Suitability of forages at the Nujiang dryhot valley regions in Yunnan Province

An experiment was conducted to assess the suitability of sixteen tropical grass varieties at the Nujiang dryhot valley areas in Yunnan province. The results of this study showed that 16 varieties performed well at Nujiang dryhot valley region. Pennisetum purpureum cv. Red showed the highest yield of hay with 35 915.00 kg/hm2, and was extremely significant higher yield than the other 15 varieties. Panicum maximum cv. Reyan No.8, P. maximum CIAT 9 and P. maximum cv. TD 58 and B. brizantha cv. Reyan No.6 had the second highest yield of hay, and their hay yields were not significant difference, however, were significantly higher than the yield of B. hybrid and extremely significant higher than the yields of other 10 varieties. This study suggested that P. purpureum cv. Red, P. maximum cv. Reyan No.8, P. maximum CIAT 9, P. maximum cv. TD 58 and B.brizantha cv.Reyan No.6 were suitable for extending in the dryhot valley area due to high yield , rapid growth, regeneration and strong drought resistance.