Effect of stubble height and irrigation management on the growth, botanical composition and persistence of perennial ryegrass, tall fescue and chicory swards in cool-temperate Tasmania

2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam D. Langworthy ◽  
Richard P. Rawnsley ◽  
Mark J. Freeman ◽  
Ross Corkrey ◽  
Keith G. Pembleton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Irrigation Treatment ◽  
Full Irrigation ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
North West ◽  
Irrigation Water Use ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Cool Temperate

The profitability of dairying in south-eastern Australia can be improved by increasing pasture production during summer–autumn, when growth rates for the existing perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) feedbase are low. A study undertaken in cool-temperate north-west Tasmania examined the effect of stubble height and irrigation management on swards of perennial ryegrass, continental (summer-active) tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) and chicory (Cichorium intybus L.). Irrigation treatments included full irrigation (~20mm applied at every 20mm precipitation deficit), deficit irrigation (~20mm applied at alternate full-irrigation events) and rainfed (no irrigation). All species achieved greater summer–autumn yields when repeatedly defoliated to stubble heights of 35 or 55mm than when defoliated to 115mm, irrespective of irrigation treatment. Swards were managed under a common defoliation schedule of nine defoliation events in 12 months. Under full irrigation, second-year tall fescue achieved a greater summer–autumn yield than perennial ryegrass (by 10%, or 0.7 t DM ha–1), highlighting the potential role of tall fescue in north-west Tasmania. This was further demonstrated by the high marginal irrigation water-use index values (1.6–2.7 t DM ML–1) of tall fescue. By contrast, summer–autumn growth achieved by chicory was less than or equal to perennial ryegrass.

Effect of stubble-height management on crown temperature of perennial ryegrass, tall fescue and chicory

2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam D. Langworthy ◽  
Richard P. Rawnsley ◽  
Mark J. Freeman ◽  
Ross Corkrey ◽  
Matthew T. Harrison ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Cycle Period ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
North West ◽  
Ambient Temperatures ◽  
Plant Soil ◽  
Eastern Australia

Defoliating pasture to shorter stubble heights (height above the soil surface) may increase temperature at the plant crown (plant–soil interface). This is especially relevant to summer C3 pasture production in parts of south-eastern Australia, where above-optimal ambient temperatures (≥30°C) are often recorded. A rainfed field experiment in north-west Tasmania, Australia, quantified the effect of stubble-height management on the upper distribution of crown temperatures (90th and 75th percentiles) experienced by three pasture species: perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.; syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort.; syn. L. arundinaceum (Schreb.) Darbysh.), and chicory (Cichorium intybus L.). Three stubble-height treatment levels were evaluated: 35, 55 and 115mm. Defoliation to shorter stubble heights (35 or 55mm cf. 115mm) increased the crown temperature of all species in the subsequent regrowth cycle (period between successive defoliation events). In the second summer, defoliating to shorter stubble heights increased the 90th percentile of crown temperature by an average of 4.2°C for perennial ryegrass, 3.6°C for tall fescue and 1.8°C for chicory. Chicory and second-year tall fescue swards experienced less-extreme crown temperatures than perennial ryegrass. This may partly explain why these two species often outyield perennial ryegrass in hotter summer environments than north-west Tasmania, and hence the increasing interest in their use.

scholarly journals Growth and Physiological Responses of Temperate Pasture Species to Consecutive Heat and Drought Stresses

Plants ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Perera ◽  
Cullen ◽  
Eckard
Keyword(s):  
Drought Stress ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Physiological Responses ◽  
Recovery Period ◽  
Photochemical Efficiency ◽  
Cell Membrane Permeability ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Eastern Australia

