INFLUENCE OF HARVEST SYSTEMS AND NITROGEN RATES ON YIELDS, QUALITY AND PERSISTENCE OF CHAMP TIMOTHY IN THE SEEDING AND POSTSEEDING YEARS

1976 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 715-723 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. T. KUNELIUS ◽  
M. SUZUKI ◽  
K. A. WINTER

The interaction effects of harvest systems and rates of N on yield, quality and persistence of Champ timothy (Phleum pratense L.) were studied in a 4-yr field experiment. In the seeding year, total dry matter (DM) yields were highest (4.41 tons/ha) for the harvest taken 12 wk after seeding. Total DM yields increased with increasing N application up to 148 kg N/ha/yr. During the 3 postseeding yr, timothy was harvested four (system A), three (B) or two (C) times per season. Nitrogen was applied at five rates from 33 to 165 kg/ha; three times for systems A and B and twice per season for system C. Total DM yields showed increases for the full range of N application for systems A and B, but up to 132 kg/ha/application for system C. The tissue N concentrations were increased by increasing rates of fertilizer N while the in vitro digestibility of DM (IVDDM) was not generally changed. Forage with high IVDDM of 68.0 to 72.0% was produced under systems A and B whereas under C, IVDDM ranged from 55.9 to 65.1% during the season. The NO3-N concentrations of tissue frequently exceeded 0.15% levels at N rates above 132 kg/ha/application. High rates of N tended to thin the stand, but weeds were most prevalent where the lowest N rate was used.

1986 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 323-328 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. R. McELROY ◽  
B. R. CHRISTIE

The in vitro digestibility (IVD) of timothy (Phleum pratense L.) declines with advance in maturity. Forage quality reductions resulting from late harvesting could be minimized by developing cultivars with reduced IVD decline during maturation. This study examines variation for IVD decline among timothy genotypes. Clones originating from a single population were grown in simulated swards (100 plants m−2) at two Ontario locations in 1980 and 1981. Harvests were made every 5–6 d from early heading to late anthesis. Relative IVD declines were determined by regressing genotype performance on the population mean over several harvests. Considerable variation was found for relative IVD decline, but this parameter was not associated with IVD at early heading. Genotypes were identified which showed high IVD at heading and a 20% reduction in digestibility decline from heading to late anthesis. Changes in IVD were not associated with changes in the leaf content of forage. It is concluded that selection for reduced IVD decline, in addition to high digestibility at heading, might result in a 2–3% unit increase at anthesis.Key words: Timothy, Phleum pratense L., in vitro digestibility, IVD, IVD decline


1989 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 501-512 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. BÉLANGER ◽  
J. E. RICHARDS ◽  
R. B. WALTON

The effects of over 25 yr of levels of applied N, P and K on forage DM yield, crude protein content, in vitro digestibility (IVD), botanical composition and persistence of a timothy (Phleum pratense L.) sward were assessed in a long-term field experiment on an acidic Riverbank L. Ammonium nitrate (0, 90, 180, 270 kg N ha−1), superphosphate (0, 15, 29, 44 kg P ha−1) and muriate of potash (0, 47, 94, 141 kg K ha−1) were applied annually in all possible combinations to a timothy sward since 1960. In the first 3 yr of the experiment, only N and K were required for maximum yield and persistence of timothy. The requirement for applied P, however, increased with time; in the last 3 yr (1985–1987) of the trial, the highest level of applied P resulted in profitable forage DM yield increases. After 25 yr, the productivity of the timothy sward was dependent upon a balanced application of all three macronutrients; absence of any one nutrient resulted in little or no response to applications of the other nutrients. The long-term persistence of timothy was solely dependent on K fertilization. The proportion of bentgrass and bluegrass species declined with increasing levels of applied K while that of timothy increased. The change in botanical composition due to applied N and K significantly affected IVD and crude protein content.Key words: N, P, K, fertilization, yield, persistence, timothy


1986 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 315-321 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. R. McELROY ◽  
B. R. CHRISTIE

