EVALUATION OF QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE TRAITS OF WILD ECOTYPES OF FORAGE GRASSES

Wild ecotypes of Festuca rubra L. (four accessions), Poa pratensis L. (three accessions ) and Phleum pratense L. (three accessions) originating from Central Slovakia were investigated. Dry matter production, qualitative traits as well as mineral content were studied under identical soilclimatic conditions in a three-cut system. Yield potential of wild ecotypes of Festuca rubra L. coming from mountain regions was significantly lower (P < 0.01) when compared to Festuca rubra L. cultivar Levo?sk?. In contrast, as a consequence of low variability, the dry matter yield of Phleum pratense L. wild ecotypes originating from higher altitudes was comparable to the dry matter yields of Festuca rubra L. cultivar Levo?sk?. There were not noted any considerable differences found in the content of crude protein, fibre or mineral substances between the wild ecotypes and the cultivars. All accessions showed consistent patterns in seasonal distribution with the highest dry matter yield at the first cut and with the lowest one at the third cut. In general, concentration of crude protein and fibre did not vary considerably among cultivars and wild ecotypes at all species under uniform growing conditions.