Heat and drought are two major limiting factors for perennial pasture production in south eastern Australia. Although previous studies have focused on the effects of prolonged heat and drought stresses on pasture growth and physiology, the effects of short term recurring combined heat and drought stresses and the recovery from them have not been studied in detail. A controlled environment experiment was conducted to investigate the growth and physiological responses of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) and chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) plants exposed to two consecutive seven day heat (control = 25/15 °C day/night; moderate = 30/20 °C day/night and severe = 35/30 °C day/night) and/or drought stresses each followed by a seven day recovery period. During the first moderate and severe heat and drought treatments, maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), cell membrane permeability and relative leaf water content decreased in chicory and tall fescue compared to perennial ryegrass and cocksfoot. However, during the second moderate heat and drought treatment, all species showed less reduction in the same parameters suggesting that these species acclimated to consecutive moderate heat and drought stresses. Chicory was the only species that was not affected by the second severe heat and drought stress while physiological parameters of all grass species were reduced closer to minimum values. Irrigation mitigated the negative effects of heat stress by cooling the canopies 1–3 °C below air temperatures with the most cooling observed in chicory. All the species exposed to moderate heat and drought were fully recovered and those exposed to severe heat and drought recovered partially at the end of the experiment. These findings suggest that chicory may be a potential species for areas subject to frequent heat and drought stress.

Use of water by six grass species. 1. Dry-matter yields and response to irrigation

1979 ◽  
Vol 93 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. A. Garwood ◽  
K. C. Tyson ◽  
J. Sinclair
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Field Capacity ◽  
Italian Ryegrass ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
First Year ◽  
Full Irrigation ◽  
Yield And Quality ◽  
Second Year

SUMMARYThe yield and quality of herbage produced by six grasses (perennial ryegrass, cocksfoot, timothy, rough-stalked meadow grass, tall fescue and Italian ryegrass) were examined both without irrigation and under two irrigation regimes. Water was applied according to the potential soil water deficit (potential SWD): the soil was either partially returned to field capacity (FC) after each cut or fully returned to FC whenever the potential SWD reached 25 mm. The swards were cut either at 3 (C3) or 6 (C6) week intervals over a 2 year period.Partial irrigation increased yields by 12–14% in the first year and by 36–58% in the second. Full irrigation produced little more growth than partial irrigation in the first year (maximum SWD, 188 mm) but increased yield by 78–93% in the second, very dry, year (maximum SWD, 311 mm). Under treatment C3 response per unit of water applied was similar with both partial and full irrigation, but under C6 the response was greater with partial (2·86 kg D.M./m3) than with full irrigation (1·79 kg D.M./m3).There were marked differences between the species in their ability to grow under drought conditions in the second year of the experiment. Without irrigation, roughstalked meadow grass and Italian ryegrass did not survive the drought. The performance of tall fescue was markedly superior to both perennial ryegrass and cocksfoot in these conditions. Of the surviving grasses timothy made least growth.

Use of modelling to identify perennial ryegrass plant traits for future warmer and drier climates

2014 ◽  
Vol 65 (8) ◽  
pp. 758 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. R. Cullen ◽  
R. P. Rawnsley ◽  
R. J. Eckard ◽  
K. M. Christie ◽  
M. J. Bell
Keyword(s):  
Heat Tolerance ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Plant Traits ◽  
Climate Projections ◽  
Environment Interaction ◽  
Root Depth ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Local Climate ◽  
High Rainfall ◽  
Eastern Australia

Potential exists to select pasture species better adapted to anticipated warmer temperatures and lower rainfall, associated with increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gas concentrations, to maximise pasture yields and persistence. This study assessed the effect of increasing three plant traits in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) to adapt to future climates: root depth; heat tolerance, defined as the ability of plant to grow at high temperatures; and responsiveness to elevated CO2 concentrations. Pasture production was simulated using the Sustainable Grazing Systems Pasture model at three sites with temperate climates in south-eastern Australia: Hamilton, Victoria (medium rainfall); Ellinbank, Victoria (high rainfall); and Elliott, Tasmania (high rainfall). Two future climate scenarios were created at each site by scaling the historical climate (1971–2010) by +1°C with –10% rain (435 ppm CO2) and +2°C with –20% rain (535 ppm CO2). A genotype × environment interaction suggested that the plants traits most effective at increasing pasture yield differed depending on the local climate. Increased root depth was the most effective change in a single trait that increased pasture harvested at Elliott, increased heat tolerance was most effective at Ellinbank, whereas increasing all three individual traits was similarly effective at Hamilton. At each site, the most effective traits increased pasture growth during the period between late spring and mid-summer compared with the current cultivar. When all three traits were increased at the same time, the pasture production advantage was greater than the additive effects of changing single traits at Hamilton and Ellinbank. Further consideration of the feasibility of selecting multiple traits and the effects of a broader range of climate projections is required. Nonetheless, results of this study provide guidance to plant breeders for selection of traits adapted to future climates.

