A comparison of the growth of seedlings of Mediterranean and temperate tall fescues, phalaris and annual ryegrass

1985 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 818 ◽  
Author(s):  
MJ Hill ◽  
G Kay ◽  
SJ Yeates
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Annual Ryegrass ◽  
Seedling Vigour ◽  
Analysis Techniques ◽  
Leaf Extension ◽  
Aerial Seeding ◽  
Growth Of Seedlings

Seedlings of tall fescues (Festuca arundinacea), phalaris (Phalaris aquatica) and annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) were compared with those of other temperate grasses and cereals at 11 and 47 days after sowing at 18/13�C (12/12 h) to determine their relative seedling vigour. Also, the growth rates of two Mediterranean and two temperate cultivars of tall fescue were compared with those of phalaris and annual ryegrass at 14/6�C and 23/20�C (12/12 h) using growth analysis techniques. Shoot growth rates of seedlings were related to caryopsis weight (r = 0.99 at 11 days after sowing) when the range of weights was large, but there was no correlation among perennials with low caryopsis weights (<0.2 mg). Although they had heavier caryopses, seedlings of tall fescue grew more slowly than seedlings of phalaris. All seedlings grew faster at 23/20�C than at 14/6�C. Annual ryegrass had the highest dry matter yield, achieved through a rapid production of tillers, it grew relatively better with respect to ryegrass at 23/20�C than at 14/6�C. Phalaris depended on larger tillers for increased yield, and growth of these was favoured by the higher temperatures. Tall fescue seedlings were less vigorous than the other grasses, but temperate types grew much faster than Mediterranean types at 23/20�C. These trends occurred because of a high leaf area (equivalent to annual ryegrass) and leaf area ratio in phalaris at 23/20�C, and lower leaf extension rates and smaller leaves in Mediterranean fescues than in temperate fescues. The results indicate that: (1) because of better seedling growth, phalaris may be increasingly preferred to tall fescue for aerial seeding or direct drilling in regions where both are adapted; (2) at optimum temperatures, the Mediterranean fescues have poorer seedling vigour than the temperate types; and (3) at optimum temperatures, annual ryegrass may provide more serious competition to the fescues than to phalaris.

The effects of sowing time, sowing technique and grazing on tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) establishment

1992 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 627 ◽  
Author(s):  
GW Charles ◽  
GJ Blair ◽  
AC Andrews
Keyword(s):  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
New South ◽  
Sowing Time ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Heavy Grazing ◽  
Direct Drilling ◽  
Aerial Seeding ◽  
Spring Sowing ◽  
Autumn Sowing

The effects of sowing time (autumn and spring) and technique (conventional cultivation, inverted T direct drill, triple disc direct drill and aerial seeding), on the establishment of tall fescue into a weed infested pasture on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales were examined. A pre-sowing herbicide treatment was included in the 2 direct drilling treatments, and heavy pre-sowing grazing was used in the autumn sowing. The design used 38 plots of 0.12 ha, analysed as 2 separate, complete block experiments, with some common treatments. Tall fescue establishment, 120 days after the autumn sowing, averaged 48 seedlingslm2 on the inverted T treatment (16% establishment). Establishment was improved by 63%, to 78 seedlings/m2, with herbicide and 46%, to 70 seedlings/m2, by heavy grazing. These effects were additive, giving 105 seedlings/m2 for the combined treatments. Only 52 seedlings/m2 established on the triple disc treatment with heavy grazing and herbicide, while establishment on the cultivated seedbed was not different from the inverted T (93 seedlings/m2). There was no establishment after the aerial seeding at either sowing. Fescue establishment showed the same trends in the spring sowing, with 140 seedlings/m2 on the inverted T treatment with pre-sowing herbicide, which was higher than the establishment of 107 seedlings/m2 on the cultivated seedbed. The fescue yield, 18 months after the autumn sowing, was highest in the autumn sown, inverted T treatment with pre-sowing herbicide and heavy grazing (123 kg/ha). In the spring sowing, fescue was recorded only on the cultivated treatment (84 kg/ha) and on the inverted T treatment with pre-sowing herbicide (39 kg/ha). These results show that tall fescue can be re-established into weed dominated pastures on the Northern Tablelands with direct drilling, in either autumn or spring, and that heavy, pre-sowing grazing and herbicide increase fescue establishment.