Improved in vitro digestibility (IVD) is an important goal in timothy (Phleum pratense L.) breeding. This study examines the effect of genotype × environment (GE) interactions on individual genotypes and examines two methods for identifying superior parental genotypes. Fifteen genotypes of similar maturity were grown in simulated swards (100 plants m−2) at five locations. IVD was determined at early heading. Highly significant effects were found for genotype, year, location and all their interactions. A regression stability analysis indicated that most genotypes responded in a predictable manner to environment. Genotypes which performed relatively well in all environments were identified. However, some useful genetic material, being "unstable", would be discarded using this approach. Genotypes with consistently high IVD were identified using a technique developed for grouping corn (Zea mays L.) hybrids. This approach is considered the more efficient for identifying superior parental genotypes. Although genotype (IVD should be based on performance in several environments, it is suggested that selection for IVD stability is important in developing narrow-based but not wide-based synthetics.Key words: Timothy, Phleum pratense L., genotype × environment interaction, in vitro digestibility, IVD


1986 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 307-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. R. McELROY ◽  
B. R. CHRISTIE

Fifteen timothy (Phleum pratense L.) genotypes of similar maturity were grown in simulated sward (100 plants m−2), spaced-plant (1 plants m−2) and growth room nurseries for 2 yr or harvests. The whole plant in vitro digestibility (IVD) was determined at early heading. IVD values were strongly influenced by growing conditions and highly significant [Formula: see text] year × genotype and harvest × genotype interactions were found. The precision of IVD determination was similar in all nurseries. Correlation between genotype means of simulated sward and other nurseries, although significant [Formula: see text] is some cases, was too low to be of predictive value. Some genotypes tended to rank relatively high in all nurseries, but the relative performance of most genotypes was inconsistent. It is concluded that the choice of nursery techniques used to predict the sward performance of timothy genotypes is more critical than is generally assumed.Key words: Timothy, Phleum pratense L., in vitro digestibility, IVD, nursery competition


1965 ◽  
Vol 43 (9) ◽  
pp. 1043-1054 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. I. Toohey ◽  
C. D. Nelson ◽  
G. Krotkov

A description is given of a rare soil disease, called "barren ring", which occurs in some old, deserted pastures. It is an expanding ring-shaped area of diameter up to 17 meters in which the vegetation is killed. Regeneration of normal vegetation occurs in the center of the ring. A number of microorganisms were isolated from the barren soil and tested for phytotoxicity in vitro. Of 24 pure strains of bacteria and fungi isolated, only one bacterium showed phytotoxicity to the test organism, Phleum pratense L. It was identified as a strain of Pseudomonas aureofaciens Kluyver. Bioautography of extracts of the bacterial culture showed that there are two compounds extractable in benzene which have both antibiotic and phytotoxic activity. However, it has not been established that this bacterium is the sole causal agent of the disease and it is suggested that it is caused by an association of microorganisms.


1999 ◽  
Vol 79 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Bélanger ◽  
R. E. McQueen

Nitrogen fertilization is known to have a limited effect on the digestibility of grasses. In a previous paper, however, we reported that N deficiency increased the proportion of leaves in the shoot biomass, and hence, indirectly increased the digestibility of timothy (Phleum pratense L). This was mitigated by the direct negative effect of N deficiency on the digestibility of leaves or stems or both early in the regrowth. The objective of this study was to determine the direct effect of N deficiency on three parameters of nutritive value of leaves and stems of timothy cv. Champ. The evolution of leaf and stem in vitro true digestibility (IVTD), in vitro cell wall digestibility (IVCWD), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) concentration of field-grown timothy fertilized with four rates of N was studied during a spring and summer regrowth cycle by sampling at weekly intervals. The rate of decline in leaf nutritive value in spring was greater than that in summer, and was less than the rate of decline in stem nutritive value during spring. Nitrogen deficiency consistently increased the NDF concentration of leaves but had a lesser effect on the NDF concentration of stems. Nitrogen deficiency decreased leaf IVCWD when the leaf-to-weight ratio (LWR) was high early in the spring and summer regrowth cycles. At the end of regrowth when LWR values were low, leaf IVCWD was greatest when no N was applied. As a result, the negative effect of N deficiency on the leaf IVTD during the early part of the spring and summer regrowth cycles diminished as the regrowth cycles progressed. Nitrogen deficiency had a limited effect on stem IVCWD. We concluded that the direct negative effect of N deficiency on the digestibility of the timothy shoot biomass can be attributed primarily to its effect on the NDF concentration and cell wall digestibility of leaves. Key words: Phleum pratense L., grasses, digestibility, cell wall, nitrogen


