Assessing eight grass species for pasture by measuring etiolated spring regrowth

2003 ◽  
Vol 83 (3) ◽  
pp. 551-554 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. A. Lardner ◽  
S. B. M. Wright ◽  
R. D. H. Cohen
Keyword(s):  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Phleum Pratense ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Reed Canarygrass ◽  
Smooth Bromegrass ◽  
Carbohydrate Reserves ◽  
Intermediate Wheatgrass ◽  
Elymus Trachycaulus ◽  
Meadow Bromegrass ◽  
Slender Wheatgrass

Grazing by herbivores can affect root carbohydrate reserves of grass species. A grazing study was conducted on an irrigated pasture near Outlook, Saskatchewan, Canada, during the summers of 1991 and 1992 t o determine etiolated regrowth after grazing of reed canarygrass ( Phalaris arundinacea L.), slender wheatgrass ( Elymus trachycaulus (Link) Gould ex Shinners subsp . trachycaulus), intermediate wheatgrass [ Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkw. & D.R. Dewey subsp . intermedium], orchardgrass ( Dactylis glomerata L.), meadow bromegrass ( Bromus biebersteinii Roem. & Schult.), smooth bromegrass ( Bromus inermis Leyss.), tall fescue [ Festuca arundinacea (Schreb.) Wimm.] and timothy ( Phleum pratense L.) in order to eva luate the suitability of these species for grazing. All eight species were mob-grazed by sheep at a stocking rate of 30 animals ha-1. Carbohydrate reserves were estimated by determination of etiolated regrowth. Meadow bromegrass produced the greatest etiol ated regrowth and timothy the least. Based on production of etiolated regrowth the grasses were ranked into three groups - meadow bromegrass and intermediate wheatgrass ranked highest, smooth bromegrass, reed canarygrass, slender wheatgrass and orchardgra ss ranked intermediate and timothy and tall fescue ranked lowest. Key words:

Leaf development of eight grass species following grazing

2002 ◽  
Vol 82 (4) ◽  
pp. 747-750 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. A. Lardner ◽  
S. B. M. Wright ◽  
R. D. H. Cohen
Keyword(s):  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Leaf Development ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Reed Canarygrass ◽  
Smooth Bromegrass ◽  
Intermediate Wheatgrass ◽  
Elymus Trachycaulus ◽  
Number Of Leaves ◽  
Meadow Bromegrass ◽  
Slender Wheatgrass

Grazing by herbivores affects grass species both morphologically and physiologically. A study was conducted on an irrigated pasture near Outlook, Saskatchewan, Canada during the summer of 1991 to determine leaf regrowth after grazing of reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.), slender wheatgrass [Elymus trachycaulus (Link) Gould ex Shinners subsp. trachycaulus], intermediate wheatgrass [Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkw. & D.R. Dewey subsp. intermedium], orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), meadow bromegrass (Bromus beibersteinii Roem. & Schult.), smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.), tall fescue [Festuca arundinacea (Schreb.) Wimm.] and timothy (Phleum pratense L.) in order to evaluate the suitability of these species for grazing. All eight species were mob-grazed by sheep at a stocking density of 30 animals ha-1. Physiological stage of leaf development was determined at 7, 14 and 21 d following defoliation. Smooth bromegrass and timothy consistently produced the greatest number of leaves for all regrowth periods. Tall fescue produced the least number of leaves at all time periods. Fifty-five percent of slender wheatgrass tillers and 19% of intermediate wheatgrass tillers were reproductive 21 d after defoliation. Based on leaf regrowth after grazing measured by leaf appearance, the grasses were ranked into three groupings – meadow bromegrass, smooth bromegrass and reed canarygrass ranked highest; intermediate wheatgrass, slender wheatgrass and orchardgrass ranked intermediate; and timothy and tall fescue ranked lowest. Key words: Leaf, regrowth, grass, grazing

PRODUCTIVITY OF GRASS SPECIES IN THE DARK BROWN SOIL ZONE OF SASKATCHEWAN

1987 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
pp. 719-725 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. P. KNOWLES
Keyword(s):  
Grass Species ◽  
In Vitro Digestibility ◽  
Smooth Bromegrass ◽  
Crested Wheatgrass ◽  
Intermediate Wheatgrass ◽  
Soil Zone ◽  
Western Wheatgrass ◽  
Meadow Bromegrass ◽  
Slender Wheatgrass

