Herbage accumulation, botanical composition, and nutritive value of five pasture types for dairy production in southern Australia

2008 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 127 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Tharmaraj ◽  
D. F. Chapman ◽  
Z. N. Nie ◽  
A. P. Lane
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Accumulation Rate ◽  
Italian Ryegrass ◽  
Growth Potential ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Botanical Composition

Four pasture treatments were compared with a perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and white clover (Trifolium repens) mixture, the commonly sown pasture type, at 3 sites in south-western Victoria, to determine the extent to which total annual herbage accumulation and seasonal growth pattern could be manipulated in non-irrigated dairy systems. The pasture treatments were: (1) short-term winter-active (STW), based on Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum); (2) long-term winter-active (LTW), based on Mediterranean tall fescue (Festuca arundinaceae) or cool-season active perennial ryegrass; (3) long-term summer-active (LTS), based on Continental tall fescue; and (4) perennial ryegrass pasture receiving moderately high nitrogen (N) inputs in winter and spring (total of 210 kg N/ha.year) to increase herbage accumulation during the ryegrass growing season (RHN). The perennial ryegrass and white clover mixture served as the control treatment. The 3 sites were Heytesbury (heavy clay soil), Terang (duplex soil), and Naringal (light soil). All pasture treatments were grazed by dairy cows. Herbage accumulation rate, botanical composition, and nutritive value of all pasture treatments were measured for 3 years. The winter-active pasture types had little effect on the overall seasonal distribution of forage supply or total annual yield compared with the control treatment. By contrast, the long-term summer-active pasture type significantly increased herbage accumulation during summer compared with all other pasture types (mean of an additional 1.3 t DM/ha during summer compared with the control treatment across all sites and years). However, this came at the cost of lower winter production (mean 0.8 t DM/ha). The LTS pasture also produced less dry matter than all other treatments in the first year after sowing at 2 of the 3 sites, reflecting the slower establishment of tall fescue. Ryegrass receiving high N inputs grew more total herbage on an annual basis than LTS. Mean total annual herbage accumulation (kg DM/ha.year) over the 3 years and 3 sites was in the order: RHN (14400) > LTS (13760) = Control (13170) > STW (12450) = LTW (12170) (P < 0.01). The results demonstrated that improvements over the industry ‘standard’ perennial ryegrass/white clover pasture management system in total herbage accumulation and the seasonal pattern of pasture growth are possible using existing pasture technology (mixtures of different species and cultivars, and N fertiliser inputs). However, significant interactions among sites, years and pasture treatments for several variables reinforced the need to understand limitations to plant growth on a site-by-site basis, to select plants that match the environmental conditions, and to then manage them appropriately to reach their growth potential.

scholarly journals THE VALUE OF REGRASSING WITH IMPROVED PASTURE CULTIVARS IN WAIKATO

1985 ◽  
pp. 179-183
Author(s):  
G.J. Goold ◽  
W.C. Weeda
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Frost Damage ◽  
Grazing Pressure ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Paspalum Dilatatum ◽  
Autumn And Winter

The pasture and animal productivity of established high producing pastures in the Waikato has been compared with newly sown pastures based on recently released herbage cultivars. The established pastures were a mixture of Nui perennial ryegrass, Paspalum dilatatum and Htiia white clover. The new cultivars tested were Ellett perennial ryegrass, Wana cocksfoot and Roa tall fescue, each sown with Pitau white clover. The main advantages of the new pastures containing Ellett were in increased autumn and winter herbage production, higher stock carrying capacity and lower hay requirements. The Ellett pastures had higher ryegrass content and lower weed levels than the older pastures. Wana cocksfoot when grown with Ellett ryegrass increased in content over the experimental period, especially under less intense grazing pressure although some frost damage was evident in winter wi!h a possible lowering of herbage nutritive value of the mixture. Tall fescue pastures only showed occasional merit in summer-autumn periods under the less intensive grazing regime. Keywords: established pastures, Nui ryegrass, Ellett ryegrass, Wana cocksfoot, Paspalum dilatatum, Huia white clover, Pitau white clover, Roa tall fescue, steer liveweight gains, seasonal herbage yields, herbage yields, herbage botanical composition.

