Introduction of four native legumes of the Canadian Prairies in monoculture and in mixtures with meadow bromegrass (Bromus riparius)

Shanna M Quilichini,Bill Biligetu,Michael P Schellenberg,Brian Beres

doi:10.1139/cjps-2020-0249

Shanna M Quilichini, Bill Biligetu + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1139/cjps-2020-0249

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Abstract

Many questions remain concerning the viability and productivity of seeding native legumes in the Canadian Prairies for forage production. Field research was conducted with four native legume species (Astragalus flexuosus, Dalea purpurea, Hedysarum boreale, and Vicia americana) to evaluate performance in Swift Current and Saskatoon, SK. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with four replicates to evaluate legume–grass mixtures and monoculture performance, botanical composition, and effect of harvest dates (July and August) from 2016 to 2018. The native legume–grass mixtures performed differently at the sites, with greater foliar cover at Saskatoon but a greater proportion of legumes in mixtures at Swift Current. The mixtures had similar forage nutritive value as monoculture Bromus riparius, with legumes contributing 10% or less of the forage dry matter yield (DMY) at both sites. Astragalus flexuosus showed the greatest foliar cover and produced the greatest DMY in monoculture at both sites. Based on this study, native legumes would need to make up a larger proportion of forage dry matter yield to change the nutritional value of mixtures. In a subsequent seeding rate evaluation, the four legume species were planted at three seeding rates [300, 200, and 100 pure live seeds (PLS) per metre] and tested for DMY one year following establishment near Swift Current. Increasing seeding rates up to 300 PLS·m−1 corresponded with an increase in seedling density and foliar cover, but DMY was not affected. Additional research with A. flexuosus is needed to demonstrate its value as a forage.

Highlights

There is growing interest in the use of native plant materials for forage production in the Canadian Prairies because of adaptation to severe environments, unique nutritional value, and to maintain natural biodiversity (Schellenberg et al 2013; Kilkenny et al 2016)
Native perennial legumes have been recognized as important components of plant communities when seeded in rangelands for forage production (Luscher et al 2014), there is a need to evaluate the productivity of a wider range of native legumes in mixtures with grasses in semi-arid environments (Schellenberg and Banerjee 2002; Scheaffer et al 2009; Mischkolz et al 2013; Muir et al 2014)
Most research to date has focused on single site studies using a limited number of native legume species, whereas little attention has been given to the forage production of multiple species mixtures in semi-arid climates (Schellenberg and Banerjee 2002; McGraw et al 2004; Mischkolz et al 2013; Muir et al 2014)

Summary

Introduction

There is growing interest in the use of native plant materials for forage production in the Canadian Prairies because of adaptation to severe environments, unique nutritional value, and to maintain natural biodiversity (Schellenberg et al 2013; Kilkenny et al 2016). Native perennial legumes have been recognized as important components of plant communities when seeded in rangelands for forage production (Luscher et al 2014), there is a need to evaluate the productivity of a wider range of native legumes in mixtures with grasses in semi-arid environments (Schellenberg and Banerjee 2002; Scheaffer et al 2009; Mischkolz et al 2013; Muir et al 2014). Most research to date has focused on single site studies using a limited number of native legume species, whereas little attention has been given to the forage production of multiple species mixtures in semi-arid climates (Schellenberg and Banerjee 2002; McGraw et al 2004; Mischkolz et al 2013; Muir et al 2014)

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