scholarly journals Comparative studies on pasture and animal performance and parasite infestation in sheep grazing Yorkshire fog, perennial ryegrass and tall fescue pastures

1995 ◽  
pp. 89-93
Author(s):  
J. Hodgson ◽  
J.H. Niezen ◽  
F. Montossi ◽  
F. Liu ◽  
B.M. Butler
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Comparative Studies ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Condensed Tannins ◽  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
Animal Performance ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Parasite Infestation

The results are briefly reported of seven comparative studies on aspects of pasture and animal performance from pastures based on Yorkshire fog (Holcus Zanatus), perennial ryegrass (Lofiurn perenne) or tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) grown under adequate soil nutrient conditions (e.g., Olsen P 20-30 pg/g) and under continuous or rotational stocking by sheep. Pasture production, as measured by the stocking rate required to maintain specified sward conditions, was 2.5% greater on perennial ryegrass than on Yorkshire fog pastures, and 25% greater on Yorkshire fog than on tall fescue. Differences in liveweight gain and wool production in weaned lambs between pastures were relatively small and inconsistent, but levels of worm egg output were lower for lambs on Yorkshire fog than on tall fescue. The use of polyethylene glycol to bind condensed tannins reduced performance slightly in lambs on Yorkshire fog and tall fescue, but not those on perennial ryegrass. Keywords: condensed tannins, Festuca arundinacea, Holcus lanatus, lamb growth, Lolium perenne, wool production

Summer-active perennials in pasture systems improve seasonal pasture distribution without compromising winter-spring production

2013 ◽  
Vol 64 (7) ◽  
pp. 673 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. N. Ward ◽  
S. G. Clark ◽  
G. A. Kearney ◽  
M. R. McCaskill ◽  
M. C. Raeside ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Summer Rainfall ◽  
Italian Ryegrass ◽  
Valley Floor ◽  
Dry Matter Accumulation ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Accumulation Rates ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Triple Systems

Improved dryland pastures for sheep and beef cattle production in south-western Victoria are typically based on summer-dormant cultivars of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) or phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.). These are highly productive in spring but exhibit low accumulation rates over summer–autumn. Summer-active perennial pasture species could potentially alleviate this summer–autumn feed gap. Three pasture systems that used different pastures on each of the three landscape classes (crest, slope, and valley floor) were compared over 4 years. The perennial ryegrass system (henceforth Ryegrass) had a different ryegrass cultivar on each landscape class. The Triple system used lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) (crest), perennial ryegrass (slope), and summer-active tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb) Darbysh.) (valley floor). The Novel system used chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) (crest), Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) or hybrid ryegrass (L. × boucheanum Kunth.) (slope), and kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum Hochst. ex Chiov.) (valley floor). The pastures were grazed by either one (in the case of the Novel system) or three (in the case of the Ryegrass and Triple systems) animal systems that varied over the life of the experiment. Total annual herbage accumulation of the Ryegrass and Triple systems did not differ. The Novel system consistently had lower total annual dry matter accumulation than the other two systems. Lucerne pastures generally had the highest accumulation rates over summer, followed by the chicory pastures. The kikuyu pastures responded well to summer rainfall but otherwise had similar accumulation rates to the perennial ryegrass and tall fescue pastures over summer. Tall fescue pastures grew well in autumn following wet summers. In spring the perennial ryegrass pastures based on Fitzroy or Avalon were highly productive but seldom grew faster than other pastures. The results support the hypothesis that incorporating deep-rooted, summer-active perennial species will increase pasture production over summer–autumn compared with conventional pasture systems but not at the expense of winter–spring production.

