An Evaluation of Thirty Grass Populations as Forage Crops for Southwestern Saskatchewan

Thirty grass populations were evaluated for dry matter yield, N content, P content, organic matter digestibility and winterhardiness. Of these populations, Agropyron cristatum, A. desertorum, A. elongatum, A. intermedium, A. trachycaulum, A. trichophorum, Bromus inermis and Elymus junceus are used extensively for forage crops and E. angustus is being commercialized at present. Of the remaining populations, A. smithii, E. cinereus, Oryzopis hymenoides, E. akmolinensis, E. curvatus, Roegneria sibiricus, and Stipa viridula × O. hymenoides do not appear to have any potential as forage crops; whereas A. sibiricum, E. virginicus, E. sibiricus, A. caespitosum × A. caninum, A. caespitosum × A. trachycaulum, A. cristatum × A. desertorum (4n) show some potential and should be investigated further.