Production and forage quality of prairie grass (Bromus willdenowii) in comparison to perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) in subtropical dairy pastures

2000 ◽  
Vol 40 (8) ◽  
pp. 1059 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. J. Fulkerson ◽  
J. F. M. Fennell ◽  
K. Slack
Keyword(s):  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Seedling Recruitment ◽  
Forage Quality ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Tiller Stage ◽  
Prairie Grass

A grazing study was conducted, over a 3-year period (1997–99), on the subtropical north coast of New South Wales, Australia, to compare the yield of prairie grass (Bromus willdenowii cv. Matua), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea cv. Vulcan) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne cv. Yatsyn), on a well-drained red krasnozem soil at Wollongbar Agricultural Research Institute (WAI) and on a heavy clay soil at Casino. The effect of grazing interval (equivalent to the time taken to regrow 1.5, 2.5 or 4 leaves/tiller) in spring, and forage quality of prairie grass in winter and spring was also assessed. At both sites, the dry matter (DM) yields of prairie grass over the establishment year and in year 2 were significantly (P<0.001) higher than for the other 2 grass species (mean for 2 years over the 2 sites was 23.8, 8.9 and 7.7 t DM/ha for prairie grass, ryegrass and tall fescue, respectively). In year 3, there was no production of tall fescue or ryegrass at the WAI site while prairie grass produced 11.3 t DM/ha although this was obtained from natural seedling recruitment after the sward was sprayed with a herbicide in February of that year. At the Casino site, ryegrass and tall fescue still made substantial growth in year 3 (3.1 and 2.1 t DM/ha for ryegrass and tall fescue, respectively) but this was significantly below the yields of prairie grass (5.5 t DM/ha). More frequent grazing of prairie grass in spring (equivalent to 1.5 leaves/tiller of regrowth) led to significantly (P<0.05) less plants surviving summer and less seedling recruitment in the following autumn. The annual yield of the 1.5 leaf treatment was significantly (P<0.05) lower than the remaining treatments but only in the third year of the study. Analysis of prairie grass forage samples, taken in June (vegetative sward) and November (reproductive sward), gave magnesium values of less than 0.2% DM which is below the concentration found in ryegrass and that recommended for dairy cattle. The Ca : P and K : (Ca + Mg) ratios in prairie grass improved, as a forage for dairy cows, with regrowth time up to 5 leaves/tiller. Metabolisable energy remained constant with regrowth time in June at 10.8 MJ/kg DM but fell significantly in November from 10.7 MJ/kg DM, immediately post-grazing, to 9.2 MJ/kg DM at the 4.5 leaves/tiller stage of regrowth. In contrast to observations in ryegrass, the water-soluble carbohydrate content of forage samples of prairie grass taken in November showed a substantial increase with regrowth time to over 12% DM at the 3 leaves/tiller stage of regrowth. The high productivity and forage quality of prairie grass obtained over a 3-year period suggests this grass species could be a suitable temperate perennial grass for subtropical dairy pastures. An appropriately long grazing interval in spring seems critical to optimise plant survival over summer and for adequate seed set for seedling recruitment the following autumn. If summer weeds and/or grasses invade to a significant extent, the large seedbank of prairie grass provides the opportunity to spray out the pasture in summer and rely on seedling recruitment to establish a new sward in autumn. The forage quality of prairie grass in winter and spring is similar to perennial ryegrass but the magnesium levels are substantially lower and stock grazing this type of pasture for extended periods would need to be supplemented with this mineral.

scholarly journals Can pasture persistence be improved through the use of nonryegrass species?

