Genetic variances for dry matter yield, nitrogen content, and nitrogen yield in crested wheatgrass-alfalfa mixtures

Asay, K.H. and Mayland, H.F. (1991) Genetic variances for dry matter yield, nitrogen content, and nitrogen yield in crested wheatgrass-alfalfa mixtures. Journal of Range Management. 44(5):418-421.

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Abstract

Since its introduction from Asia in the early 1900s, crested
wheatgrass [Agropyron cristatum (L.)Gaertner, A. desertorum
(Fisch. ex Link) Schultes et al.] has had a major impact on the
improvement of western rangelands of North America. Most of the
early seedings with this cool-season grass were made as monocultures.
Present and projected use of rangelands, however, prescribe
that future crested wheatgrass cultivars have the genetic potential
to be an effective component in a species complex including other
grasses, shrubs, and forbs. The present study was conducted to
evaluate the effect of associated alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) on the
performance and genetic variability in a 50-clone sample of a
tetraploid crested wheatgrass breeding population. Significant
(P<0.05) differences were found among the clonal lines for dry
matter (DM) yield, nitrogen (N), and N yield. Opportunities for
genetic improvement, as indicated by the magnitude of the genetic
variation for these characters, was significantly increased when the
grasses were grown in association with alfalfa. Significant (P<0.01)
and positive correlations of clonal means between stand types
indicated that differences among the clonal lines in DM yield, N
content, and N yield were relatively consistent when grown with or
without alfalfa. These results indicate that initial screening could
be effectively done in tetraploid crested wheatgrass in the presence
or absence of alfalfa. Final evaluation of breeding lines and experimental
strains, however, should be done with alfalfa if the object is
to develop cultivars to be grown in combination with that species.

Item Type:	Article
NWISRL Publication Number:	0750
Subjects:	Irrigated crops > Alfalfa Mass Import - autoclassified (may be erroneous)
Depositing User:	Dan Stieneke
Date Deposited:	20 Nov 2010 21:53
Last Modified:	06 Dec 2016 23:53
Item ID:	560
URI:	https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/560