GROWTH, HERBAGE YIELD AND QUALITY EVALUATION OF TURFGRASSES SPECIES UNDER AGRO-ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS OF IĞDIR, TURKEY

Abstract

The agro-botanical and qualitative testing of indigenous turfgrass species have remained neglected despite their enormous potential to provide nutritional herbage for dairy animals. A multi-year research was conducted to appraise the growth, herbage yield and nutritional quality performance of eight turfgrass species (Lolium perenne, Festuca arundinacea, Poa pratensis, Festuca rubra rubra, Festuca rubra comutata, Festuca rubra trichophylla, Festuca ovina, Agrostis tenuis) during 2015 and 2016 under the agro-ecological conditions of Igdir, Turkey. The experiment was carried out in a factorial design with three replications, while response variables included different agro-botanical traits and green herbage potential of turfgrasses under investigation. The results revealed that Festuca arundinacea remained superior for canopy covering rate, green herbage yield, plant height, root depth, leaf width, grass quality and greenness of leaf color.It was followed by Lolium perenne and Festuca rubra rubra. However, Festuca ovina and Agrostis tenuis performed below par to other turfgrass species during all seasons of both years. Therefore, turfgrass species 'Festuca arundinacea', Lolium perenne and Festuca rubra rubra may be recommended for obtaining significantly higher green herbage yield and quality in all three seasons (spring, summer and autumn) in Igdir, Turkey and in other regions of having similar agro-climatic conditions globally.