Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Effects of phenological stages on forage yield quality traits in cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata)

Author(s):

M. Rezaeifard ^1*, A. A. Jafari ², M. H. Assareh ²

Recieved Date: 2010-01-08, Accepted Date: 2010-04-12

Abstract:

In order to determine the effect of harvest date on yield and quality traits in cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata), a split plot experiment was conducted using a complete randomized block design with two replications in Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Karaj, Iran, during 2004-2006. Five domestic genotypes, 10505 (Gorgan), 1773 (Sari), 1053 (Karaj), 1761 (Ormia) and 412 (Ardebil), and three foreign ones, IX (Russia), 1557 (Russia) and 1715 (USA), were sown in sub plots and five phenological stages (vegetative, heading, pollination, milky and dough seed stage) were considered as main plots. The data were collected and analyzed for dry matter (DM) yield, crude protein (CP), dry matter digestibility (DMD), water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and total ash. Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) was used for estimation of the quality traits. The analysis of variance showed a significant effect of phenological stages on all traits (P≤0.01). The genotypes effect was significant on all traits except DMD, CP and total ash. The genotype × phenological stage interaction was non-significant for all of traits. For DM yield, the lowest and highest values of 2567 and 3607 kg ha^-1 were obtained at vegetative and soft dough stages, respectively. In contrast, the average values of DMD and CP concentration ranged from 64.85 to 41.77% and from 22.86 to 9.72% at vegetative and dough seed stages, respectively. In general, DM yield, plant height, WSC and ADF values dramatically increased and DMD, CP and ash values decreased due to advancing plant maturity. For DM yield, IX (Russia), 1715 (USA) and 1053 (Karaj, Iran), with average values of 3871 to 4049 kg ha^-1, had the highest forage production. Among them, IX (Russia), with average values of 17.2 and 55.3% for CP and DMD, respectively, had highest quality. Based on DMD and CP yield per unit of area, the heading was recognized as the best harvest date in cocksfoot under conservation management. The regression equations were developed among phenological stages and all of traits. The results showed linear models for all of quality traits and quadratic equation for DM yield and stem number.

Keywords:

Cocksfoot, Dactylis glomerata, phenological stage, yield and quality traits

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2010
Volume: 8
Issue: 2
Category: Agriculture
Pages: 365-369

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