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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Madison, Wisconsin » U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center » Dairy Forage Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #292370
Title: Reed canarygrass yield improvement

Author
item CHERNEY, JERRY - Cornell University
item Casler, Michael
item BRUMMER, CHARLIE - Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc

Submitted to: Popular Publication
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/2013
Publication Date: 5/8/2014
Citation: Cherney, J., Casler, M.D., Brummer, C. 2014. Reed canarygrass yield improvement. Cornell University Bioenergy Information Sheet #8.

Interpretive Summary: Reed canarygrass is well adapted to the northern USA. Eight commercial varieties and 72 wild plants collected in rural landscapes from Iowa to New Hampshire were evaluated for yield. Wild populations produced on average 7% higher biomass yield compared to commercial cultivars. Wild populations of reed canarygrass have the potential for increasing biomass yields compared to commercial varieties that are bred for pasture use, but are likely to be high alkaloid types not suited for ruminant forage. These results will be of value to agronomists, breeders, and seed industry personnel interested in the commercial potential of reed canarygrass.

Technical Abstract: Reed canarygrass is well adapted to the northern USA. Eight cultivars and 72 accessions collected in rural landscapes from Iowa to New Hampshire were evaluated for yield. Accessions produced on average 7% higher biomass yield compared to existing cultivars. Naturalized populations of reed canarygrass have the potential for increasing biomass yields, but are likely to be high alkaloid types not suited for ruminant forage.