COMPARISON OF SEEDLING GROWTH OF ROUGH FESCUE AND TALL FESCUE

1969 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 465-470
Author(s):  
D. B. Wilson ◽  
A. Johnston
Keyword(s):  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Growth Analysis ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Native Grass ◽  
Relative Growth ◽  
Relative Growth Rates ◽  
Net Assimilation ◽  
Rough Fescue

Seedlings of a native grass, rough fescue, Festuca scabrella Torr., and of a tame grass, tall fescue, Festuca arundinacea Schreb., were grown in the greenhouse for 10 weeks. Each week 20 plants of each species were destructively harvested for growth analysis. Leaf and tiller numbers and leaf lengths were recorded for an additional 10 plants of each species. Mean net assimilation rates of rough fescue were similar to those of tall fescue, but leaf area ratios were significantly lower. Thus, mean relative growth rates of rough fescue were less than those of tall fescue. Tiller numbers were similar for both species but rough fescue produced fewer leaves. Dry weight of tops of the tame grass produced during the 10-week period was about 17 times that produced by the native grass.

scholarly journals Grasslands Advance tall fescue establishment and animal performance

1994 ◽  
pp. 117-119
Author(s):  
T.J. Fraser ◽  
T.B. Lyons
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
The Other ◽  
Animal Performance ◽  
Annual Grass ◽  
Seedling Vigour ◽  
Grass Production ◽  
Animal Growth

Tall fescue (Festuca urundinacea Schreb.) pastures in New Zealand have been considered to have slow establishment (Grasslands Roa) or lower summer quality (the faster establishing AU Triumph). Three experiments were conducted to study the establishment vigour, herbage production and animal growth rates of a new tall fescue cultivar, Grasslands Advance. Establishment vigour of Advance was similar to that of Au Triumph and 30% greater than that of Roa. Advance and AU Triumph were 17 and 8% higher in annual grass production than Roa, with Advance significantly out yielding the other two cultivars in the warm season. Animal performance per head of young sheep on Roa was significantly higher than on AU Triumph in spring, both Advance and Roa having a significant advantage over AU Triumph in the warm season. Keywords: animal performance, Festuca arundinacae, herbage production, pasture establishment, seedling vigour

scholarly journals 279 Influence of NaCl on Seed Germination of Selected Cool-season Turfgrass Species

HortScience ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 490D-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hoon Kang ◽  
Chiwon W. Lee
Keyword(s):  
Seed Germination ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Poa Pratensis ◽  
Creeping Bentgrass ◽  
Kentucky Bluegrass ◽  
Annual Ryegrass ◽  
Crested Wheatgrass ◽  
Red Fescue

The influence of increasing levels (0.0%, 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%, 0.8%, 1.2%, 1.6%, and 2.0%) of NaCl on the germination of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), and crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum) was investigated. Kentucky bluegrass, creeping bentgrass, and crested wheatgrass had a 50% reduction in germination at 0.2%, 0.6%, and 0.6% NaCl, respectively, compared to the control and completely lost germination at 0.6%, 1.2%, and 1.6% NaCl, respectively. Seed germination in both annual ryegrass and perennial ryegrass was only 50% of the control at 1.2% NaCl and completely inhibited at 2.0% NaCl. Tall fescue, red fescue, and creeping red fescue showed a 50% reduction in germination at NaCl concentrations of 1.2%, 1.2%, and 0.8%, respectively, while showing a complete inhibition of germination at 2.0%, 2.0%, and 1.6% NaCl, respectively.

