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Livestock in Morocco play important roles to (1) utilize cereal by-products, and (2) provide a source of cash to farmers. However, because of chronic feed shortage, livestock productivity remains low. The void in available forage early and late in the season has increased the interest in using perennial grasses. The objectives of this study were to (1) screen species that are adapted to local environmental conditions of central Morocco, and (2) develop cultural techniques for improving establishment of these species. The species used in cultural techniques experiments were: 'Fairway' crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn.), 'Jose' tall wheatgrass (Agropyron elongatum (Host) Beauv.), 'Luna' pubescent wheatgrass (Agropyron trychophorum (Link) Richt.), weeping lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula (Schrad.) Nees.), 'Sirosa' and 'Seedmaster' Hardinggrass (Phalaris aquatica L.), russian wildrye (Elymus junceus Fisch.), and buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris L.). Besides these species, 6 more species were included in the screening study: 'Nordan' standard wheatgrass (Agropyron desertorum (Fisch.)), bluebunch wheatgrass (Agropyron spicatum (Pursh) Scribn. and Smith), 'Palestine' orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), indian ricegrass (Oryzopsis hymenoides (R. & S.) Ricker), needleandthread (Stipa comata Trin. & Rupr.), and Arizona fescue (Festuca arizonica Vasey.). The experimental was conducted at three sites under a Mediterranean type climate with an average rainfall of 350 mm. All species initiated growth early in the season and stayed green late into summer. At Jemaa Shaim (clay site), Hardinggrass, tall wheatgrass, buffelgrass, and weeping lovegrass produced 12, 8, 7 and 6 t dry matter (DM) ha; whereas annual forages produced less than 5 t DM ha. Seeding cool-season grasses in either November or January did not affect herbage production at Jemaa Shaim. January seeding was best at Had Soalem. Seeding rates of 100 pure live seeds (PLS) m produced satisfactory stands on well-prepared seedbed. Planting grass species deeper than 2.5 cm resulted in sparser stands, especially for small-seeded species. During the first growing season, 20 kg nitrogen (N) ha should be applied to insure maximum seedling growth. Hardinggrass and tall wheatgrass were highly yielding, and are best adapted to deep clay soils.
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