2011 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 157-162
Author(s):  
G.D. Milne
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Water Temperature ◽  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Dactylis Glomerata ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Nutrient Deficiencies ◽  
Recent Discussion

Recent discussion about pasture persistence concentrates on pastures based on perennial ryegrass, the most commonly used grass species. This paper raises the question as to whether some of the causes of poor pasture persistence are due to perennial ryegrass being used in environments to which it is not suited. The adaptation to environmental stresses, particularly water, temperature and nutrient deficiencies, in different regions of New Zealand of tall fescue, cocksfoot, phalaris, and lucerne are discussed, and how this impacts on persistence advantages over perennial ryegrass. Keywords: persistence, pasture, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca arundinacea, Lolium perenne, Medicago sativa, Phalaris aquatica

scholarly journals Grazing preference for pasture species by sheep is affected by endophyte and nitrogen fertility

1993 ◽  
pp. 137-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.R. Edwards ◽  
R.J. Lucas ◽  
M.R. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Prairie Grass ◽  
Nitrogen Fertility ◽  
Grazing Response ◽  
Grazing Period ◽  
Urine Patch ◽  
Highly Correlated

The grazing response of ewe hoggets offered tall fescue, endophyte-infected (+E) or endophyte-free (-E) perennial ryegrass all sown with white clover into a fertile silt loam was examined in April 1990. In a second experiment 2 grazings were observed where 5 grasses had been overdrilled into old lucerne growing on stony infertile land. Pregnaht ewes (August) and ewes with young lambs (October) grazed 3 replicates of tall fescue, +E perennial ryegrass, cocksfoot, phalaris and prairie grass. After the August grazing nitrogen fertiliser was applied at 0 and 300 kg N/ha to 5 x 2 m subplots in each 30 x 9 m grass plot. April observations showed that on day one 76% of grazing time was on tall fescue. During the first 4 days of grazing grass leaf height decreased 60 mm in tall fescue, 43 mm in +E and 42 mm in -E ryegrass while in the last 5 days decreases were 5, 3 and 25 mm. Over the 9 days' grazing, pseudostem height declined 5.2, 1.5 and 5.0 mm, green grass cover from 62 to 30,65 to 44, and 68 to 33%, and herbage removal was 940, 1100 and 1300 kg DM/ ha from tall fescue, +E and -E ryegrasses. During the first 3 days of the August grazing, grass leaf heights of cocksfoot and +E ryegrass declined at a much slower rate than in the other 3 species. The October grazing showed a similar defoliation pattern on plots without N. Addition of 300 kg N/ ha resulted in very rapid defoliation of all 5 species during the first day of the 7-day grazing period. April grazing showed that initially sheep preferred tall fescue. Even though grazing time was similar for +E and -E ryegrasses the hoggets consumed less +E than -E ryegrass, possibly owing to reluctance to penetrate the +E pseudostem horizon. The August and October grazings demonstrated the ability of sheep to discriminate between grass species and strong rejection of cocksfoot and +E ryegrass. However, N at a rate similar to a urine patch produced leaf in all species which was equally attractive to sheep. The reduced intake of +E ryegrass measured in the April grazing may explain some of the lower animal performance of sheep on +E ryegrass pastures. Equally, grazing preference shown by rate of canopy height decline in any pasture is probably highly correlated with pasture intake and animal productivity. Keywords: Acremonium lolii, Bromus willdenowii, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca arundinacea, Lolium perenne, nitrogen-fertilised pasture, Phalaris aquatica, sheep grazing preference

Influence of regrowth time on the forage quality of prairie grass, perennial ryegrass and tall fescue under non-limiting soil nutrient and moisture conditions

2006 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 45 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Sinclair ◽  
W. J. Fulkerson ◽  
S. G. Morris
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Stem Elongation ◽  
Forage Quality ◽  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
Growth Conditions ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Nutrient Analysis ◽  
Prairie Grass

