Long-term effects of multiple applications of nitrogen fertiliser on grazed dryland perennial ryegrass/white clover dairy pastures in south-west Victoria. 2. Growth rates, dry matter consumed, and nitrogen response efficiencies

2003 ◽  
Vol 54 (5) ◽  
pp. 471 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. R. McKenzie ◽  
J. L. Jacobs ◽  
G. Kearney
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Nitrogen Response ◽  
South West ◽  
Autumn And Winter

A 3-year grazing experiment undertaken on a commercial dairy farm in south-west Victoria ascertained the effects of multiple applications of different rates of nitrogen (N) fertiliser over autumn and winter on pasture growth rates, dry matter (DM) consumed, and N fertiliser response efficiencies. Four treatments, replicated 3 times in a randomised block design, comprised: zero N (A); 3 applications of 25 kg N/ha (B); 3 applications of 50 kg N/ha (C); and 3 applications of 75 kg N/ha (D), with N applied as urea (46% N).Treatments B, C, and D increased pasture growth rates relative to Treatment A, with Treatments C and D having the greatest affect. Treatments B, C, and D also increased pasture DM yield, with Treatment D having the greatest effect. Total pasture DM consumed in 1997 was 7.1, 7.9, 8.2, and 8.9 t DM/ha for A, B, C, and D, respectively. For 1998, the values were 5.4, 6.5, 7.2, and 8.7; and in 1999 5.7, 6.6, 6.9, and 7.7 t DM/ha. During 1997, N response efficiencies were 11, 7, and 8 kg DM/kg N for treatments B, C, and D, respectively. Based on a cost of AU$400/t urea (including freight, handling, and spreading), Treatment B was the most economical, costing 8 cents/kg additional pasture DM produced. Nitrogen application resulted in response efficiencies of 14, 12, and 15 kg DM/kgN in 1998 and 13, 8, and 9 kg DM/kg N in 1999 for Treatments B, C, and D, respectively. In 1998 the most economical application was Treatment D, costing 6 cents/kg additional pasture DM produced, whilst in 1999 Treatment B was most economical costing 7 cents/kg DM for additional pasture. The apparent recovery of applied N fertiliser by the pasture was calculated and found to fall within the range reported in the literature. Apparent recoveries estimated during 1997, 1998, and 1999, respectively, were Treatment B: 62, 78, and 70%; Treatment C: 50, 69, and 45%; and for Treatment D: 45, 82, and 51%.It is concluded that, for the range of N fertiliser rates tested, N fertiliser is a cost-effective option for the production of extra pasture DM during autumn and winter on grazed perennial ryegrass dairy pastures in south-west Victoria.

scholarly journals Residual effects of superficial liming on tropical soil under no-tillage system

2016 ◽  
Vol 51 (9) ◽  
pp. 1633-1642 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudio Hideo Martins da Costa ◽  
Carlos Alexandre Costa Crusciol ◽  
Jayme Ferrari Neto ◽  
Gustavo Spadotti Amaral Castro
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Residual Effects ◽  
Available Phosphorus ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Matter Production ◽  
Randomized Complete Block Design ◽  
Tillage System

Abstract The objective of this work was to evaluate the long-term effects of the surface application of lime on soil fertility and on the mineral nutrition and grain yield of soybean, and of black oat and sorghum in crop succession. The experiment was carried out on a clayey Oxisol, in a randomized complete block design, with four replicates. Treatments consisted of lime the rates of 0, 1,000, 2,000, and 4,000 kg ha-1, applied in October 2002 and November 2004. Soil samples were collected at five soil layers, down to 0.60-m depth. Surface liming was effective in reducing soil acidity and increasing Ca2+ and Mg2+ contents in the subsurface. Moreover, it increased available phosphorus contents and soil organic matter in the long term (48 to 60 months after the last lime application). Surface liming improved plant nutrition, mainly for N, Ca, and Mg, and increased dry matter production and grain yield of the crops, even in years with regular distribution of rainfall. The greatest productivities of soybean, black oat, and sorghum were obtained with the respective estimated lime doses of 4,000, 2,333, and 3,281 kg ha-1, for shoot dry matter, and of 2,550, 3,555, and over 4,000 kg ha-1, for grain yield.

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.

