Productive and nutritional potential of Sudan grass

   Sudan grass is characterized by drought and heat resistance and is the best among annual and perennial bluegrass feed crops by the content of the main nutrient element - protein.

   The aim of the research is to evaluate 200 accessions and varieties of Sudan grass according to productivity and quality of green mass, to identify the sources of valuable traits and their correlation.

   The study was carried out in the Rostov region on ordinary carbonate black earth (chernozem). The collection of Sudan grass was evaluated in 2016-2019, of which contrasting weather conditions were characterized by 2017 (HTC = 0.85) and 2018 (HTC = 0.34). There were identified varieties and accessions that exceeded the standard variety Alexandrina according to green mass yield by 17.0-56.3 % (K-311, V-51/2, Chernoplenchataya 10, Alisa, K-187, Gratsiya, etc.); in terms of dry matter content – above the standard by 4.0-8.3 % (K-141/1, K-348/2, Svetloplenchataya 1, ‘Chernosemyannaya 191) and dry matter yield – by 26.4-60.5 % (Chernoplenchataya 10, Alisa, K-187, etc.). The sources of high content of crude protein include samples of the collection K-237, K-349/1, Topolek, K-311, K-161ch, Sudanka 24, Rossiyanka (14.82-16.13%); fiber - K-176/2, Ozornitsa, K-265/2, K-10257, etc. (38.8-40.4 %). The identified samples have been recommended for use in hybridization to develop new highly productive varieties and hybrids with high quality green mass. As a result of correlation-regression analysis, a weak negative relationship was established between the yield of green mass of Sudan grass and the content of crude protein in it, with an increase in protein content by 1 %, the yield decreases by 93.8 g/m².

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