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Genotype × Environment Interaction Effects of Propagation and Defoliation on Meadow Bromegrass
Author(s) -
Robins Joseph G.,
Jensen Kevin B.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci2017.02.0072
Subject(s) - grazing , biology , bromus inermis , agronomy , clipping (morphology) , trait , pasture , biomass (ecology) , selection (genetic algorithm) , hay , poaceae , philosophy , linguistics , artificial intelligence , computer science , programming language
Sixty‐three meadow bromegrass ( Bromus riparius Rehm.) half‐sib families were evaluated over 2 yr at Millville, UT, for biomass production and nutritive value. Families were evaluated under either space‐plant or sward conditions combined with either grazed or clipped management. The objective of the study was to determine if selection under standard space‐plant and clipping practices resulted in the same rank under seeded plots and grazing. Spearman correlation estimates were low among the four environments for the same trait. Most correlation estimates did not differ from zero, and the highest was ρ = 0.52. Trait differences were less pronounced in the spaced‐plant conditions. There were no differences among families for biomass in the space–graze treatment; for digestibility in the space–clip treatment; and for protein in the space–clip, space–graze, or seed–graze treatments. There was limited evidence of correlation among the four traits. Only one significant relationship, digestibility and fiber, was evident in all environments (ρ = −0.65 to −0.71, P < 0.001). These results suggest that meadow bromegrass breeding should occur in sward plot nurseries. The selection of best harvest management is less clear due to the need for both grazing and hay production. However, the difficulty of grazing for selection will likely lead to the predominance of clipping under more frequent harvest.