scholarly journals Seed production of new grass cultivar

1980 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 17-22
Author(s):  
J.A. Lancashire ◽  
J.G. Hampton ◽  
J.S. Gomez

Some aspects of the agronomy and seed production of four recently released Grasslands cultivars are described. Matua prairie grass sown at 10 to 15 kg/ha in 50-60 cm rows has produced over 3000 kg/ha of seed from two harvests in one season. The problem of head smut can be overcome by treating the seed with 1% by weight of benomyl, but techniques for treating large seed lots still have to be developed. Roa tall fescue sown at 2.2 kg/ha in 60 cm rows has produced over 1000 kg/ha of seed in the second season from sowing. Early defoliations should be very lenient or avoided altogether because the species is very slow to establish. Maru phalaris has produced over 800 kg/ha of seed in the absence of defoliation between sowing and harvesting. Although the cultivar may be less prone to seed shattering than older types, it is still very important to harvest at the correct time. Raki paspalum is a valuable grass for the northern areas of New Zealand, but ergot seriously restricts seed production, particularly in wetter years. The disease can probably be controlled within the crop by cultural and fungicidal methods, but it is very difficult to prevent reinfection from outside areas. The best prospect is to avoid the disease by growing Raki in suitable areas which have a reliable dry period each summer. Keywords: Seed production, Bromus willdenowii, Phalaris aquatica, Festuca arundinacea, Paspulum dilatatum, new grass cultivars.

Author(s):  
Andrew W. Macfarlane

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


Author(s):  
J. Monk ◽  
E. Gerard ◽  
S. Young ◽  
K. Widdup ◽  
M. O'Callaghan

Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) is a useful alternative to ryegrass in New Zealand pasture but it is slow to establish. Naturally occurring beneficial bacteria in the rhizosphere can improve plant growth and health through a variety of direct and indirect mechanisms. Keywords: rhizosphere, endorhiza, auxin, siderophore, P-solubilisation


Author(s):  
B.R. Watkin

AN Aberystwyth selection of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), known as S170, was sown with certified New Zealand white clover (Trifolium repens) and re' clover (T. pratense) and compared under sheep grazing with other grass/clover pastures at the Grasslands Division Regional Station at Lincoln (Watkin, 1975) .


2011 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 157-162
Author(s):  
G.D. Milne

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


1999 ◽  
Vol 79 (4) ◽  
pp. 535-541 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. A. Fairey ◽  
L. P. Lefkovitch

A field study was conducted with tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreber) to determine the effect of the initial population density and spatial arrangement of plants on crop development and seed yield. Individual seedling plants were transplanted at seven densities (1.6, 3.1, 6.3, 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 plants m−2) and three row spacings (20, 40, and 80 cm), and characteristics of seed production were determined for 3 yr (1991–1993). Over the 3 yr, heading commenced at dates differing by 15 d and was delayed, as density increased, by 8, 6, and 2 d, respectively, in the first, second, and third production years. The time of seed maturity differed among years (21 July to 4 August) but was generally unaffected by density or row spacing. In the first production year, seed yield increased with density up to 25 plants m−2 for each row spacing, then remained constant to at least 50 plants m−2 with both 20- or 40-cm rows; it decreased slightly at 100 plants m−2 with 20 cm rows. In the second production year, seed yield was relatively independent of plant density except that it decreased when the initial density was less than 6 plants m−2 with a row spacing of 80 cm, and tended to be greatest with the 40-cm row spacing at 6–25 plants m−2. In the third production year, seed yield was much lower than in the previous 2 yr but the pattern of response to the density and row spacing treatments was similar to that in the second production year. The seed yield of tall fescue can be optimized for at least 3 consecutive years by establishing an initial density of 20–100 plants m−2 in rows spaced 20–60 cm apart. If the maximization of first-year seed yield is a priority, then the initial establishment should be at a density of 25–50 plants m−2 in rows spaced 20–40 cm apart. Key words: Tall fescue, Festuca arundinacea Schreber, population density, plant spacing, seed production


2000 ◽  
Vol 40 (8) ◽  
pp. 1059 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. J. Fulkerson ◽  
J. F. M. Fennell ◽  
K. Slack

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.


2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 189-194
Author(s):  
Sang-Hoon Lee ◽  
Gi Jun Choi ◽  
Ki-Yong Kim ◽  
Hee Chung Ji ◽  
Tae Young Hwang ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
D.A. Mccallum ◽  
N.A. Thomson

The effect of a molluscicide or an insecticide on the establishment, by direct drilling of 'Grasslands Roa' tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) 'Ellett' perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L), and 'Grasslands Maru' phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.) was measured in spring and autumn establishment over 2 years. In autumn after a wet summer the application of a molluscicide significantly increased seedling numbers and establishment yield for ryegrass and tall fescue. A molluscicide applied in autumn after a dry summer or in spring had no effect . Application of insecticide significantly improved the establishment of ryegrass and tall fescue in only one of the two springs and had no effect in autumn. Phalaris was the least responsive of the pasture species to either an insecticide or molluscicide. These differences observed at establishment resulting from the applications of a pesticide were not apparent in an assessment made 1 year later. For tall fescue the results recorded on seedling numbers and yield of sown species at establishment and 1 year would suggest that for this species establishment by direct drilling is not recommended. Keywords pasture establishment, 'Grasslands Roa' tall fescue, 'Ellett' ryegrass, 'Grasslands Maru' phalaris, direct drilling, molluscicide, insecticide


Author(s):  
D.R. Stevens ◽  
G.S. Baxter ◽  
M.J. Casey ◽  
K.B. Miller ◽  
R.J. Lucas

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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