Tactical versus continuous stocking in perennial ryegrass-subterranean clover pastures grazed by sheep in south-western Victoria. 1. Stocking rates and herbage production

2001 ◽  
Vol 41 (8) ◽  
pp. 1099 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Waller ◽  
P. W. G. Sale ◽  
G. R. Saul ◽  
G. A. Kearney
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Soil Fertility Status ◽  
Western Victoria ◽  
Terminal Sire ◽  
Autumn And Winter ◽  
Stocking Rates

A 4-year field experiment was carried out in south-western Victoria to determine whether tactical stocking might improve perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) persistence and prime lamb production, compared with the more common practice of year-around continuous stocking. Tactical stocking consisted of variable length summer, autumn and winter rotations and continuous stocking in spring. The 2 grazing strategies were compared on 2 contrasting pastures: an upgraded pasture, sown with newer cultivars of perennial ryegrass and subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) with 26 kg phosphorus/ha.year, and a more typical naturalised perennial ryegrass pasture receiving 6 kg phosphorus/ha.year. Paddocks were grazed by Border Leicester x Merino ewes, which were mated to a terminal sire to lamb in September. The effects of the grazing systems and pasture treatments on herbage production and stocking rate are presented in this paper. Herbage production was similar between the treatments, but tactical stocking significantly increased herbage mass during the growing season (P<0.05) compared with continuous stocking. In spring each year, the herbage mass generally exceeded 3000 kg dry matter/ha in tactically stocked paddocks and averaged 500–900 kg dry matter/ha higher than the mass on continuously stocked paddocks. This enabled the year-round stocking rate to be increased by an average of 9% over the 4 years of the experiment. We considered that the stocking rates could not be further increased, despite the higher herbage mass in spring, as stock reduced the dry herbage to a low residual mass by the opening rains in autumn. In contrast, stocking rates averaged 51% higher on the upgraded pasture compared with the typical pasture over the 4 years of the experiment. This indicates that pasture improvement and soil fertility status have a much greater impact on productivity than changes to grazing method. However, tactical stocking was able to increase the sustainability of prime lamb production on upgraded pastures in a dry summer climate, by maintaining herbage cover on the paddocks over the summer–autumn period.

Pasture and the theory of diversification

2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (7) ◽  
pp. 1210 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. D. Lewis ◽  
C. K. M. Ho ◽  
B. R. Cullen ◽  
B. Malcolm
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Biophysical Model ◽  
Seasonal Growth ◽  
Average Growth ◽  
High Rainfall

Diversifying farm activities can reduce the business risk of agricultural production. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of diversifying the types of dairy pastures sown on (1) the average seasonal growth rate (kg DM/ha/day) of pasture and (2) the variability of seasonal growth rate of pasture over time by diversifying the types of pastures grown on a dairy farm. This approach is similar to the approach used to assess the diversification of annual cropping activities, although repeated harvest of pasture by grazing animals and the seasonality of pasture DM production complicates the question. The question investigated was ‘How does substituting chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) or tall fescue (Festuca arundinaceae Schreb.) monocultures for a perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)–white clover (Trifolium repens L.) pasture in increasing proportions affect (1) the average growth rate (kg DM/ha.day) of pasture and (2) the variability of growth rate of pasture in each season?’. The biophysical model DairyMod was used to simulate 30 years growth of a mixed sward of perennial ryegrass and white clover and monocultures of chicory and tall fescue for two rain-fed locations in the high-rainfall zone of southern Australia. Including chicory in the pasture base had the potential to increase pasture growth rate during the summer–early autumn period compared with growing perennial ryegrass–white clover alone. This increase in pasture growth rate increased variability, and reduced growth rates in late autumn–winter and spring. The simulated growth rates of tall fescue and perennial ryegrass were strongly correlated in all seasons; hence, tall fescue did not reduce the variability of total DM. Further analysis would include price correlations and variability and consider the whole-farm implications. The analysis presented here for the high-rainfall zone showed that introducing alternative forages may have benefits in terms of increasing pasture growth rates at critical times of the production year, but the variability of the growth rate was not reduced.

scholarly journals The Value for Agricultural Use of Grass Seed Mixtures of Species and Varieties in Comparison with Single Varieties

1970 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex DE VLIEGHER ◽  
Lucien CARLIER
Keyword(s):  
Disease Resistance ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Phleum Pratense ◽  
Agricultural Use ◽  
Trifolium Repens L ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Phleum Pratense L

22 commercial mixtures were compared in a mowing trial (complete block design, 2 replicates) in 4 locations during 3 consecutive years. These mixtures contained mainly diploid and tetraploid varieties of Lolium perenne L.. Festuca pratensis Huds., Phleum pratense L. and Trifolium repens L. were also included at various times. 250 - 400 kg N.ha-1.year-1 was used. Dry matter yield (DM-yield), disease resistance and persistence were evaluated. Similar results were obtained for all three performance parameters (DM-yield, crown rust resistance and persistence) of the mixtures as compared with the individual components. There was almost no relationship between the percentage of diploid perennial ryegrass in the mixture and its persistence (R2 = 0.18). Similar results were obtained for the relation between the percentage of tetraploid perennial ryegrass in the mixture, as well as for disease resistance of the mixture in late summer (R2 = 0.25).