Responses to the renovation of an irrigated perennial pasture in northern Victoria. 2. Botanical composition, and plant and tiller densities

2007 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 159 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. R. Lawson ◽  
K. B. Kelly
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Active Species ◽  
Italian Ryegrass ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Point Density ◽  
Plant Frequency ◽  
Tiller Density

A field experiment was established in northern Victoria in the autumn of 1999 to quantify the effects of renovating a 15-year-old, irrigated perennial pasture with a high paspalum content. The treatments were: (i) control, the existing pasture; (ii) oversown, the existing pasture grazed, topped and direct drilled; and (iii) resown, the existing pasture sprayed, cultivated and a new pasture sown. The grass species used in both renovation treatments were perennial ryegrass, Italian ryegrass and tall fescue. The treatments were grazed by dairy cows. The botanical composition, tiller density and plant frequency are reported in this paper. Oversowing with either perennial or Italian ryegrass increased the sown grass content by an average of 4–8% DM, and by up to 20% DM during winter and spring, but did not affect the average white clover, volunteer species or dead contents. Oversowing did not affect the sown grass or paspalum tiller densities but annual oversowing with either perennial or Italian ryegrass increased the ryegrass plant frequency and, in 2 of the 4 years, reduced the white clover growing point density. Resowing increased (P < 0.05) the content of sown grasses (by 12% DM for perennial ryegrass and by 20% DM for tall fescue) and white clover (by 8% DM) and decreased (P < 0.05) the content of volunteer species (by 18% DM) and, in years 1 and 2, dead material. The plant frequency of tall fescue increased over time (from 75 to 83% of quadrats), whereas that of perennial ryegrass declined (from 87 to 72% of quadrats). This resulted in the resown tall fescue having a lower (P < 0.05) white clover content and growing point density in years 3 and 4, and a tendency for a lower volunteer species content and tiller density in year 4, than the resown perennial ryegrass. Tall fescue is thus better able to resist the invasion of summer-active species and is less likely to require either oversowing or resowing than perennial ryegrass-based pastures. These results suggest that tall fescue should be considered as an alternative to perennial ryegrass when sowing pastures. The use of nitrogen did not improve the sown grass content, tiller density or plant frequency and will not therefore overcome problems resulting from a low ryegrass content.

scholarly journals Persistence of ryegrass, tall fescue and cocksfoot following sequential annual sowings: pasture yield, composition and density in 3 establishment years under sheep grazing in Canterbury

2018 ◽  
pp. 169-176
Author(s):  
Thomas M R Maxwell ◽  
Grant R Edwards ◽  
Gerald P Cosgrove
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Long Term Effect ◽  
Forage Value

A long-term pasture persistence trial, consisting of repeated annual sowings, commenced in Canterbury in 2015 and is planned to continue until 2024. Preliminary results of the first 3 years sowings are reported. Each annual sowing used the same randomised block design of eight perennial ryegrass cultivars, one tall fescue and one cocksfoot cultivar, replicated four times. Grasses were drilled into a cultivated seedbed in autumn, with white clover broadcast-sown, then rolled with a Cambridge roller. Except for one 3-week spell in spring and in autumn to accumulate herbage to measure DM yield, botanical composition, morphology and sward density, plots were continuously stocked with sheep to maintain a 3-8 cm sward height from late-August to late-May. Results from the first 12 months following each of the three annual sowings (2015, 2016 and 2017) indicate establishment year had a greater influence on DM yield, botanical composition, grass leaf and stem proportions, and basal cover than did grass species or cultivar. Accumulating data from successive annual sowings and continued monitoring of each will help identify the long-term effect and difference between establishment years, as well as grass persistence traits for inclusion in the Forage Value Index ranking of perennial ryegrass cultivars.

scholarly journals Response of simple grass-white clover and multi-species pastures to gibberellic acid or nitrogen fertiliser in autumn

2013 ◽  
pp. 145-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.H. Van Rossum ◽  
R.H. Bryant ◽  
G.R. Edwards
Keyword(s):  
Gibberellic Acid ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Plantago Lanceolata ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Nitrogen Fertiliser

