SPECIES EVALUATION OF NATIVE ECOTYPES AND FOREIGN CULTIVARS OF LEGUMES AND GRASSES IN MONGOLIA S.Jigjidsuren, D.Lkhagvasuren & D.Tumenjargal Mongolian Society for Range Management, Mongolian State University of Agriculture
Background The degradation of rangeland in Mongolia is becoming serious due to climatic, human, technological and other factors, which are decreasing valuable plant species. There is a critical need to evaluate and select grasses and legumes that are suitable for reclamation and rehabilitation of degraded pasture, abandoned cropland and mining land.
Degraded pasture Abandoned cropland Mining land Land erosion
Main Objective Evaluate and select local ecotypes and imported varieties of grasses and legumes resistant to drought and cold and suitable for the introduction into degraded rangeland and/or for the production of forage.
1,374 Seed Collections Made in Mongolia 25,000 km distance 1994 --- 1996 --- 1998 ---
> 500 Promising Collections Evaluated in 3 Ecological Zones Buyant, Khovd Batsumber, Tuv Turgen, UB
In the field tested and evaluated the 50 samples of 34 species of native ecotypes and foreign cultivars (8 species of legumes, 25 species of grasses). Bornuur, Tuv
List of Tested Species # Species name Origin # Species name Origin 1 Medicago varia native 26 Elymus dahuricus native 2 Medicago varia RL - 1 IM 27 Elymus dahuricus IM 3 Medicago varia RL- 2 IM 28 Elymus dahuricus USA 4 Medicago sativa RUS 29 Elymus sibiricus native 5 Medicago sativa IM 30 Elymus sibiricus IM 6 Astragalus adsurgens native 31 Elymus brachypodoides native 7 Astragalus adsurgens IM 32 Elymus canadensis USA 8 Astragalus melilotoides IM 33 Elymus arenareus ISL 9 Astragalus cicer USA 34 Psathyrostachys juncea native 10 Galega orientalis RUS 35 Psathyrostachys juncea RUS 11 Onobrychus sibirica RUS 36 Psathyrostachys juncea IM 12 Hedysarum boreale USA 37 Psathyrostachys juncea USA 13 Agropyron cristatum native 38 Stipa sibirica native 14 Agropyron cristatum native 39 Stipa Krylovii native 15 Agropyron cristatum IM 40 Stipa viridula USA 16 Agropyron cristatum USA 41 Elytrigia intermedia RUS 17 Agropyron mongolicum IM 42 Achnatherum hymenoides K-1889 USA 18 Agropyron sibiricum IM 43 Aneurolepidium chinense CHN 19 Agropyron desertorum USA 44 Festuca ovina USA 20 Agropyron repens RUS 45 Pseudoroegneria spicata K-1881 USA 21 Agropyron chinensis RUS 46 Pseudoroegneria spicata K-1882 USA 22 Agropyron elongatum USA 47 Pascopyron Smithii K-1899 USA 23 Bromus inermis native 48 Thinopyrum ponticum USA 24 Bromus inermis RUS 49 Leymus cinereus USA 25 Bromus inermis CAN 50 Ceratoides arborescens IM
Measurements Field germination Summer survival Spring regrowth Winter survival Green and dry biomass Seed yield Randomized complete block design, 4 replications
RESULTS Summer & Winter Survival of Perennials (%) 94 92 90 88 86 84 82 80 78 76 74 Medicago varia Burgaltai /native/ Stipa sibirica /native/ Summer survive rate Agropyron mongolicum /IM/ Elymus dahuricus /IM/ Winter survive rate
Harsh Mongolian Climate - Extremely cold winter conditions - Large spring temperature fluctuations - Low summer precipitation, high temperatures
Productivity of perennials, kg/ha 12000 10000 8000 6000 4000 2000 0 Medicago varia Burgaltai /native/ Stipa sibirica /native/ Green biomass Agropyron mongolicum /IM/ Dry biomass Elymus dahuricus /IM/
Seed yield of perennials, kg/ha 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Medicago varia Burgaltai /native/ Stipa sibirica /native/ Agropyron mongolicum /IM/ Elymus dahuricus /IM/
Seed multiplication field of Medicago varia Burgaltai, 2011
Seed multiplication field of Medicago varia NB 2, 2011
Seed multiplication field of Agropyron cristatum, 2011
Seed multiplication field of Agropyron mongolicum, 2011
Seed multiplication field of Stipa sibirica Nart 1, 2011
CONCLUSIONS Species identified for forest steppe zone of Mongolia: 1. Stipa sibirica (native), syn. Achnatherum sibiricum (native) 2. Elymus dahuricus (IM) 3. Agropyron cristatum (native) 4. Agropyron mongolicum (IM) 5. Medicago varia (Burgaltai & NB 2) Established gene bank of forage perennials for different climatic zones with a large number of species with high winter survival and drought resistance. In April 2011, 4 new varieties of perennial species were released; - Stipa sibirica - Agropyron mongolicum - Elymus dahuricus - Medicago varia
Acknowledgements: - USDA-ARS - USDA-NRCS - USDA-FAS - U.S. Embassy
Thank you for your attention.