Comparative Study of Three Warm-season Forage Varieties in Southern China.

The plant height, tiller number, yield of three warm-season forage varieties in Southern China were studied for consecutive two years. The result showed that the three varieties all adapted to the environmental conditions. The annual fresh grass yield of Penniselum purpureum Schum ev. Taiwan, Guimu-1 hybrid P. purpureum and P. sinese Roxb were 220.85, 163.18, 186.20 t/hm²; the crude protein content were 17.39%, 19.02% and 20.91%; the crude fat content were 6.37%, 5.37% and 4.69%; and the crude fiber content were 33.49%, 32.22% and 33.58%, respectively. P. pur-pureum Schum ev. Taiwan had stronger cold resistance, fast growth after overwintering and strong resistance, and no plant diseases and insect pests were found during the test. P. purpureum Schum ev. Taiwan is a high yield and high quality forage variety, which is worth popularizing and applying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]