Herbage dry matter (DM) production, botanical composition and nutritive value of pastures were measured in response to the application of 24 g/ ha gibberellic acid (GA; 60 g ProGibb®/ha) and 50 kg N/ha nitrogen fertiliser (N; 106 kg urea/ha) in autumn. Responses were compared for simple two species grass (perennial ryegrass or tall fescue)-white clover pastures and multi-species pastures where herbs (chicory and plantain), legumes (red clover and lucerne) and prairie grass were sown with the simple mixtures. Four weeks after application, the increase in DM yield averaged across pasture mixtures relative to untreated plots was 273, 104, and 493 kg DM/ha for GA alone, N fertiliser alone, and GA and N combined, respectively. Application of GA increased the white clover percentage in all pastures except simple tall fescue pastures. The percentage of herbs in multispecies pastures was increased by application of N but not GA. Crude protein concentration was decreased by GA application in all pastures except simple ryegrass pastures. The results from this study show that it is important to consider the botanical composition of pastures when determining the effect of GA on DM yield and nutritive value. Keywords: crude protein, Cichorium intybus, Festuca arundinacea, gibberellins, Lolium perenne, Plantago lanceolata, nutritive value

Growth of pasture species on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales

1975 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 269 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Lazenby ◽  
JV Lovett
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Available Soil Moisture ◽  
Capacitance Probe

The production of herbage by five pasture species—Phalaris tuberosa (phalaris), Festuca arundinacea (tall fescue), Lolium perenne (perennial ryegrass), Trifolium repens (white clover) and Medicago sativa (lucerne)—was measured when they were grown in the field in monoculture, and by phalaris and white clover when grown in mixture. The plots were irrigated to prevent water deficits, and five levels of nitrogen were included; the mixture was also grown under dryland conditions. All plots were defoliated at intervals during a period of 3 years. A capacitance probe was used in an attempt to determine harvest times more objectively, and to establish long-term relationships between meter readings and components of plant yield. Major differences in production were detected between the species, lucerne producing most in the first 2 years of the experiment. Nitrogen and available soil moisture affected both production and botanical composition, and significant differences were detected in species' responses to applied nitrogen and in nitrogen recovery. The performance of lucerne and tall fescue suggests that both species deserve to be more widely grown on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales.

PASTURE COMPOSITION UNDER MIXED SHEEP AND GOAT GRAZING ON HILL COUNTRY

1984 ◽  
pp. 160-166
Author(s):  
D.A. Clark ◽  
M.P. Rolston ◽  
M.G. Lambert ◽  
P.J. Budding
Keyword(s):  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Trifolium Repens ◽  
Accumulation Rate ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Lolium Perenne L ◽  
Hill Country ◽  
Agrostis Tenuis ◽  
Trifolium Repens L

Hill country pasture was grazed by the following ratios of goats and sheep from 1979-l 983: 100% goats (Goat 100). 66% goats and 34% sheep (Goat 66)) 33% goats and 67% sheep (doat 33), 100% set-stocked sheep (Sheep 100) and 100% mobstocked sheep. Changes in botanical composition, herbage mass and herbage accumulation rate were measured by sample dissection, visual estimation and trimmed exclosure cages respectively on three slope classes (banks, slopes and tracks). Pastures grazed by goats developed Yorkshire fog IHolcus lanatus)- white clover (Trifolium repens L.) associations with strong white clover growth on all slope classes unlike sheep-grazed pastures which contained little white clover and were dominated by perennial' ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and browntop (Agrostis tenuis Sibth.). The herbage mass of 3000, 1830, 1410 kg DM/ha on banks, slopes and tracks respectively for Sheep 100 pastures contrasted with that on the Goat 100 pastures of 2030, 3750 and 4300 kg DM/ha. White clover was enhanced on all slope classes in the Goat 100 treatment. Annual herbage accumulation was greater on the Goat 100 than Sheep 100 pastures, 13.9 and 11.2 t DM/ha respectively. There was a close association between increased annual white clover accumulation and tofal herbage accumulation. The complementary nature of sheepandgoatgrazing behavioursuggeststhe possibility of increased meat and fibre production from mixed grazing. The implications of these results for future research are discussed. Keywords: Sheep, goats, herbage mass, herbage accumulation rate, botanical composition, slope classes, white clover (Trifolium repens L.), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), Yorkshire fog (Holcus lanatusl, browntop (Agrostis tenuis Sibth.).

