HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Free Full Text (PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (3) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Sanderson, M. A. Articles by van der Grinten, M. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Sanderson, M. A. Articles by van der Grinten, M. Agricola Articles by Sanderson, M. A. Articles by van der Grinten, M. Related Collections Forage Management Other Forage Crops

FORAGE & GRAZING LANDS

Virginia Wildrye Evaluated as a Potential Native Cool-Season Forage in the Northeast USA

^a USDA-ARS Pasture Systems and Watershed Management Research Unit, Building 3702, Curtin Road, University Park, PA 16802-3702
^b USDA-NRCS National Plant Materials Center, Beltsville, MD, 20705
^c USDA-NRCS Plant Materials Center, Big Flats, New York, 14830

^* Corresponding author (mas44{at}psu.edu).

Most forage grasses grown in the northeastern USA are introduced species. Interest in native plant species for conservation and production has increased because of new federal policies. We evaluated northeastern accessions of the native cool-season grass Virginia wildrye (Elymus virginicus L.) for yield, persistence, and plant morphological traits. Thirteen accessions, one cultivar (Omaha), and one commercial ecotype of Elymus were transplanted into single-row field plots in late summer of 2000 at Beltsville, MD, Rock Springs, PA, and Big Flats, NY. Two orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) cultivars were the checks. Yield and morphology (leaf width, length, mass, area, and tillers per plant) data were collected during 2001 and 2002. The Elymus accessions produced as much dry matter (28–57 g per plant) as the cultivar and commercial ecotype. Orchardgrass yielded more than twice as much dry matter than the mean of all Elymus entries (94 vs. 34 g per plant averaged for years and locations). The difference in productivity was related to reduced tillering in Elymus especially during regrowth. Yield per plant was strongly correlated (r = 0.62–0.81, P < 0.01) with the number of tillers per plant. Differences in productivity were also reflected in leaf blade traits, with Elymus having a lower leaf area and mass than orchardgrass. Leaf traits were positively correlated (r = 0.35–0.56, P < 0.05) with plant yield. Some northeastern Elymus accessions would probably perform as well as the commercial sources of Elymus in conservation plantings.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. P. Vogel, A. A. Hopkins, K. J. Moore, K. D. Johnson, and I. T. Carlson Genetic Variation among Canada Wildrye Accessions from Midwest USA Remnant Prairies for Biomass Yield and other Traits Crop Sci., October 2, 2006; 46(6): 2348 - 2353. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. A. Sanderson, R. H. Skinner, M. van der Grinten, and J. Kujawski Eastern Bottlebrush Grass Yield, Persistence, and Nutritive Value in the Northeastern USA Crop Sci., November 1, 2004; 44(6): 2193 - 2198. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. A. Sanderson, R. H. Skinner, M. van der Grinten, and J. Kujawski Nutritive Value of Virginia Wildrye, a Cool-Season Grass Native to the Northeast USA Crop Sci., July 1, 2004; 44(4): 1385 - 1390. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]