1974 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. W. SHEARD

Nitrogen, supplied as NH4NO3 to timothy (Phleum pratense L.) and bromegrass (Bromus inermis L.) or as N derived from alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) growing in association with timothy, enhanced the utilization of surface applications of pelleted, 32P-labelled calcium phosphate. The proportion of the P in timothy derived from a single application of 60 kg P/ha increased from a range of 16% to 21% without N to a range of 38% to 43% with an application of 60 kg N/ha before spring growth and repeated after the first and second harvests. At the first two harvests, growing timothy in association with alfalfa further increased the proportion. The increase was greater at the second harvest and at the lower rates of N, amounting to an increase of one-third at applications of 15 and 30 kg N/ha. The proportion of P in the first harvest of bromegrass which was derived from a surface application was increased 17% to 26% as the rate of P was increased from 40 to 120 kg P/ha; however, N fertilizer as NH4NO3 increased fertilizer P utilization from 17% to 32% as the rate of N was increased from zero to 120 kg N/ha at the 40 kg P/ha rate, and from 26% to 57% with increasing N at the 120 kg P/ha rate. Similar data were obtained when the rates of N application were repeated for the second and third harvests. A relationship, developed between the N concentration in the grass species and the percent utilization of fertilizer P, would suggest that enhancement in utilization of P was, in part, the result of an increase in the assimilated N in the plant. The experiments illustrate that it is imperative to provide adequate N for efficient utilization of surface-applied P by perennial forage grasses.


2004 ◽  
Vol 84 (4) ◽  
pp. 1101-1104 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Bélanger ◽  
A. Brégard ◽  
R. Michaud ◽  
G. F. Tremblay

Populations and half-sib families of timothy (Phleum pratense L.), contrasting in forage N concentration, were studied in two experiments conducted in growth rooms with varying N applications. They differed in leaf and stem in vitro true digestibility (IVTD) of DM and in vitro cell wall digestibility (IVCWD), and in stem neutral detergent fiber (NDF) concentration; this confirms the presence of genetic variability for leaf and stem nutritive value in timothy under both limiting and non-limiting N conditions. Key words: Digestibility, grasses, Phleum pratense, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber


2000 ◽  
Vol 80 (2) ◽  
pp. 309-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. T. Kunelius ◽  
K. B. McRae ◽  
S. A. E. Fillmore ◽  
G. Dürr

Late-maturing cultivars of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) and timothy (Phleum pratense L.) may be grown in short-term rotations with other crops and harvested for hay and silage. Harvesting forage in mid-summer is often advantageous for field curing, but the quality of mature forage may be low. We studied how harvests at different developmental stages affected yield, composition of herbage, and species persistence. The late-maturing single-cut red clover cultivar Altaswede and late timothy cultivar Farol were grown alone and in combination with and without applied N. Total forage, and red clover and timothy dry matter yields, increased between the first (27 June) and third (11 July) dates of harvest. Timothy grown alone or combined with red clover and fertilized with N produced greater forage yields than red clover alone or red clover + timothy without applied N. The in vitro digestibility of dry matter declined from 670 to 625 g kg−1 and crude protein from 134 to 109 g kg−1 between 27 June and 11 July. Water soluble carbohydrates in forage were low (36–66 g kg−1) in cuts 1 and 2. Macronutrient and micronutrient concentrations were generally highest at the first date of harvest on 27 June. Nutrient concentrations in cut 2 were similar for the three harvest schedules. We conclude that growing late-maturing single-cut red clover combined with late timothy produced high yields with good nutritional quality even at advanced stages of maturity. Single-cut red clover persisted for the first production year making this combination suited for short-term rotations that involve late harvesting of the primary growth. Key words: Red clover, Trifolium pratense, timothy, Phleum pratense, composition


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