scholarly journals THE PERFORMANCE OF GRASSLANDS KOPU WHITE CLOVER ON TWO DAIRY FARMS

1988 ◽  
pp. 97-100
Author(s):  
S.C. Moloney ◽  
R.J.M. Hay ◽  
J.A. Lancashire
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Matter Production ◽  
Prairie Grass ◽  
Autumn And Winter ◽  
Grazed Swards

The performance of Kopu white clover was compared with that ot Huia and Pitau under intensive dairy grazing management at Taupo and the Manawatu. Sampling included both dry matter production and detailed white clover stolon and leaf measurements. These trials have shown that there are significant advantages to be gained from the use of Kopu over both Huia and Pitau. in rotationally grazed cattle swards, particularly during autumn and winter. At the Taupe site where Kopu was sown with high endophyte perennial ryegrass, seasonal white clover yields from Kopu were 120% greater than from Huia in autumn and 160% in winter. At the Manawatu site with Matua prairie grass as the grass component, the advantage of Kopu over Pitau was 105% in autumn, increasing lo 150% by winter. These results are discussed in relation to the significance of Kopu to dairy farming in the central and southern North Wand region. Keywords: rotationally grazed swards. cool season activity, erect habit, dairy pasture, intensive dairying

Yields and tiller numbers of four perennial ryegrass varieties grown as monocultures and certain mixtures in micro plots

1969 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
pp. 321-328 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Thomson
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Total Production ◽  
Dry Matter Yield ◽  
Randomized Block Design ◽  
Competitive Relations ◽  
Total Data ◽  
Annual Total ◽  
The Stability

SummaryFour perennial ryegrass varieties, S.24, S.321, S.23 and Vertas Hardgrazing, were grown in micro plots containing 30 plants each at a spacing of 5 cm apart. Monocultures and four of the possible six binary mixtures between the varieties were grown in a randomized block design with four replicates. The data recorded comprised dry-matter yields and tiller numbers, and the components of the mixtures were harvested separately. The data were based on both whole plots, to give total production of mixtures and monocultures, and half plots, to give the contribution of mixture components to total mixture production. Four harvests were obtained during 1968, and the data from these were analysed separately and summed to provide the annual total data.Mixtures and monocultures did not differ significantly for annual total dry-matter yield or for dry-matter yield at the separate harvests. However, differences in drymatter yields between monocultures and between mixtures were detected at some harvests. Within mixtures, significant differences between some of the respective components were found at certain harvests, but these were not obtained for the annual total data.The stability of monocultures and mixtures was investigated by a regression technique and considered in the context of the environments used. This technique revealed that there was a specific mixture effect whereby the mixture (S.24 + S.23) differed significantly from all other treatments.Significant differences between monocultures for fertile and sterile tiller numbers were detected. Between mixtures there were differences for fertile tiller numbers, and within mixtures certain of the components differed for fertile, sterile and total tiller numbers.The relationship between dry-matter yield and tiller numbers was investigated by regression analyses over all treatments and for monocultures and mixtures separately. Significant differences between the slopes of the regression lines and zero and between the slopes of the regression lines themselves were obtained.Possible reasons for the differences recorded both between and within monocultures and mixtures are considered and related to the competitive relations existing in the trial.

scholarly journals Dry matter yield, forage quality and persistence of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) cultivars compared with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) in a subtropical environment

2003 ◽  
Vol 43 (9) ◽  
pp. 1093 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. N. Callow ◽  
K. F. Lowe ◽  
T. M. Bowdler ◽  
S. A. Lowe ◽  
N. R. Gobius
Keyword(s):  
Protein Content ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Forage Quality ◽  
Crude Protein Content ◽  
Autumn And Winter ◽  
Subtropical Environment

