Regional Environment and Cultivar Effects on the Quality of Wheat Straw
1989
Rao, S. C.
Cereal grain residues represent a major portion of crop residues produced in the USA, and could be an important source of feed for ruminants if the nutritive value could be improved. A study was conducted to determine the effects of cultivar and regional environment on the fiber concentration, crude protein (CP), and in vitro drymatter digestibility (IVDMD) of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) straw. Samples of five hard red winter wheat cultivars (Centurk 78, Newton, Vona, Scout 66, and TAMW-101), grown at four cultivar test centers in Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, and Texas, were collected after harvest during 1983–1984, 1984–1985, and 1985–1986 growing seasons. Samples were ground and analyzed for neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), permanganate lignin (LIG), CP, and IVDMD. No significant differences were observed in fiber content among cultivars within location and year. Cultivars did differ in CP and IVDMD with a significant year ✕ cultivar interaction. A combined analysis showed a significant location ✕ year interaction for all the components tested. Average values for NDF, ADF, and LIG content of all cultivars among locations throughout the study period ranged from 703 to 849,495 to 606, and 73 to 115 g kg⁻¹, respectively, whereas CP and IVDMD values ranged from 18 to 53 and 295 to 449 g kg⁻¹ , respectively. Crude protein increased linearly with mean spring temperature, as did ADF concentrations with cumulative precipitation. Digestibility of wheat straw, however, was not affected by environmental conditions. Environmental factors such as spring temperature and precipitation exerted greater influence on CP and fiber contents, whereas cultivars had little effect on the CP and IVDMD of wheat straw.
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