Six Eurasian temperate zone grasses, one mixture of these, and three North American wheatgrasses were compared in mainly nonfertilized tests from 1974 to 1983 in Saskatchewan, Canada. Introduced grasses outyielded natives at Saskatoon when cut once per season as hay with the following declining yield order (kg/ha): intermediate wheatgrass (3819), standard crested wheatgrass (2906), smooth bromegrass (2841), Russian wild ryegrass (2311), Fairway crested wheatgrass (2218), meadow bromegrass (2082), slender wheatgrass (2011), western wheatgrass (1919), and northern wheatgrass (1683). Much the same order of yield was observed when these grasses were clipped two to three times per season, although meadow bromegrass and western wheatgrass performed relatively better. At the Scott site, standard crested wheatgrass and northern wheatgrass performed relatively better than at Saskatoon. Slightly lower in vitro digestibility ratings were shown for natives than for introduced species and this appeared to be due to the more rapid senescence of natives. Stands at Saskatoon were maintained for 10 yr for all species except slender wheatgrass which lasted 5 yr. Weed control was best for meadow bromegrass and smooth bromegrass and poorest for slender wheatgrass, northern wheatgrass, and Fairway crested wheatgrass. Fertilizer applied to older stands showed a greater response for introduced grasses than for natives.Key words: Grass species, productivity, hay, pasture, longevity

Performance of short-lived perennial grasses grown with and without alfalfa at a semiarid location in southern Saskatchewan

2007 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. G. Jefferson ◽  
R. P. Zentner ◽  
F. Selles ◽  
R. Lemke
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Forage Yield ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Semiarid Region ◽  
Canadian Prairies ◽  
Intermediate Wheatgrass ◽  
Elymus Trachycaulus ◽  
Short Rotation ◽  
Slender Wheatgrass

Tyically, crop rotations in the semiarid region of the Canadian prairies do not include perennial forages because forage termination produces negative effects on subsequent annual crops. Three short-lived perennial grass species, Dahurian wildrye grass (Elymus dahuricus Turcz. Ex Griseb), intermediate wheatgrass [Elytrigia intermedia (Host) Nevski] and slender wheatgrass (Elymus trachycaulus (Link) Gould ex Shinners), were compared for their forage productivity and persistence as short duration (3 yr) forage stands, either in a mixture with alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) or in monoculture, in three trials at Swift Current, Saskatchewan. Intermediate wheatgrass produced 29 and 22% more forage and was more persistent than Dahurian wildrye or slender wheatgrass, respectively. In alfalfa mixtures, however, the grasses produced similar forage yield in two of three trials. Intermediate wheatgrass was more persistent in mixtures but yield compensation by alfalfa grown with Dahurian wildrye and slender wheatgrass produced similar total forage yield as these grass stands thinned during the third year of each trial. Intermediate wheatgrass and alfalfa mixtures could be utilized for short rotation forage stands in high-input crop sequences where stand termination is achieved with herbicides. Dahurian wildrye and alfalfa mixture has the best potential for short-rotation forages in organic crop systems of this region because it would require less tillage to terminate the stand. Key words: Crop rotation, forage yield

scholarly journals Yield and nutritive value of grazed complex legume–grass mixtures under increasing nitrogen application rates

2020 ◽  
Vol 100 (4) ◽  
pp. 341-356
Author(s):  
Gilles Bélanger ◽  
Gaëtan F. Tremblay ◽  
Yousef A. Papadopoulos ◽  
John Duynisveld ◽  
Julie Lajeunesse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Poa Pratensis ◽  
Kentucky Bluegrass ◽  
Phleum Pratense ◽  
Legume Species ◽  
Meadow Fescue ◽  
Eastern Canada ◽  
Reed Canarygrass ◽  
Application Rates ◽  
Meadow Bromegrass