Growth of seedlings of prairie grass and tall fescue in small swards of kikuyu at different temperatures

1985 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 213 ◽  
Author(s):  
MJ Hill ◽  
CJ Pearson ◽  
LC Campbell
Keyword(s):  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Relative Growth ◽  
Relative Growth Rates ◽  
Temperature Regimes ◽  
Prairie Grass ◽  
Different Temperatures ◽  
Grass Sward

Seeds of prairie grass (Bromus catharticus Vahl) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) were planted in established small swards of kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum Hochst ex Chiov.). Growth of the temperate seedlings and the subtropical grass sward was measured over a period of 59 days under four temperature regimes from 14/6 to 23/20�C (12/12 h). The capacity of the seedlings of the oversown temperate perennial grasses to establish in the sward of the subtropical kikuyu depended on temperature. At low temperature (mean daily temperature < 1l�C) the seedlings grew faster than the kikuyu and became successfully established. At moderate temperatures (11-19�C) the relative growth rates of seedlings were comparable with the relative growth rates of kikuyu tillers, but the latter dominated due to a greater absolute growth rate. Stature was an important component in the inter-species competition, and the taller prairie grass grew much better in competition with kikuyu than did fescue. Temperatures above 20�C exceeded the optimum of the seedlings of the temperate species but not that of kikuyu, so that the sown species were at a disadvantage and kikuyu dominated the mixture. It is concluded that prairie grass and tall fescue can be established successfully only in swards of kikuyu when day temperatures are below 21 and 15�C respectively, unless kikuyu is suppressed for a long period. A herbicide may be an economical means of doing this.

Field evaluation of phalaris, tall fescue and cocksfoot cultivars and accessions in western Victoria, Australia

2008 ◽  
Vol 59 (10) ◽  
pp. 971 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. F. M. Reed ◽  
Z. N. Nie ◽  
B. Clark
Keyword(s):  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Field Evaluation ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Severe Drought ◽  
Seedling Vigour ◽  
Grazing Tolerance ◽  
Breeding Populations ◽  
Cumulative Production

To assess their potential usefulness in the central and south-western Victorian environment, cultivars/experimental varieties and accessions of each of three perennial grasses, phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb. = syn. Lolium arundinaceum. (Schreb.) Darbysh.), and cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.), were established as swards by spring-sowing and then evaluated under rotational grazing by sheep. Pasture establishment, production, and survival following severe drought were measured at two locations. Persistent novel material of phalaris and tall fescue was identified that could increase the cool-season and year-round production relative to that obtained from current commercial cultivars. Phalaris and tall fescue varieties were compared at Hamilton. Results indicated that, in contrast to tall fescue, the seedling vigour of winter-active phalaris types was similar in spring relative to that of summer-active types. Most phalaris cultivars were more productive than tall fescue in autumn and winter (P < 0.05). For the experimental phalaris variety Perla × Sirocco, dry matter (DM) production during these seasons was 19% greater than for the most productive tall fescue, cv. Fraydo (P < 0.05). In a short growing season site at Warrak, winter-active cultivars of tall fescue produced up to 17% more DM in winter (P < 0.05) than the highest yielding, summer-active cv. Quantum MaxP, but for cumulative production over 3 years, Quantum MaxP was significantly more productive (P < 0.05) than 18 other entries. However, the persistence of Quantum and Quantum MaxP declined considerably post-drought; a more persistent accession from Sardinia, FA 005, was as productive as Quantum MaxP. Of the 13 cultivars compared in the longer growing season of Hamilton, Fraydo and Resolute MaxP were the most productive in winter (P < 0.05). For cumulative herbage yield over 4 years, Fraydo, Quantum MaxP, Quantum, Resolute MaxP, and Tanit were the most productive cultivars (P < 0.05). Infection with the MaxP endophyte did not affect persistence of Quantum at either site but improved the persistence of Resolute at Hamilton (P < 0.05). At Warrak, MaxP endophyte-infected Quantum was 35% more productive in summer–autumn than the endophyte-free cv. Quantum (P < 0.05). Compared with the most productive commercial cv. Holdfast, experimental varieties from breeding populations of winter-active phalaris selected for grazing tolerance and which incorporated Perla, were superior for seedling vigour (rating 5 v. 3), winter growth (by ≥15%), and cumulative production over 4 years (≥12%) (P < 0.05).