The influence of regrowth time on the forage quality of prairie grass (Bromus willdenowii Kunth. cv. Matua), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L. cv. Dobson) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb. cv. Dovey) was determined under non-limiting soil nutrient and moisture growth conditions. In a glasshouse, individual plants of each species were arranged in separate mini-swards and were defoliated at 6, 10 and 14 weeks after sowing to a stubble height of 60 mm for perennial ryegrass and tall fescue and 90 mm for prairie grass. Following defoliation at 14 weeks, selected individual plants were cut to the previous stubble height as each new leaf per tiller was fully expanded, to provide leaf material for nutrient analysis, until prairie grass, perennial ryegrass and tall fescue had attained 6–8, 5 and 3 leaves/tiller, respectively. The concentration of leaf phosphorus (P) decreased from 6.6 to 5.9 g/kg dry matter (DM) in prairie grass, increased from 5.9 to 6.9 g/kg DM in perennial ryegrass, and initially increased to 8.8 g/kg DM and then decreased to 8.4 g/kg DM in tall fescue. The mean potassium (K) content in perennial ryegrass was 29.6 g/kg DM and was not significantly affected by duration of regrowth, whereas K content in prairie grass and tall fescue fell from 51.7 to 43.6 g/kg DM and from 55.5 to 47.9 g/kg DM, respectively, after the first leaf per tiller formed. Calcium levels increased with regrowth in all species and at the completion of regrowth were 5.8, 3.8 and 3.4 g/kg DM in prairie grass, perennial ryegrass and tall fescue, respectively. The magnesium (Mg) and sodium (Na) content of perennial ryegrass showed no change throughout the regrowth period and had measured values of 2.5 and 2.8 g/kg DM, respectively. For tall fescue, the concentration of leaf Mg decreased from 0.30 to 0.24 g/kg DM, whereas the Na concentration increased from 1.2 to 2.1 g/kg DM. The Mg content of prairie grass remained constant at 2.0 g/kg DM, whereas the Na content increased from 2.7 to 4.3 (g/kg DM). While the crude protein content of all grasses declined over the regrowth period, values remained over 200 g/kg DM, well above the recommended content for lactating cows. The leaf water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) of prairie grass and perennial ryegrass increased over the regrowth period from 29.7 to 43.9 g/kg DM and from 25.9 to 72.5 g/kg DM, respectively, whereas tall fescue showed no change at 55.6 g/kg DM. The change in in vitro organic matter digestibility (OMD) with age was 125 and 44 (g/kg DM) for tall fescue and perennial ryegrass, respectively. The OMD of prairie grass decreased following the onset of stem elongation at the 5-leaves/tiller stage of regrowth from 824 to 756 g/kg DM. In this glasshouse study, the pattern of change in K and Ca content was the same as observed in the field but the absolute content, including that of Na, was greatly elevated, particularly in prairie grass. In terms of nutrient content capability, N, P and K were readily taken up by these C3 grasses, while the uptake of Mg and Na appear to reflect genetic differences between species. The differences in forage quality as determined under optimal growth conditions in this study, as compared with field grown forage, are presumed to indicate possible soil nutrient deficiencies in field situations.

scholarly journals Additional Host Plants of Four Species of Billbug Found on New Jersey Turfgrasses

1990 ◽  
Vol 115 (4) ◽  
pp. 608-611 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer M. Johnson-Cicalese ◽  
C.R. Funk
Keyword(s):  
New Jersey ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Host Plants ◽  
Cynodon Dactylon ◽  
Poa Pratensis ◽  
Kentucky Bluegrass ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Red Fescue

Studies were conducted on the host plants of four billbug species (Coleoptera:Curculionidae: Sphenophorus parvulus Gyllenhal, S. venatus Chitt., S. inaequalis Say, and S. minimus Hart) found on New Jersey turfgrasses. A collection of 4803 adults from pure stands of various turfgrasses revealed all four billbugs on Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), and S. parvulus, S. venatus, and S. minimus on Chewings fescue (F. rubra L. ssp. commutata Gaud.). Since the presence of larvae, pupae, or teneral adults more accurately indicates the host status of a grass species, immature billbugs were collected from plugs of the various grass species and reared to adults for identification. All four species were reared from immature billbugs found in Kentucky bluegrass turf; immatures of S. venatus, S. inaequalis, and S. minimus were found in tall fescue; S. venatus and S. minimus in perennial ryegrass; and S. inaequalis in strong creeping red fescue (F. rubra L. ssp. rubra). A laboratory experiment was also conducted in which billbug adults were confined in petri dishes with either Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, or bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon Pers.). Only minor differences were found between the four grasses in billbug survival, number of eggs laid, and amount of feeding. In general, bermudagrass was the least favored host and the other grasses were equally adequate hosts. The results of this study indicate a need for updating host-plant lists of these four billbug species.