Complex pasture mixtures are advantageous, but little information exists on the best forage species and nitrogen (N) management in eastern Canada. We compared under mob stocking four complex mixtures of one of two legume species [alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.)] plus one of two grass mixes [No. 1 — timothy (Phleum pratense L.), meadow fescue (Schedonorus pratensis (Huds.) P. Beauv.), reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.), and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.); No. 2 — tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort., nom. cons.), meadow bromegrass (Bromus biebersteinii Roem. and Schult.), reed canarygrass, and Kentucky bluegrass] under three N application rates at three sites over the first three post-seeding years. Legume species had little effect on most forage attributes mainly because of their low contribution to forage dry matter (DM) yield (<30%) in second and third years. The grass mix with tall fescue and meadow bromegrass (No. 2) yielded similar or slightly better than the one with timothy and meadow fescue (No. 1) but tended to have a greater neutral detergent fibre concentration, and lower N and total digestible nutrient concentrations. Nitrogen fertilization increased forage DM yield only in second and third years when the legume contribution to forage DM yield was <30%, and it increased N concentration and decreased nonstructural carbohydrate concentration. These results highlight the challenge of maintaining legume species in rotationally grazed pastures of eastern Canada and confirm recommendations of applying no or little N fertilizer on grazed legume–grass mixtures when the legume contribution to forage DM yield is >30%.

Compositional changes over four years for binary mixtures of grass species grown with white clover

2005 ◽  
Vol 85 (2) ◽  
pp. 351-360 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. B. McKenzie ◽  
Y. A. Papadopoulos ◽  
K. B. McRae ◽  
E. Butt
Keyword(s):  
White Clover ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Kentucky Bluegrass ◽  
Repeated Measurements ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Growth Stages ◽  
Meadow Fescue ◽  
Reed Canarygrass

Kentucky bluegrass, meadow fescue, orchardgrass, tall fescue, timothy, and reed canarygrass were seeded in all possible two-grass combinations with white clover in conventional and underseeded barley treatments using a split-plot design at the Western Agriculture Centre near Pynn’s Brook, NL. The objectives were: (1) to assess dry matter yield (DMY) of two binary grass species when sown with white clover in mixtures under a system with cuttings at similar crop growth stages as rotational grazing and to assess the effect of underseeding to barley on this system; (2) to identify mixtures that enhance herbage distribution throughout the grazing season; and (3) to assess the sward dynamics over successive cropping seasons. The composition of the binary grass mixtures with white clover affected seasonal DMY, seasonal herbage distribution, and sward dynamics over the production years. Orchardgrass in mixtures decreased DMY, shifted the herbage distribution toward early season, and competed with other species. Timothy composition of the stand showed the largest decline over the 3 production years, whereas white clover declined in mixtures with bluegrass, orchardgrass, or tall fescue. Meadow fescue and reed canarygrass with white clover was the most productive mixture with excellent persistence and good yield distribution over the growing season. Orchardgrass was the least compatible species in the mixtures; it dominated first growth and contributed the least to biomass production in later years. Both bluegrass and reed canarygrass performed well in mixtures over the 3 production years; bluegrass appeared to enhance the performance of the other species during summer regrowth whereas reed canarygrass was superior in the later part of the growing season. Underseeding with barley did not affect white clover yield in any production year but detrimentally affected the yield of orchardgrass and meadow fescue in mixtures, and their seasonal distribution. Key words: Bluegrass, orchardgrass, meadow fescue, tall fescue, timothy, reed canarygrass, repeated measurements, principal component analysis, herbage DM distribution, species competition

Herbage characteristics of perennial ryegrass, cocksfoot, tall fescue and timothy pastures and their relationship with animal performance under upland conditions

1982 ◽  
Vol 99 (1) ◽  
pp. 153-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. Davies ◽  
T. E. H. Morgan
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Phleum Pratense ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
The Other ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Grass Species