THE EFFECT OF IRRIGATION ON YIELD, SEASONAL DISTRIBUTION AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THREE PASTURE MIXTURES

1963 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 575-582 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. H. Turley ◽  
G. R. Webster ◽  
R. B. Carson
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Irrigation Treatment ◽  
Seasonal Distribution ◽  
Severe Drought ◽  
Deep Percolation ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Yield Quality ◽  
Wilting Point

The effects of irrigation treatments and seed mixtures on yield, quality and seasonal distribution of pasture production were studied at Saanichton, British Columbia. Ten acre-inches of water in five equal applications proved to be the best irrigation treatment. It increased production by an average of 85 per cent during 4 years and by 129 per cent in the very dry 1953 season. Plots irrigated with 15 acre-inches of water reached wilting point down to the 12-inch depth during periods of severe drought, while at other times water was lost through deep percolation. Irrigation increased the protein and decreased the fat contents of the herbage but had little effect on the crude fiber and ash content.Orchardgrass and Ladino clover in a mixture proved to be outstanding for uniform production throughout the season. Orchardgrass produced a better balance of grass to legume in the herbage than Alta fescue and perennial ryegrass.

Improved soil and irrigation management for forage production 2. Forage yield and nutritive characteristics

2006 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 319 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. L. Greenwood ◽  
K. E. Dellow ◽  
G. N. Mundy ◽  
K. B. Kelly ◽  
S. M. Austin
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Soil Structure ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Forage Yield ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Yield Data ◽  
Metabolisable Energy ◽  
Second Year ◽  
Soil Modification

Pastures are the main source of energy and nutrients for dairy cows in the irrigated dairy region of northern Victoria, yet annual production and utilisation of pasture have remained static over the last 20 years. Previous small plot research has shown that pasture yields can be increased through systems of soil modification that improve soil structure and alleviate limitations to root growth. We compared the yield and nutritive characteristics of 4 forage species [tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), lucerne (Medicago sativa), phalaris (Phalaris aquatica) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)] on soils which had been modified using commercially-available equipment and using spray irrigation at 2 frequencies. In year 1 (2000–01), annual yields of the forages were tall fescue: 21.2 t dry matter (DM)/ha; lucerne: 20.5 t DM/ha; phalaris: 19.8 t DM/ha; and perennial ryegrass: 20.8 t DM/ha. In the second year of the experiment, annual yields averaged 28.9 t DM/ha for tall fescue, 26.1 t DM/ha for lucerne, 31.6 t DM/ha for phalaris and 23.2 t DM/ha for perennial ryegrass. There was no consistent response in yield of any species to soil modification. The improvements in soil structure achieved with soil modification were probably not large enough to result in yield responses. Yields were greater when frequently irrigated, with the exception of perennial ryegrass in the second year. Most of the yield benefit due to frequent irrigation was limited to the summer months. No yield data showed significant soil by irrigation frequency interaction. There were significant differences in forage nutritive characteristics between the 4 species. The lower crude protein content of lucerne would be at least partly due to the frequent application of nitrogen fertiliser to the grasses. Tall fescue usually had similar nutritive characteristics to perennial ryegrass in terms of metabolisable energy, protein and NDF. Phalaris had high fibre contents and low metabolisable energy in summer. We conclude that it is not feasible, at this time, to improve yields of irrigated forages through soil modification on a commercial scale.

