Chemical Composition of Six Grass Species (Poaceae sp.) from Protected Forest Range in Northern Bulgaria

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Salinity is the main environmental factor accountable for decreasing crop productivity and turf quality worldwide. This study was carried out to determine and compare the salinity (sodium chloride, NaCl) tolerance in newly developed eight cultivars of four cool-season turf grass species (perennial ryegrass, slender creeping red fescue, tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass) at germination and seedling stage. All experiments were arranged as randomized plots design with three factors (species, cultivar and salinity level) and four replications. The obtained results showed that the seed germination of perennial ryegrass, slender creeping red fescue, tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass cultivars were highly affected by the highest level of salinity (200 mM NaCl). Statistically significant were observed differences among NaCl levels for root fresh mass, shoot fresh and dry mass, water retention capacity, relative water content, tolerance index and K+/Na+ ratios of cultivars. Based on their tolerance index (TI), five cultivars, ‘Ringles’ perennial ryegrass, ‘Abercharm’ slender creeping red fescue, ‘Prafin’ Kentucky bluegrass, ‘Fesnova’ and ‘Golden Gate’ tall fescue demonstrated good salt tolerance. The tolerance indexes of these cultivars were supported by the K+/Na+ ratios. The cultivars ‘Ringles’, ‘Abercharm’, ‘Prafin’, ‘Fesnova’ and ‘Golden Gate’ exhibited potential salt tolerance and could compete with other cool-season turfgrass varieties regarding productivity under salt stress.

The aim of this research was to determine to blue melilot yield and quality properties sown at different rates of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 1 and 40 on November 4, 2015, on November 7, 2016 and on October 30, 2017. Investigated properties showed significantly differences. The lowest number of branches per plant (1.47), main stem diameter (3.20 mm) and leaflet width (1.44 cm) values were measured from blue melilot genotype 'BG-4' with 40 kg ha-1 seeding rate. The maximum main stem diameter (4.96-5.04 mm) and leaflet length (4.50-4.88 cm) were found from 5 to 15 kg ha-1 seeding rates. Highest plant height (84.48 cm), number of branches per plant (4.27), leaf length (7.12 cm), main stem diameter (4.41 mm), leaf/stem ratio (0.82), leaflet length (4.38 cm) and width (2.22 cm) were observed for BG-3 blue melilot genotype compared to other genotypes. Increasing seed rates resulted with an increase in crude protein, fresh fodder and dry matter yields. However, increasing seed rates caused decrease in crude fiber, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber and acid detergent lignin contents. The K, Ca, P and Mg contents of blue melilot genotypes ranging from 2.40-2.55 %, 1.48-1.56 %, 0.60-0.68 % and 0.40-0.45 %, respectively. According to results, blue melilot can be sown at a seeding rate of 30 kg ha-1 similar regions.