scholarly journals Effects of binary seed mixtures of ryegrass, cocksfoot and tall fescue on pasture production

2000 ◽  
pp. 141-146
Author(s):  
D.R. Stevens ◽  
M.J. Hickey
Keyword(s):  
Binary Mixtures ◽  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Dactylis Glomerata ◽  
Dry Matter Yield ◽  
Replacement Series ◽  
Pasture Production

This study measured total dry matter production and botanical composition of binary mixtures of cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata), ryegrass (Lolium perenne) or tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), as a replacement series in proportions of 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75 and 0:100 from June 1987 until May 1993. The binary mixtures were sown in March 1986 with white clover, on an occasionally drought affected Kaweku silt loam, with an average annual rainfall of 750 mm near Riversdale, in Southland. Mixtures with ryegrass were allowed a 6-month establishment period before ryegrass was overdrilled in early October 1986. Total yields of ryegrass/cocksfoot mixtures increased as ryegrass seeding rate increased. Clover yields were generally unaffected. Mixtures of cocksfoot/tall fescue produced more sown grass than either species sown alone. This lowered clover and other grass yields, resulting in no total dry matter yield improvement in mixtures compared to pure sowings. Tall fescue/ ryegrass mixtures were competitive in winter and spring with lower total yields than either species sown alone. This competition also lowered other grass yields. During summer and autumn the total production increased as the amount of ryegrass increased. Seed mixtures with two perennial temperate pasture grasses did not provide any extra pasture production in a cool temperate environment under infrequent hard grazing management. The best choice for the region would be the grass that provided the greatest dry matter yield. Other components such as clover may be reduced when mixing grasses. Keywords: cocksfoot, competition, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca arundinacea, Lolium perenne, mixtures, pasture yield, replacement series, ryegrass, tall fescue, white clover

scholarly journals Grass grub tolerant pastures and fertiliser nitrogen as an alternative to white clover in pasture subject to grass grub attack

1990 ◽  
pp. 105-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.A. Mccallum ◽  
N.A. Thomson ◽  
A.H.C. Roberts
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Dactylis Glomerata ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Matter Production ◽  
Prairie Grass ◽  
Average Annual Production ◽  
Dactylis Glomerata L

The effect of replacing white clover with fertiliser nitrogen (N) on dry matter production and grass grub populations in 'Grasslands Roa' tell fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), 'Grasslands Mat-u' phalaris (Phalutis aquatica L.), 'Grasslands Kara' cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.), 'Grasslands Mama' prairie grass (Bromus willdenowii Kunth) and 'old' (30 year plus) ryegrass was measured over a 2 year period. For all pastures the replacement of white clover with fertiliser N significantly reduced grass grub numbers. This was greatest in tall fescue, phalaris and cocksfoot, showing that pure swards of these species were resistant to grass grub. Decreases in grass grub numbers in ryegrass and prairie grass were less. There was overall a significant increase in pasture production by eliminating white clover and applying fertiliser N, with a differential response between species. Average annual production of prairie grass was unaffected, whereas the yield of cocksfoot increased by 9 % and old ryegrass, phalaris and tall fescue increased by 26 % . Most of this extra production for tall fescue and phalaris occurred in autumn. These results show that the use of tall fescue and phalaris and the replacement of white clover with fertiliser N has potential for increasing pasture production in districts subject to grass damage. Keywords old ryegrass, Roa tall fescue, Maru phalaris, Kara cocksfoot, Matua prairie grass, white clover, grass grub, nitrogen fertiliser

scholarly journals Productivity of caucasian clover based pastures under irrigation

1996 ◽  
pp. 177-181
Author(s):  
R.A. Moss ◽  
R.N. Burton ◽  
B.E. Allan
Keyword(s):  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Dactylis Glomerata ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Total Production ◽  
Silt Loam ◽  
Trifolium Ambiguum ◽  
Measurement Period