Field experience with new pasture cultivars in Canterbury

1990 ◽  
pp. 139-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew W. Macfarlane
Keyword(s):  
Medicago Sativa ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Dactylis Glomerata ◽  
Pastoral System ◽  
Phalaris Aquatica ◽  
Prairie Grass ◽  
Soil Temperatures ◽  
Dactylis Glomerata L

Over the last 10 years Canterbury farmers have started to diversify their pasture base in order to optimise their stock production. While ryegrass is still the base grass of our pastoral system, it is unsuited to many sites where pasture must generate high stock growth rates despite seasonally low rainfall, high soil temperatures and pasture pest challenge. On such sites, pastures based on cocksfoot, (Dactylis glomerata L.), phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L . ) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) or prairie grass (Bromus willdenowii Kunth, cv. 'Grasslands Matua') or lucerne (Medicago sativa) or chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) have lifted net farming returns. Keywords ryegrass, endophyte, tall fescue, phalaris, cocksfoot, prairie grass, chicory, pasture pests, rainfall, stock production, pasture persistence

Direct drilling tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) prairie grass (Bromus catharticus Vahl) and Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) into kikuyu and paspalum pastures

1985 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 806 ◽  
Author(s):  
MJ Hill
Keyword(s):  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Plant Density ◽  
Lolium Multiflorum ◽  
Italian Ryegrass ◽  
Dry Matter Yield ◽  
Seedling Vigour ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Prairie Grass

Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), prairie grass (Bromus catharticus Vahl) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) were direct-drilled into paspalum and kikuyu pastures at Camden (1980-83) and Bega (1 982) in New South Wales. Prior to sowing, pastures were either slashed or slashed and sprayed with herbicide. In 1980, paraquat (0.28 kg a.i./ha) and glyphosate (0.5 kg a.i./ha) were compared with slashing-only at a March sowing. In 1982 and 1983, glyphosate only was compared with slashing, and grasses were sown on four occasions at 5-week intervals from late January or mid- February to early June. Seedlings were counted and weights of individual seedlings were measured at about 5 weeks after sowing, and pasture yield and species composition were measured 10 weeks after sowing, at the end of winter, and on selected plots, in winter in the following year. In 1980, plant density and dry matter yield at the first harvest of prairie grass and tall fescue was better from plots treated with glyphosate than from those treated with paraquat or slashed-only. However, plant density and dry matter yield of ryegrass was unaffected by preparation. In 1982 and 1983, plant densities 5 weeks after sowing increased with the use of glyphosate, and with later sowing. Prairie grass was least sensitive to sowing time establishing similar populations of between 50 and 150 seedlings/m2 from February to May. Tall fescue only established satisfactory seedling populations (50 to 200 seedlings/m2) at April and May-June sowings with glyphosate; it required suppression of competition, and low temperatures for faster growth than kikuyu and paspalum. The use of glyphosate reduced total pasture production during the first 10 weeks from 5 to 3 t/ha, but the contribution of sown grasses was increased. Winter production was greatest from sowings in March and April. Italian ryegrass always produced significant quantities of dry matter at the first cut and in winter; tall fescue was never productive in the first year. Persistence of prairie grass and tall fescue from 1982 sowings until 1983 was good, and highest tiller densities of 300-400 and 800 tillers/m2 respectively occurred from April sowings with glyphosate. Between June and September 1983, prairie grass and tall fescue from these plots produced about 3 and 2 t/ha of dry matter respectively. As seedling vigour declined from Italian ryegrass to prairie grass to tall fescue, conditions required for successful establishment became more stringent. Persistence and production of perennials was excellent if sown at the right time to encounter favourable temperatures, and competition was suppressed. Mixtures thus established need to be assessed on a paddock scale under grazing to determine their final viability.

