. Further research is necessary to determine the potential of this species as an alternative to alfalfa in semiarid, subtropical, and continental precipitation regions.

Highlights

While the demand for available forage for livestock production is increasing in semiarid regions [1], such as the Southern High Plains of the USA, declining water tables and intermittent drought are prompting alfalfa (Medicago sativa) growers, in those regions, to seek alternative forage crops with a lower irrigation requirement for use as hay or pasture
Immigrant established the greatest canopy cover for the March seeding and Pustinny-select had greater canopy cover for the May seeding
As is typical of the Southern High Plains and other semiarid regions with a continental precipitation pattern, precipitation was sporadic during the test period with vast differences among years in the amount and distribution

Summary

Introduction

While the demand for available forage for livestock production is increasing in semiarid regions [1], such as the Southern High Plains of the USA, declining water tables and intermittent drought are prompting alfalfa (Medicago sativa) growers, in those regions, to seek alternative forage crops with a lower irrigation requirement for use as hay or pasture. Bassia prostrata is a long-lived semishrub (nonwoody stems) that is native to arid and semiarid areas from the Mediterranean Basin to Siberia which was introduced to North America in the 1960s [2,4,5]. It has demonstrated potential as forage for multiple classes of livestock and wildlife [2,3,5], as well as for soil stabilization and reclamation on western rangelands [6,7]

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Conclusion