Assessment of summer drought tolerance and persistence of some grass cultivars in Algerian semi arid conditions

摘要

Stress-tolerant forage resources are increasingly needed for the environmental and economic sustainability of extensive Mediterranean livestock systems. Perennial forages belonging to two species: Festuca arundinacea Schreb. (tall fescue) and Dactyl is glomerata L. (cocksfoot) can be a Valuable alternative to annuals, if they can survive across successive summer droughts. Poor persistence of sown perennial pasture grasses is a problem in regions of the World with Mediterranean climates where the moststressful, life threatening season is a summer characterised by long and often severe droughts with high temperatures. The objective of this study is to compare 14 grass cultivars in an Algerian drought prone environment in order to identify the best adapted plant material.