Selection for seedling vigour in Festuca arundinacea

1982 ◽  
Vol 99 (1) ◽  
pp. 173-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. S. Faulkner ◽  
Fiona Johnston ◽  
D. M. P. McAneney
Keyword(s):  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Leaf Length ◽  
Parent Material ◽  
Direct Selection ◽  
Seedling Vigour ◽  
Basic Criterion ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Seed Provenance ◽  
Hydroponic Growth

SUMMARYTwo sets of experiments were carried out to compare methods of selecting Festuca arundinacea (tall fescue) for improved seedling vigour.In the first, germination and seedling growth of four varieties (Goar, Lironde, S. 170, and ZW 42–6) were compared in hydroponic growth tanks. From each variety, groups of seedlings were selected for each of four vigour characters (speed of germination, leaf length, root length and speed of production of the second leaf) and a fifth group was selected at random as a control. Plants of each group were intercrossed in isolation and their progeny compared.In the second, S. 170 was studied through two cycles of selection in a soil-based compost. In the first cycle, groups of seedlings were selected for each of five characters (speed of emergence, leaf length, and speed of production of the second leaf, first axillary tiller and coleoptile tiller). Two further groups were selected randomly. In the second cycle, the progeny of each group were reselected for the same character as their parents. Both first- and second-cycle progeny were compared among themselves.Significant direct responses to selection were obtained in all characters except speed of germination in hydroponics. Indirect responses also occurred but were mostly smaller and in response to selection for a related character, e.g. selection for early tillering resulted in early second leaves and vice versa. Two cycles of selection raised the frequency of coleoptile tillers from about 5 to 55 %, but the concomitant advances in vigour characters were smaller than those achieved by direct selection. It is argued that for practical purposes the basic criterion in selecting for improved seedling vigour should be rapid attainment of a particular growth stage such as appearance of the first tiller. Since speed of emergence itself responded to selection, the attainment of such a stage should be related to date of sowing rather than of emergence or germination.In the progeny of the hydroponic selections, all characters showed significant varietal differences, some of them the reverse of differences between the parent populations of the varieties. These results illustrated the importance of seed provenance as a determinant of seedling vigour, and suggest that choice of parent material is important in breeding for improved vigour.

Germination and seedling growth of prairie grass, tall fescue and Italian ryegrass at different temperatures

1985 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
MJ Hill ◽  
CJ Pearson ◽  
AC Kirby
Keyword(s):  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Lolium Multiflorum ◽  
Italian Ryegrass ◽  
Relative Growth Rates ◽  
Prairie Grass ◽  
Radicle Emergence ◽  
Different Temperatures ◽  
Field Emergence

We measured the effects of temperature on the germination, emergence and growth during early tillering of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), prairie grass (Bromus catharticus) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea). Radicle emergence (the percentage of seeds with emerged radicles) and 'field' emergence (the percentage of seeds with shoots > 1 cm long) were reduced at 35�C (constant, all lines), or 30/25�C (12/12 h, prairie grass and Tama Italian ryegrass only). All lines took longer to germinate at 15 and 10�C (constant) than at higher temperatures, and final percentage germination of tall fescue lines was lower at 10�C (constant) than at other temperatures. Italian ryegrass had the fastest shoot extension, and consequently the fastest 'field' emergence. Seed respiration rates were higher in fescue than in the other lines at 4 days from imbibition, and rates rose in all lines at 8 days. Over the first 20 days after sowing, growth rates were closely related (r = 0.87-0.99) to weights of seed and caryopses, when account was taken of perenniality (which was associated with relatively slow growth) and polyploidy (which was associated with growth faster than might be expected from seed size alone), and a multivariate relationship including temperature was developed (R2 = 0.88). Growth rates of shoots at 20 days after sowing were ranked Tama Italian ryegrass > prairie grass > Ucivex Italian ryegrass > tall fescue, and 24/19 > 21/16 > 18/13 > 30/25 > 15/10�C. Growth during tillering, up to 42 days after emergence, was ranked Italian ryegrass > prairie > tall fescue and 21/16 = 18/13 > 24/19 = 15/1O�C. Relative growth rates and relative rates of tillering were independent of temperature in Italian ryegrass, but were lower at 15/10 and 24/19 than at 21/16 and 18/13�C in prairie grass and tall fescue. Prairie grass had higher yield per tiller but lower tiller numbers than Italian ryegrass; tall fescue had both lower yield per tiller and lower tiller number. Italian ryegrass was therefore the species best adapted to variations in environment and competition at sowing.

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