Grasslands Kara cocksfoot, Grasslands Nui ryegrass, Grasslands Roa tall fescue, Grasslands Gala grazing brome and Grasslands Maru phalaris were sown as single grass species with either white or Caucasian clover during December 1993, on a Lismore stony silt loam in Canterbury. Plots were irrigated and rotationally grazed by sheep. Total herbage produced during the first measurement period (September 1994 to July 1995) averaged 13.6 t DM/ha. All white clover-based swards produced similar yields, but with Caucasian clover, phalaris-based swards produced the most and ryegrass and grazing brome the least. Production tended to be lower from pastures sown with Caucasian than white clover (12.9 cf. 14.2,kg DM/ha). During the second measurement period (July 1995 to May 1996) total production was similar with both legumes. When evaluated over both measurement periods, phalaris and tall fescue gave the highest and cocksfoot and ryegrass the lowest production when sown with white clover, while cocksfoot and grazing brome were the lowestproducing swards with Caucasian clover. Ten --months-after-sow.ing,-white-cIover-contributed-in excess of40% of the DM in all swards except with ryegrass and grazing brome where it contributed 20%. The proportion of white clover then declined in all pastures over the following 20 months, ryegrass-based swards having the highest (10%) and cocksfoot the lowest (1%). When sown with Caucasian clover the legume content of swards increased during the 12 months from spring 1994 in swards containing phalaris, tall fescue and grazing brome. The proportion of legume in -cocksfoot swardsmdeclined-continuously from 22 to 4% over the 20 months while it increased continuously from 4 to 28% with ryegrass. The legume content in lo-month-old pastures was higher when sown with white than with Caucasian clover but this ratio was reversed by 28 months. This occurred with all pasture types but was most pronounced with ryegrass and cocksfoot pastures. The present experiment shows Caucasian clover can make a major contribution in irrigated pastures in Canterbury. 'Wattie Bush, RD 22, Peel Forest, Geruldine Keywords: Bromus stamineus, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca arundinacea, grazed pastures, herbage production, Lolium perenne, Phalaris aquatica, Trifolium ambiguum, Trifolium repens

scholarly journals An evaluation of tall fescue, phalaris and cocksfoot in mixes as an alternative to single-species pastures

1994 ◽  
pp. 133-138
Author(s):  
R.J. Johnson ◽  
N.A. Thomson ◽  
D.A. Mccallum ◽  
T.G. Judd
Keyword(s):  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Dactylis Glomerata ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Dry Matter Production ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Phalaris Aquatica ◽  
Matter Production ◽  
Dactylis Glomerata L

Seasonal and annual dry matter production of ryegrass was compared with drought- and grass grub-tolerant species Grasslands Roa tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), Grasslands Maru phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.) and Grasslands Kara cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) as both single species and different combinations of mixes in two trials from 1982 to 1991. In trial 1, Nui ryegrass (damaged by Argentine stem weevil) produced significantly less than cocksfoot, phalaris and mixtures of the drought-tolerant grasses. Yatsyn-1 ryegrass in trial 2 was not subjected to stem weevil attack and the annual dry matter production was significantly higher than that of tall fescue and, although not significantly, higher than that of phalaris and cocksfoot. In both trials the highest producing mixture was the phalaris/ cocksfoot mix with the exception of the triple mix of phalaris/cocksfoot/tall fescue in trial 2. The phalaris/cocksfoot mix produced significantly more than phalaris as a single species and although not significant, 14% more than cocksfoot suggesting these species are complementary in a mix. The triple mix in trial 2 produced significantly more than all single species except ryegrass. Mixes of srgnificant. tall fescue/phalaris and tall fescue/cocksfoot had no advantage in DM production over single-species sowings of phalaris or cocksfoot, but improved yields over tall fescue. These results show possible complementary effects to sowing phalaris and cocksfoot. The addition of tall fescue to the mix had small and non-significant benefits. Keywords: Dactylis glomerata, Festuca arundinacea, Loliumperenne, Phalaris aquatica. grass grub, pasture mixes, pasture production, single species, summer dry spells

The influence of sowing method on perennial grass establishment. I. Dry matter yield and botanical composition

1989 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 301 ◽  
Author(s):  
WD Bellotti ◽  
GJ Blair
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Dry Matter Yield ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Effect On Yield