SUMMARYHerbage characteristics of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) and timothy (Phleum pratense L.) pastures were obtained whilst rotationally grazed by ewes and their single lambs at a fixed stocking rate of 25/ha on an upland site (305 m O.D.) in mid-Wales. Drymatter production of cocksfoot averaged 32·1 kg/ha/day over the 3-year duration of the trial (1975·7) and was 13·3 kg/ha/day lower than that of the other three grass species. This resulted in a 8 kg/ha/day reduction in dry-matter intake on cocksfoot; this was significantly lower (P < 0·05) than that achieved on the other grasses, which were similar to one another around 36 kg/ha/day.In vitro digestibility of the herbage ranked in the order perennial ryegrass > timothy = cocksfoot > tall fescue. Intake of digestible organic matter (DOMI) was lower on cocksfoot than on perennial ryegrass and timothy. Differences were also detected in crude protein, water-soluble carbohydrates and sodium composition between species.Dry-matter intake was positively correlated with herbage growth rates (r = 0·95, P < 0·001) but not to digestibility of herbage on offer (r = 0·18). Both ewe and lamb live-weight gains were positively related to intake of dry matter and DOMI.Reference is made to comparative yield data between the grasses obtained under cutting trials. In the 2nd and 3rd harvest years (1967–1967) growth rates in the grazing experiment were 76, 61, 81 and 80% of the 66·2, 66·7, 67·8 and 65·0 kg D.M./ha/day obtained under a cutting regime on perennial ryegrass, cocksfoot, tall fescue and timothy swards respectively. This illustrates the danger involved in assessing the potential of grasses based on such information.The results are discussed in relation to the value of the species for use under grazing in the uplands.

EFFECTS OF N FERTILIZER ON TOTAL-N AND NO3-N CONTENT OF SIX GRASS SPECIES

1975 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 573-577 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. D. SMITH ◽  
L. E. LUTWICK
Keyword(s):  
Phleum Pratense ◽  
N Fertilizer ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
N Content ◽  
Total N ◽  
Crested Wheatgrass ◽  
Intermediate Wheatgrass ◽  
Stream Bank ◽  
Lethal Level ◽  
Four Levels

Total-N and NO3-N content of forage were determined for six grass species — timothy (Phleum pratense L.); crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn.); intermediate wheatgrass (Agropyron intermedium (Host) Beauv.); stream-bank wheatgrass (Agropyron riparium Scribn. and Smith); bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.); and Russian wild ryegrass (Elymus junceus Fisch.). The grasses were fertilized with ammonium nitrate in early spring and were sampled at four levels of applied N — 0, 185, 550, and 940 kg/ha — and at three stages of maturity — early heading, anthesis, and seed-set. Total-N and NO3-N increased in all grasses with increasing levels of N fertilizer; Russian wild ryegrass showed the greatest increase and timothy the least. As maturity advanced, total-N content decreased. Total-N contents were similar in crested wheatgrass, intermediate wheatgrass, and streambank wheatgrass. As maturity advanced, the NO3-N content of fertilized timothy, crested wheatgrass, and bromegrass decreased while that of Russian wild ryegrass increased. The NO3-N content of intermediate wheatgrass and of stream-bank wheatgrass was highest at anthesis. At 0 and 185 kg N/ha, the NO3-N content was well below the lethal level for ruminants, but at the two higher N fertilizer levels it often exceeded the lethal level. Timothy can be considered a low, Russian wild ryegrass a very high, and the other four grasses high, NO3-N accumulators.

The influence of harvest management and fertilizer application on seasonal yield, crude protein concentration and N offtake of grasses in northeast Saskatchewan

2004 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
pp. 205-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. H. McCartney ◽  
S. Bittman ◽  
W. F. Nuttall
Keyword(s):  
Protein Concentration ◽  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Application Rate ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Harvest Management ◽  
Pasture Management ◽  
Smooth Bromegrass ◽  
Crested Wheatgrass ◽  
Red Fescue ◽  
Meadow Bromegrass

