Investigation of yield, chemical compositions and qualitative traits in different phonological stages of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) genotypes

Tall fescue is a high yielding perennial grass with wide adaptability to the adverse environmental conditions.This study was carried out to measure dry forage yield, chemical compositions and metabolizable energy (ME) of six tall fescue genotypes at two phonological stages. The selected genotypes were planted in a randomized complete block design with three replications at the research farm of Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of the Northwest Region in Tabriz in 2017. Based on the results of analysis of variance, the tested genotypes showed significant differences for all measured traits (P˂0.01). Dry forage yield was high in the genotypes Boroujen1 and Kamyaran2 with 325 and 270 g/plant respectively and low in the genotype Kamyaran3. The amount of crude protein, ME and acid detergent fibers (ADF) in the genotypes Boroujen1 and Borjen2 were better than the genotypes Fariman, Kamyaran1, Kamyaran2 and Kamyaran3 (P˂0.05), whereas the genotype Kamyaran3 had the lowest crude protein and ME and the highest ADF. Interaction of genotype ´ phonological stage was significant for all traits. At the heading stage, dry forage yield of the genotypes Boroujen1 and Kamyaran2 were the highest with 536 and 442 g/plant respectively and in the genotypes Fariman and Kamyaran3 were the lowest (P˂ 0.05). Based on the results of dry forage yield, the amount of crude protein, ADF and ME, the best genotypes were Boroujen1 and Kamyaran2.