'Demeter' tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) and 'Victorian' perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) were sown separately into a white clover (Trifolium repens L.) dominant pasture in June 1981. Eight sowing methods were compared to assess the ability of perennial grasses to establish from direct drill sowing methods relative to conventional seedbed and aerial sowing methods. Within direct drill treatments, two drill implements were factorially combined with three herbicide treatments. Pasture production and botanical composition were sampled over a 27 month period following sowing. After a dry summer, 22 months after sowing, sown grasses dominated pasture composition (69-94% of total dry matter yield) in the high yielding treatments. At this time, the successful direct drill treatments were similar in yield to the conventional seedbed treatment. Within direct drill treatments, sowing implement had little effect on yield and composition, whereas herbicide application markedly increased sown grass yield. Pre-sowing blanket application of herbicide in the triple disc treatment increased tall fescue yield from 82 to 1504 kg ha-1 and perennial ryegrass yield from 98 to 807 kg ha-1. An inverse relationship was described between dry matter present at sowing and eventual yield of sown grasses. These perennial grasses can be successfully established by using direct drill sowing methods provided resident vegetation is adequately suppressed.

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.

scholarly journals Early productivity of binary mixtures and single grass species

1994 ◽  
pp. 205-208
Author(s):  
F.J. Parry ◽  
R.J. Lucas ◽  
B.A. Mckenzie
Keyword(s):  
Binary Mixtures ◽  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Dactylis Glomerata ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Winter Period ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Pasture Grass ◽  
Phalaris Aquatica

An experiment was conducted on a fertile Walcanui silt loam in 1991/92 to examine the productivity of 4 perennial pasture grass species, Grasslands Roa tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), Grasslands Marsden hybrid tyegrass (Lolium perenne x Lolium hybridum), Grasslands Maru phalaris (Phalaris aquatica), Grasslands Wana cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata), and 2 binary mixtures, tall fescue plus cocksfoot and phalaris plus cocksfoot. Between July 1991 and September 1992 the highest production came from phalaris plus cocksfoot at 19.05 t DM/ha. Hybrid ryegrass, phalaris, tall fescue plus cocksfoot, cocksfoot, and tall fescue produced 17.44, 17.13, 16.96, 14.17, and 13.13t DM/ha respectively. The botanical composition of both mixtures averaged equal proportions of the sown species. The proportion of cocksfoot increased over the summer period then declined for the following autumn/winter period. The experiment shows that simple pasture grass mixtures may be highly productive. These findings support the increasing farmer practice of sowmg some pasture grasses in simple mixtures. Keywords: binary mixture, botanical composition, Dactylis glomerata, dry matter production, Festuca arundinuceu, Lolium perenne x Lolium hybridum, pasture mixtures, Phalaris aquatica, seasonal production

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 Effects of grass species on ruminal degradability of silages and prediction of dry matter effective degradability

2009 ◽  
Vol 54 (No. 7) ◽  
pp. 315-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Jančík ◽  
V. Koukolová ◽  
P. Kubelková ◽  
B. Čermák
Keyword(s):  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Dactylis Glomerata ◽  
Phleum Pratense ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Regression Equations ◽  
Ruminant Nutrition ◽  
Accuracy Level ◽  
Ruminal Degradability

Forty samples of grass silages, made from the five most widely used grass species in ruminant nutrition (<I>Dactylis glomerata</I> L.,<I>Phleum pratense</I> L., <I>Lolium perenne</I> L., <I>Festuca arundinacea</I> L. and hybrid Felina) were tested in the present study. These grass species conserved by an ensiling process were compared among each other according to dry matter (DM) rumen degradability parameters (<I>a</I> = portion of DM solubilized at initiation of incubation, <I>b</I> = fraction of DM potentially degradable in the rumen, <I>c</I> = rate constant of disappearance of fraction b and ED<sub>DM</sub> = effective degradability of DM, estimated for each ingredient assuming the rumen solid outflow rates of 0.02 (ED<sub>DM2</sub>), 0.05 (ED<sub>DM5</sub>) and 0.08 (ED<sub>DM8</sub>) h<sup>–1</sup>). Based on the chemical composition of grass silages the regression equations for prediction of ED<sub>DM</sub> were evaluated. The influence of the ensiling process on dry matter degradability parameters was also assessed. The best values of ED<sub>DM</sub> were determined for <I>Lolium perenne</I> (ED<sub>DM2</sub> = 753.2, ED<sub>DM5</sub> = 631.1 and ED<sub>DM8</sub> = 567.7 g/kg DM). The best predictor was NDF (<I>R</I><sup>2</sup>-values of 0.757 (ED<sub>DM2</sub>), 0.863 (ED<sub>DM5</sub>) and 0.906 (ED<sub>DM8</sub>)). Using two predictors the accuracy level increased. The combination of CF and NDF gave <I>R</I><sup>2</sup>-values 0.892, 0.920 and 0.929 for ED<sub>DM2</sub>, ED<sub>DM5</sub> and ED<sub>DM8</sub>, respectively. The regression equations based on the most important grass species harvested in different vegetation periods seem to be a useful tool for practical use. No significant <I>P</I> < 0.05) effect of the ensiling process in relation to dry matter rumen degradability parameters was proved.