The goal of pasture management is to match quantity and quality of herbage to the requirement of the grazing animal. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of harvest management and fertilizer application on annual and seasonal production, protein concentration and N-offtake by eight grass species adapted to the central Aspen Parkland. In this 3-yr splitsplit- plot experiment, grasses were either fertilized annually (50 and 13 kg ha-1 of N and P, respectively) or left unfertilized, and cut either twice annually (two-cut) in early July and late September, or three to four times annually (multi-cut), in early June, early July, early August and late September if there was sufficient herbage. The grasses used in this study were Altai wildrye [Leymus angustus (Trin.) Pilger], creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra L. var. rubra), meadow bromegrass [Bromus riparius (Rehmann)], Russian wildrye [Psathyrostachys juncea (Fisch.) Nevski], smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.), crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum L. Gaertn.), intermediate wheatgrass [Elytrigia intermedia (Host) Nevski] and green needlegrass [Nassella viridula (Trin.) Barkworth]. Fertilizer increased yield of the two-cut treatment 15% (P < 0.05) more than the multi-cut treatment. On average, the multi-cut treatment had 32% higher protein concentration than the two-cut treatment throughout the season. Fertilizer significantly increased protein concentration only in the first harvest of the multi-cut clipped plots, probably because the application rate was low. Nitrogen offtake of the multi-cut treatment averaged 24% higher than the two-cut treatment, even though the latter yielded more. Meadow bromegrass showed the most uniform seasonal distribution of yield among the high-yielding grasses under all management systems while smooth bromegrass and crested wheatgrass were generally the poorest. Crested wheatgrass had significantly more first cut production than all other grasses. Meadow bromegrass herbage also had the lowest protein concentrations throughout the growing season among the high producing grasses. Since the protein concentrations were generally higher than required by grazing beef cattle, the meadow bromegrass herbage was the most suitable for this class of cattle. Green needlegrass also showed potential for use in pastures. Key words: Pasture, hay, protein yield, Bromus, Elytrigia, Nassella, Agropyron, Festuca, Psathyrostachys, Leymus

COLD HARDINESS AND ICE TOLERANCE OF PASTURE GRASSES GROWN AND TESTED IN CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENTS

1986 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 601-608 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. E. GUDLEIFSSON ◽  
C. J. ANDREWS ◽  
H. BJORNSSON
Keyword(s):  
Cold Hardiness ◽  
Poa Pratensis ◽  
Kentucky Bluegrass ◽  
Phleum Pratense ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Meadow Fescue ◽  
Freezing Resistance ◽  
Reed Canarygrass ◽  
Red Fescue ◽  
Wide Range

A number of forage grass species were tested for cold hardiness and ice tolerance after growth and cold hardening under controlled conditions. Tests exposing cold-hardened plants to a single level of stress separated species into statistically similar groups but, in a number of cases, the stress was not sufficient to kill plants so the true cultivar rankings were obscured. Derivation of the 50% kill point from a wide range of levels of stress served to identify cold hardiness and ice tolerance levels of cultivars of 10 species. Ranked according to the most hardy cultivar of the species tested were: timothy (Phleum pratense L.), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), meadow foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis L.), red fescue (Festuca rubra L.), meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis L.), tufted hairgrass (Deschampsia caespitosa L.), creeping foxtail (Alopecurus arundinaceus L.), berings hairgrass (Deschampsia beringensis L.), orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinaceae). LT50 values varied from −15.7 °C for timothy to −4.7 °C for reed canarygrass. Cold hardiness and ice tolerance were only loosely associated (r = 0.36). The most ice-tolerant species were berings and tufted hairgrasses and timothy with LI50 values of 50, 39 and 44 d, respectively.Key words: Acclimation, encasement, freezing, resistance

Performance of ewes and lambs on perennial ryegrass, cocksfoot, tall fescue and timothy pastures under upland conditions

1982 ◽  
Vol 99 (1) ◽  
pp. 145-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. Davies ◽  
T. E. H. Morgan
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Weight Change ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Phleum Pratense ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Animal Performance ◽  
Upland Conditions

SUMMARYThe performance of Welsh Mountain ewes and their single Clun-cross lambs on swards of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) and timothy (Phleum pratense L.) was studied over 3 years (1975–1977) at a site 305 m O.D. in mid-Wales. Under a rotational grazing regime at a fixed stocking rate of 25 ewes and lambs/ha, mean daily lamb live-weight gain over the 84 days experimental period from early May to late July was 24 g higher on timothy than on perennial ryegrass and tall fescue and 35 g higher than on cocksfoot. Averaged for the 3 years the mean daily lamb live-weight gains were 194, 170, 170 and 159 g on timothy, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue and cocksfoot respectively. There were, however, marked interactions with years.Ewe live-weight change varied considerably between grasses and years with cocksfoot poorer than timothy and perennial ryegrass. Mean ewe live-weight change ranged from an overall loss of 39 g/day in 1975 to a gain of 34 g/day in 1977.Differences detected in animal performance between the four grass species altered during the 84 days of the experiment. Timothy and to a lesser extent tall fescue produced better animal performance early in the season whereas perennial ryegrass came into prominence during July.The results are discussed in relation to the present and potential use of the grass species under upland conditions.

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