Variation in lentil straw quality

Abstract

Seasonal and genetic variation in the potential feeding value of lentil straw, a regionally important sheep feed, was measured in two seasons on eleven diverse macrosperma lentil selections under rainfed conditions in north Syria. Digestible dry matter (DMD) was 46% in the 1981–1982 season and 43% in the 1982–1983 season. The genotype-year interaction mean squares for all straw quality parameters were greater than their respective genotypic mean squares indicating low genetic variation, as judged by laboratory methods of assessing straw value and a poor expected response to selection for improved straw quality.

In another experiment, the partition of dry matter within the straw of six selections was measured in one environment. Proportions of leaf, branch, pod and root tissue within straw were 38, 34, 23 and 5% respectively. Their mean DMD values were 62, 36, 44 and 22%, respectively. The results indicated that variation in straw quality is largely due to differences in the partition of dry matter between plant parts.