Agronomic evaluation of 15 warm season grasses grown in temporarily waterlogged soils in Northeastern Argentina

• Published in: Tropical grasslands-Forrajes tropicales Vol. 12; no. 3; pp. 142 - 153
• Main Authors: Marcón, Florencia, Siburu, Carlos, Acuña, Carlos A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical 01-10-2024
• ISSN: 2346-3775; 2346-3775
• DOI: 10.17138/tgft(12)142-153

Soils with temporarily waterlogged conditions are common in Northeastern Argentina. Fifteen accessions and hybrids of cultivated and native warm season grasses (Acroceras macrum, Urochloa species, Hemarthria altissima and Paspalum species) were planted in Basail, Chaco, in a completely randomized block design in November 2019. Initial, autumn and spring forage yield were measured in February 2020, July 2021 and December 2021, respectively. Plant height and plant diameter were evaluated in February 2020. Cold tolerance was estimated after the first frost in July 2021. Initial forage yield was between 29 and 181 g/plant. Urochloa mutica exhibited the greatest initial forage yield. Autumn and spring forage yield varied from 306 to 2,183 g/m2 and from 153 to 710 g/m2, respectively. U. mutica showed the highest autumn forage yield, however, it was the most damaged by cold weather. H. altissima hybrids were the most productive during spring and were cold tolerant. There were differences in plant height (7.5–49 cm) and plant diameter (68–268 cm) among the grasses. Grasses with prostrate, intermediate and upright growth habits were identified. Results indicate all grasses tested were adapted to humid Northeastern Argentina and varied in their morphological and agronomic traits.