scholarly journals VARIATION AMONG PERENNIAL RYEGRASS x TALL FESCUE PLANTS FROM TISSUE CULTURE

1988 ◽  
pp. 81-86
Author(s):  
A.G. Scott ◽  
D.W.R. White
Keyword(s):  
Tissue Culture ◽  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Chromosome Doubling ◽  
Chromosome Elimination ◽  
Intergeneric Hybrids ◽  
Hybrid Plants ◽  
Spontaneous Chromosome

Tissue culture was used in an attempt to obtain a fertile perennial ryegrass x tall fescue hybrid. Regenerated hybrid plants were found to be morphologically variable and contain extensive chromosome rearrangements. Spontaneous chromosome doubling had occurred as well as chromosome elimination. though no fertile hybrid plants have been obtained to date. Keywords: somaclonal variation, Lolium perenne, Festuca arundinacea, intergeneric hybrids

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.

Relative Tolerance of Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and Tall Fescue (Festuca arundinacea) to Flucarbazone

2012 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 673-678 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick E. McCullough ◽  
Jialin Yu ◽  
James T. Brosnan ◽  
Gregory K. Breeden
Keyword(s):  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Growth Chamber ◽  
Shoot Biomass ◽  
Relative Tolerance ◽  
Sequential Treatments

Flucarbazone controls certain grassy weeds in wheat and may have potential for controlling perennial ryegrass in tall fescue turf. The objective of these experiments was to investigate perennial ryegrass and tall fescue tolerance to flucarbazone at two application timings. In field experiments, flucarbazone applications in May were more injurious to both species than in February and March. Single applications of flucarbazone from 30 to 60 g ai ha−1in May injured both species 35 to 50% and sequential treatments increased injury approximately twofold. Two applications of flucarbazone at 60 g ha−1in May injured both grasses > 90%, similar to sequential applications of trifloxysulfuron at 29 g ai ha−1. In growth chamber experiments, injury from flucarbazone on both grasses increased as temperature increased from 10 to 30 C. Flucarbazone reduced total shoot biomass of both grasses at all temperatures after 4 wk. Overall, perennial ryegrass and tall fescue are tolerant to flucarbazone at moderate temperatures (10 to 20 C). However, injury increased substantially under warmer conditions (30 C), suggesting flucarbazone could control perennial ryegrass and tall fescue during late spring and early summer.

scholarly journals Clinical manifestations of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) and perennial ryegrass (lolium perenne) toxicosis in Oregon and Japan

2007 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 369-372
Author(s):  
L.L. Blythe ◽  
A.M. Craig ◽  
C. Estill ◽  
C. Cebra
Keyword(s):  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Beef Cows ◽  
Fescue Toxicosis ◽  
Angus Cattle ◽  
Multiple Vehicles ◽  
Tall Fescue Toxicosis

There are multiple vehicles for endophyte toxicosis in animals including exposure from pasture, straw residues and seed screenings. This report discusses the clinical cases typically seen with tall fescue and perennial ryegrass toxicosis in Oregon and Japan. Case I involves a herd of 330 Black Angus cattle. Before the March calving season the owner wished to increase the protein content of the feed ration by feeding pellets made of seed screenings and grass hay. Forty two animals were lost to tall fescue toxicosis and dry gangrene of the feet and legs. Case II involves 1300 beef cows in Eastern Oregon fed grass straw; 485 animals were lost due to dry gangrene characteristic of tall fescue toxicosis. Case III describes 4 of 15 cases of both tall fescue and perennial ryegrass toxicosis in Japanese black cattle. Case IV involves llamas and alpacas on pasture and lawn paddocks where some animals were affected by tall fescue and some by perennial ryegrass. Keywords: tall fescue, Festuca arundinacea L., perennial ryegrass, Lolium perenne, endophyte, Neotyphodium coenophialum, Neotyphodium lolii

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