TOLERANCE TO FROSTS AND PRODUCTION OF FORAGE AND SEED OF BUFFEL GRASS LINES AND VARIETIES

Abstract

Buffelgrass Cenchrus ciliaris L. is an important forage plant in the arid and semiarid zones of Mexico because of its drougth tolerance. However, a lack of cold tolerance has limited the utilization of this grass in altitudes higher than 1000 m. The objective of this research was to evaluate 31 experimental lines for high altitudes (HA) and three commercial varieties in two locations of northern Mexico. For comparison, two lines for low altitudes (LA) were included at Navidad, Nuevo Leon and one line at Ocampo,
Coahuila. The trial was conducted from 1982 to 1989; in 1982 all materials were trasplanted in one row, with ten plants plots, and irrigated once to secure establishment; thereafter the trial was conducted under rainfed conditions. Establishment was 99 and 97% at Navidad and Ocampo, respectively. Plant growth was less and slower at Navidad, because of lower temperatures in this location. Regrowth started in April at Navidad and in February at Ocampo. At Navidad, 75% of the plants died after the first two winters and only Llano, hybrid 71, line 26 and one LA line survived after seven winters. All materials survived at Ocampo. Llano and LA line 27 outyielded all materials for forage production but seed yield was poor. High altitud lines 8, 22 and 24 showed a good forage and
seed yield potential at Ocampo.