Effects of autumn harvest date on the performance of white clover/grass mixtures in Nova Scotia

1993 ◽  
Vol 121 (3) ◽  
pp. 315-321 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Fraser ◽  
K. Sutherland ◽  
R. C. Martin
Keyword(s):  
Nova Scotia ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Dactylis Glomerata ◽  
Harvest Date ◽  
Harvest Dates ◽  
Acid Detergent Fibre ◽  
Clover Content

SUMMARYWhite clover (Trifolium repens L.) is well adapted to the cool moist climate of Atlantic Canada, where it improves digestibility and protein content in pastures, but little is known about its role in pasture stockpiled for autumn grazing in this region. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of autumn harvest dates on dry matter yield and clover content in herbage mixtures. Two experiments conducted in Nova Scotia between 1985 and 1991 on two different soil types showed that the effects of autumn harvest dates were inconsistent from year to year. Herbage growth rates ranged from 11 to 41 kg/ha per day between early September and mid-October. Clover content was generally lower in August–early September than in November harvests and declined in subsequent years irrespective of harvest date or forage species. Kersey White and Sonja white clovers were the highest yielding cultivars. Crude protein declined in late autumn harvests whereas acid detergent fibre tended to increase, and there were differences between years. Forage quality was significantly better in tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) than orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.)/white clover mixtures.

scholarly journals A comparison of six grasses for animal production

1992 ◽  
pp. 147-150
Author(s):  
D.R. Stevens ◽  
G.S. Baxter ◽  
M.J. Casey ◽  
K.B. Miller ◽  
R.J. Lucas
Keyword(s):  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Trifolium Repens ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Dactylis Glomerata ◽  
Phleum Pratense ◽  
Animal Production ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Prairie Grass

Farmers are aware of the increasing amount of information comparing alternative cultivars in dry environments in New Zealand. Animal production data in cool moist environments was unknown. To compare relative animal performance six different grasses were sown with Grasslands Tahora white clover (Trifolium repens L.) in 0.25 ha plots in two replicates in December 1988 at the Gore Research Centre in Southland. The six grasses were Grasslands Nui perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), Grasslands Roa tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea L)., Grasslands Kara cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L). Grasslands Matua prairie grass (Bromus willdenowii Ku&), Grasslands Hakari upland bmme (Bromus sitchensis), and Grasslands Kahu timothy (Phleum pratense L). These pastures were rotationally grazed with goats through spring and summer of the following two years; 2-weekly liveweight gain of 10 goats was recorded. Stocking rate was estimated from the addition of extra goats each week to achieve a residual pasture height of 100 mm. Spring liveweight gains (mid Sept-late Nov) were greatest on timothy and least on prairie grass. Stocking rate in spring was highest on the upland brome and tall fescue pastures and lowest for prairie grass and timothy pastures. Prairie grass pastures produced less total liveweight gain per ha than the other pastures. During summer, goat liveweight gains were ranked similarly to spring. Stocking rates were greatest on upland brome, and lowest on tall fescue. Total liveweight gain per ha in summer was greatest on the timothy pastures and least on prairie grass pastures. Keywords Bromus sitchensis, Bromus willdenowii, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca arundinacea, goats, Lolium perenne. liveweight gain, Phleum pratense, stocking rate, Trifolium repens

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