scholarly journals Target populations for direct-drilled ryegrass and tall fescue

1995 ◽  
pp. 77-81
Author(s):  
J-P Praat ◽  
W.R. Ritchie ◽  
C.J. Baker ◽  
J. Hodgson
Keyword(s):  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Weed Species ◽  
Seeding Rate ◽  
Direct Drilling ◽  
Alternative Species

Establishment, botanical composition and production of direct-drilled perennial ryegrass and tall fescue were compared for two seeding rates in an autumn-sown, grazed trial. Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb. cv. AU Triumph) was sown at either 17 or 3 1 kg/ha and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L. cv. Grasslands Supernui) was sown at 12 and 23 kg/ha on 12 April, 1990 all with "Grasslands Pitau" white clover at 3 kg/ha. Measurements of herbage mass and botanical composition during the ensuing 2-year period showed that there was no advantage in terms of suppression of weed species or accumulation of herbage mass of the sown species from sowing more seed than that required to achieve a population of 450-500 plants/m2 of either ryegrass and tall fescue 6 weeks after sowing. A population of 150 white clover plants/m2 appeared to be adequate for development of a balanced sward. Establishment of fescue was slower than that of ryegrass but both species developed to productive swards after infrequent but close defoliation with dairy cattle in the first spring and subsequent rotational grazing by lactating dairy cows. Pasture establishment in Northland is difficult because of shallow topsoils. Direct drilling can preserve this fragile topsoil and successfully establish alternative species such as fescue as long as attention is paid to their establishment requirements. Alternative species may offer a solution to low feed availability of ryegmss in the summer and poor survival of ryegrass in poorly drained areas during the winter. Keywords: direct drilling, Festuca arundinacea, Lolium perenne, pasture establishment, seeding rate

scholarly journals Effects of pasture species and irrigation on milk production over four summers in the Waikato

2001 ◽  
pp. 215-221
Author(s):  
E.R. Thom ◽  
V.T. Burggraaf ◽  
C.D. Waugh ◽  
D.A. Clark
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
In Vitro Digestibility ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Jersey Cows

Milk production by Jersey cows grazing a common allowance of irrigated or non-irrigated pastures over four summers (1997-2000) is described. The pastures were: (1) high-endophyte perennial ryegrass-white clover (2) tall fescue, phalaris, cocksfoot, white clover, red clover (3) same as (2) plus paspalum (4) endophyte-free ryegrass, timothy, white clover, red clover and (5) existing high-endophyte ryegrass-white clover. Irrigation improved milksolids yield by 5% over 4 years, with inconsistent effects on milk composition, no effects on pasture in vitro digestibility and nitrogen content, and usually no effect on pasture botanical composition. In 1997, cows on (1) produced the lowest milksolid (MS) yields. Cows grazing ryegrass-white clover (1 and 5) produced less than those on tall fescue-based pastures (2 and 3) (0.74 vs 0.86 kg MS/cow/day) in 1998, and the yields of cows on ryegrass/timothy-based pastures (4) were best (0.96 kg MS/cow/day). The same trends in milksolids yield occurred in 1999, except for cows on (1) which were similar to (4). Cows on existing pasture often produced the lowest milksolid yields. Trends in milksolids production over the 4 years reflected trends in total clover (red + white) contents. Keywords: cocksfoot, dairy cows, grazing, pasture quality, perennial ryegrass, persistence, phalaris, red clover, tall fescue, timothy, triple mix, volunteer ryegrass, white clover

Productivity of rotationally grazed simple and diverse pasture mixtures under irrigation in Canterbury

