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Biomass Production and Quality of Indian‐Origin Forage Guar in Southern Great Plains
Author(s) -
Rao Srinivas C.,
Northup Brian K.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj2012.0378
Subject(s) - cultivar , forage , agronomy , guar , fodder , biomass (ecology) , biology , cyamopsis , growing season , crop
Guar [ Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.] is a summer annual pulse grown in semiarid regions of the world as a multi‐purpose vegetable, grain, cover, or fodder crop. Existing guar cultivars used in the U.S. southern Great Plains (SGP) were developed for grain production, and there are currently no forage cultivars available for the region. This study compared biomass production and nutritive values of plant products of three cultivars of Indian origin, forage‐ type guar with a commonly used grain cultivar (Kinman) to determine whether the Indian‐origin cultivars would be better production options for the SGP. Aboveground biomass was sampled at early and late vegetative stages, and physiological maturity. Samples collected at maturity were separated into grain, pods, and vegetative biomass. Nitrogen and in vitro digestible dry matter (IVDDM) concentrations were determined on all biomass components. Data were analyzed using mixed models with guar cultivars and growth stage as main effects, and years as a longitudinal (repeated) element. The Indian‐origin cultivars produced significantly ( P < 0.05) more forage (13–22%) and less grain (26–36%) than Kinman. Growing season and time of season main effects on biomass production, N, and IVDDM concentrations of forage, pods, and grain were significant. Drier growing seasons produced 50 and 34% less forage and grain, respectively, that contained 26 and 16% more N, with 14 and 6% greater IVDDM. Results indicated additional genetic selection is required to identify productive and reliable forage‐type guar cultivars that are better suited to the variable growing conditions of the SGP.