The dry matter (DM) yield, plant persistence and forage quality of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) were compared in the subtropical environment of southern Queensland, Australia. The field study was conducted under irrigation with pure, nitrogen fertilised stands of 10 commercial tall fescue cultivars (Advance, AU Triumph, Bombina, Cajun, Dovey, Maximise, Midwin, Torpedo, Quantum and Vulcan), 3 experimental cultivars (ITF 97010, ITF 97020 and PWF 29) and Dobson perennial ryegrass. From July 1997, plots were defoliated at 4-week intervals for 3 years. Changes in crude protein content and in vitro DM digestibility (IVDMD) were determined at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 weeks post-defoliation in October (spring) 1997, January (summer), March (autumn), June (winter) and September (spring) 1998.Some cultivars of irrigated tall fescue were shown to be better adapted to a subtropical environment than perennial ryegrass. After 3 years, cumulative DM yields were in excess of 30 t/ha for Dovey, Quantum, ITF 97010, AU Triumph and Cajun tall fescue compared with 12 t/ha from Dobson perennial ryegrass swards.Plant development had a considerable influence on crude protein content and IVDMD of tall fescue and perennial ryegrass, more so than the length of the regrowth period. As plant tissue matured, the forage quality during spring declined linearly for crude protein content and for IVDMD (1998 only), and declined exponentially for IVDMD during spring (1997), summer, autumn and winter (1998). Quality losses may be minimised if tall fescue cultivars are defoliated every 2–3 weeks during spring and summer and every 3–4 weeks during autumn and winter.

scholarly journals The effect of perennial ryegrass sowing date on endophyte presence and dry matter yield

2015 ◽  
Vol 77 ◽  
pp. 245-250
Author(s):  
J.R. Corkran ◽  
W.E.J. Henson ◽  
G.A. Kerr
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Seed Storage ◽  
Sowing Date ◽  
Neotyphodium Lolii ◽  
Endophyte Infection ◽  
Dry Conditions ◽  
Total Profit ◽  
Loam Soil

The effect of perennial ryegrass sowing date on dry matter (DM) yield and endophyte presence in the resultant pasture was investigated in 2014. 'Trojan' perennial ryegrass with NEA2 endophyte was sown on three separate occasions (20 February, 20 March and 27 April 2014) into a Kaipaki peat loam soil in a replicated plot trial on a dairy farm near Cambridge, Waikato. The first two sowings were in dry conditions and neither showed any sign of germination until after 45 mm of rainfall on 4 April (43 days and 15 days after sowing, respectively). Endophyte infection in established plots was measured on 17 December 2014. Yield was also measured from sowing until no difference was seen between treatments, in October 2014. Percentage endophyte infection was not affected by sowing date. Establishment was significantly faster in the February and March sowings, prior to rain, and these produced ca. 2 t DM/ha more than the April sowing giving an estimated total profit advantage of $646/ha. Keywords: endophyte, Epichloë festucae var. lolii (formerly Neotyphodium lolii), perennial ryegrass, Lolium, seed storage, sowing date, NEA2

scholarly journals Milksolids production and farm profitability from different combinations of perennial ryegrass and white clover cultivars: Progress report 2001-2003

2003 ◽  
pp. 91-98
Author(s):  
S.L. Woodward ◽  
J.R. Crush ◽  
K.A. Macdonald ◽  
J. P.J. Eerens
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Farm Productivity ◽  
Major Benefit ◽  
Breeding Programmes ◽  
Clover Content ◽  
Small Advantage ◽  
Friesian Cows

2001/2002 and 2002/2003 were the final two seasons of a replicated dairy farm systems trial designed to evaluate the effects of progress in perennial ryegrass and white clover breeding programmes on whole farm productivity and profitability (Economic Farm Surplus, EFS). All the pastures were sown in late autumn 1998. There were four treatments with all combinations of 1980's (80R), and late 1990's (98R) ryegrasses, and 1960's (60C) and late 1990's (98C) white c lover s, each replicated two times in a randomised block design giving eight 4 ha, self-contained farmlets stocked with three Friesian cows/ha and rotationally grazed. In agreement with the first two years of the trial, the last two seasons have demonstrated no major benefit in terms of either milksolids (MS) production or EFS to sowing different combinations of perennial ryegrass and only a small advantage in one season (2001/2002) to sowing new (98C) white clover cultivars. There were no effects of ryegrass or clover cultivar type on total dry matter (DM) production during the last two seasons but, as observed during the first two seasons of the trial, there were differences in the distribution of pasture growth through the year with old ryegrass (80R) treatments having more pasture growth during spring. During 2001/2002 and 2002/2003 the clover content of the swards was determined more strongly by clover type than by the type of companion ryegrass, in contrast to events during the first two seasons of the trial. Thus clover type, rather than a ryegrass x clover interaction, had a small effect on MS production and EFS during 2001/2002, but not 2002/2003, due to significantly higher clover content in both the new clover (98C) treatments than the old clover (60C) treatments. Any differences between ryegrass or white clover cultivars in terms of lower DM production at certain times of the year, and consequent small differences in total DM production and pasture quality caused only minor differences in EFS between treatments because effective farm management decisions compensated for these effects. Keywords: cultivars, dairying, economic farm surplus, milksolids, perennial ryegrass, white clover

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