2013 ◽  
pp. 165-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Nobilly ◽  
R.H. Bryant ◽  
B.A. Mckenzie ◽  
G.R. Edwards
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Prairie Grass ◽  
Metabolisable Energy ◽  
Second Year

Herbage dry matter (DM) production, botanical composition and nutritive value were compared over 2 years under irrigation and dairy cow grazing for simple two-species grass (perennial ryegrass or tall fescue)- white clover pastures and diverse pastures where herbs (chicory and plantain), legumes (red clover and lucerne) and prairie grass were added to the simple mixtures. Averaged over 2 years, annual herbage DM production was 1.62 t DM/ha greater in diverse (16.77 t DM/ ha) than simple (15.15 t DM/ha) pastures, primarily reflecting greater DM production in summer. Diverse pastures had lower metabolisable energy (ME) (12.0 vs 12.2 MJ ME/kg DM) and neutral detergent fibre (301 vs 368 g/kg DM) content than simple pastures, although the total ME produced per year was greater in diverse than simple pastures (202 vs 185 GJ ME/ha). Ryegrassbased pastures had higher annual DM production than tall fescue-based pastures in the first but not second year. The results indicate that including additional legumes and herbs with simple grass-white clover pastures may increase total DM and ME production of dairy pastures under irrigation. Keywords: Lolium perenne L., Festuca arundinacea, herbs, legumes, pasture mixtures, diversity, nutritive value

Evaluation of Oriental Mustard (Brassica juncea) Seed Meal for Weed Suppression in Turf

2010 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 440-445 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel T. Earlywine ◽  
Reid J. Smeda ◽  
Travis C. Teuton ◽  
Carl E. Sams ◽  
Xi Xiong
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Methyl Bromide ◽  
Untreated Control ◽  
Seed Meal ◽  
Mustard Seed ◽  
Annual Bluegrass ◽  
Oriental Mustard ◽  
Large Crabgrass

Oriental mustard seed meal (MSM), a byproduct generated by pressing the seed for oil, exhibits herbicidal properties. In turfgrass, soil fumigants such as methyl bromide are used to control weeds prior to renovation of turf. Environmental concerns have resulted in deregistration of methyl bromide, prompting the need for alternatives. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of MSM on the establishment of selected turfgrass weeds as well as inhibitory effects on establishment of desirable turfgrasses. Greenhouse experiments were conducted in 2006 and 2007 at the University of Missouri. MSM was amended in soil at 0, 1,350 (low), 2,350 (medium), and 3,360 kg ha−1(high) concentrations. Weed species included annual bluegrass, large crabgrass, buckhorn plantain, white clover, and common chickweed. Turfgrass species included: Rembrandt tall fescue, Evening Shade perennial rye, and Riviera bermudagrass. All species were seeded into soil amended with MSM and either tarped or left untarped. All treatments were compared to dazomet (392 kg ha−1), a synthetic standard. Plant counts and biomass of all species were recorded 4 wk after seeding. Overall, tarped treatments suppressed weed emergence 27 to 50% more compared to untarped treatments, except for large crabgrass. High rates of MSM suppressed emergence of all weeds ≥ 63%. Compared to the untreated control, the density of buckhorn plantain, white clover, and common chickweed was reduced by ≥ 42% at low rates of MSM. Biomass of buckhorn plantain, annual bluegrass, common chickweed, white clover, and large crabgrass was reduced from 37 to 99% at high rates of MSM. MSM at high rates reduced stand counts of tall fescue and perennial ryegrass up to 81% and 77% respectively, compared to the untreated control. Regardless of MSM rates or tarping, suppression of common bermudagrass emergence did not exceed 30%; tarped treatments actually increased bermudagrass emergence by 22%. The biomass for tall fescue, perennial ryegrass, and bermudagrass was reduced by 85, 68, and 10%, respectively, at high rates of MSM. For tall fescue, MSM at all rates strongly suppressed seed germination by 7 d after planting (DAP) (up to 100%), with additional germination observed through 14 DAP, but not thereafter. In both trials, dazomet completely suppressed emergence of all weeds. MSM appears to suppress emergence and growth of a number of weeds common in turf, with potential selectivity for bermudagrass.

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