Improved soil and irrigation management for forage production 3. Plant - soil - water relationships

2006 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 327 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. N. Mundy ◽  
K. L. Greenwood ◽  
K. B. Kelly ◽  
S. M. Austin ◽  
K. E. Dellow
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Water Extraction ◽  
Apparent Depth ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Soil Modification

A field experiment was conducted from January 2000 for 2.5 years, at the Department of Primary Industries, Kyabram, in northern Victoria. The experiment determined the effect of soil modification, with and without subsurface drainage, on the yield and water use of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), lucerne (Medicago sativa), phalaris (Phalaris aquatica) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) under 2 irrigation frequencies. The soil was a red-brown earth. The forages were spray irrigated from August to May when evaporation minus rainfall (E – R) reached 45–50 mm (frequent) or 90–100 mm (infrequent). The depth of irrigation water applied was equal to the soil water deficit (SWD) of each treatment, measured before each irrigation. Soil modification did not change the plant available water content of the soil (about 115 mm). The apparent depth of water extraction was initially different between soil management treatments but, over time, these differences disappeared. There were consistent differences between the forage species in the apparent depth of soil water extraction. Lucerne extracted water from deeper in the soil than phalaris followed by tall fescue and then perennial ryegrass. In general, the infrequently irrigated forages extracted water from deeper in the soil than did the frequently irrigated forages. The frequently irrigated treatments received slightly more water than did the infrequent treatments. The depth of water applied to the control and modified soil was similar, whereas the drained soils received more water than did the undrained treatments. There were differences between the forages in the depth of water applied, with lucerne receiving up to about 1500 mm/year and the grasses about 1100 to 1300 mm/year. Water use efficiency [kg dry matter (DM)/ha.mm] of the forages ranged from 14 to 18 kg DM/ha.mm in 2000–01 and up to 24 kg DM/ha.mm in 2001–02. The relatively high water use efficiencies were largely due to the high yields achieved, as water use was similar to that of district farms.

Summer production and survival of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) genotypes in northern Victoria under differing irrigation management

2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (12) ◽  
pp. 1163
Author(s):  
M. E. Rogers ◽  
A. R. Lawson ◽  
K. B. Kelly
Keyword(s):  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Soluble Carbohydrate ◽  
Full Irrigation ◽  
Nutrient Inputs ◽  
Plant Frequency ◽  
Water Soluble Carbohydrate

Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) is the predominant perennial forage species used in temperate irrigated dairy-production systems in Australia. However, when temperatures are high, even with optimal irrigation strategies and nutrient inputs, dry matter (DM) production can be compromised. This research investigated the effects of perennial ryegrass and tall fescue genotypes and summer irrigation on (DM) production and survival. Ten perennial ryegrass cultivars, three hybrid ryegrasses and two cultivars of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea (Schreb) Darbysh.) were sown in northern Victoria, Australia, in May 2014, and were managed under full irrigation or restricted irrigation (no irrigation between late December and mid-March) over a 3-year period. Measurements included net pasture accumulation (DM production), sward density (plant frequency) and water-soluble carbohydrate concentration. Apart from the expected differences in DM yield over the summer period between full irrigation and restricted irrigation, there were few differences in DM production among perennial ryegrass or tall fescue cultivars. Plant frequency declined significantly under restricted irrigation in Years 2 and 3 compared with full irrigation but there were no differences among perennial ryegrass cultivars. In Year 2, plant frequency was higher in the tall fescue cultivars than the ryegrass cultivars. The recovery pattern in DM production following recommencement of irrigation in mid-March (autumn) varied across years. In Year 1, plants recovered rapidly once irrigation recommenced in autumn. However, in Years 2 and 3, autumn and winter pasture accumulation under restricted irrigation was 30–35% less than under full irrigation. These differences were possibly related to decreases in plant frequency, as well as to differences in the amounts of residual pasture mass (or carbohydrate reserves) present when growth ceased. Analyses of the water-soluble carbohydrate concentrations in the pseudostem during summer and autumn in Year 3 showed differences in total water-soluble carbohydrate and in fructan and sucrose concentrations between irrigation treatments but no consistent differences among genotypes.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document