Forage Production Potential of Small Burnet (Sanguisorba minor).

Small burnet (Sanguisorba minor Scop.) is an evergreen forb readily utilized by livestock and wildlife; however, Delar is the only cultivar in the US.  Our objective was to characterize all available National Plant Germplasm System small burnet germplasm for forage production, regrowth, growth habit, flowering date and persistence at two locations in Utah relative to Delar and alfalfa.  Significant variation was observed for all traits. Mean forage yield of the small burnet was 1.45 Mg ha^-1, ranging from not measurable to 2.96 Mg ha^-1 compared to alfalfa at 2.28 mg ha^-1.  Correlation between first and second forage harvest was r=0.70 (P<0.01).  Flowering date varied among accessions by 12 d while mortality ranged from zero to 100%. Variation was displayed in growth habit, including prostrate and upright forms, and leafiness. The forage production of some small burnet accessions can be comparable to alfalfa and phenotypic variation is such that the germplasm has potential for improvement through recurrent selection.