The effect of associate perennial grasses on a simple pasture mixture of phalaris and subterranean clover

1956 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 367 ◽  
Author(s):  
WD Andrew ◽  
CA Neal-Smith

Over the period 1952-1954 there was no significant difference in the yield of herbage produced annually by the addition to a Phalaris tuberosa L.–Trifolium subterraneum L. pasture mixture, of any one of the following grasses: Agropyron obtusiusculum Lange., Bromus coloratus Steud., Bromus inermis Leyss., Dactylis glomerata L., or Festuca arundinacea Schreb. There were indications of a small change in seasonal production where certain grasses, notably D. glomerata, were included in the mixture. Over the 3-year period the proportion of the sown grass component, in the mixtures where either D. glomerata, B. inermis, or B. coloratus were included, increased by a greater amount than where the simple mixture of phalaris and subterranean clover was used. The addition of each grass also lessened the amount of P. tuberosa in the sown grass component of the yield. In the third year, despite the varying proportions of the phalaris and associated sown grass species, the mean population of the sown perennial grasses in each treatment did not differ significantly from the mean figure of 1.34 plants/sq. lk. The increased production of the sown grass yield component following the association of certain of the above species with P. tuberosa suggests that the latter does not fully exploit the environment. The principle of including another perennial grass when sowing phalaris and subterranean clover might have wide application as a means of combatting "phalaris staggers".

2000 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 377 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. M. Lodge

Seedlings of 3 perennial grasses, Danthonia linkii Kunthcv. Bunderra, D. richardsonii Cashmore cv. Taranna(wallaby grasses), and Phalaris aquatica L. cv. Sirosa,were each grown in replacement series mixtures with seedlings ofTrifolium repens L. (white clover),Trifolium subterraneum L. var. brachycalycinum (Katzn.et Morley) Zorahy & Heller cv. Clare (subterraneanclover), and Lolium rigidum L. (annual ryegrass). Plantswere sown 5 cm apart in boxes (45 by 29 by 20 cm) at a density of 307plants/m2. Maximum likelihood estimates were usedto derive parameters of a non-linear competition model using the dry matterweights of perennial grasses and competitors at 3 harvests, approximately 168,216, and 271 days after sowing. Intra-plant competition was examined inmonocultures of each species, grown at plant spacings of 2, 5, and 8 cm apartwith plants harvested at the above times.Competition occurred in all perennial grass–competitor mixtures, exceptin those of each perennial grass with white clover and thephalaris–subterranean clover mixture (Harvest 1) and those withD. richardsonii and phalaris grown with white clover(Harvest 2). For D. richardsonii (Harvests 1 and 2) andD. linkii (Harvest 1 only) grown with white clover andthe phalaris–subterranean clover (Harvest 1), the two species in themixture were not competing. In the phalaris–white clover mixture, eachspecies was equally competitive (Harvests 1 and 2). These differences incompetition and aggressiveness reflected differences in individual plantweights in monocultures where there was an effect (P < 0.05) of species ondry matter weight per box, but no significant effect of plant spacing.These data indicated that for successful establishment,D. richardsonii and D. linkiishould not be sown in swards with either subterranean clover or white clover,or where populations of annual ryegrass seedlings are likely to be high.Phalaris was more compatible with both white clover and subterranean clover,but aggressively competed with by annual ryegrass.


2004 ◽  
Vol 94 (5) ◽  
pp. 433-439 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.N. Johnson ◽  
P.J. Gregory ◽  
P.J. Murray ◽  
X Zhang ◽  
I.M. Young

AbstractThis study investigated the ability of neonatal larvae of the root-feeding weevil, Sitona lepidus Gyllenhal, to locate white clover Trifolium repens L. (Fabaceae) roots growing in soil and to distinguish them from the roots of other species of clover and a co-occurring grass species. Choice experiments used a combination of invasive techniques and the novel technique of high resolution X-ray microtomography to non-invasively track larval movement in the soil towards plant roots. Burrowing distances towards roots of different plant species were also examined. Newly hatched S. lepidus recognized T. repens roots and moved preferentially towards them when given a choice of roots of subterranean clover, Trifolium subterraneum L. (Fabaceae), strawberry clover Trifolium fragiferum L. (Fabaceae), or perennial ryegrass Lolium perenneL. (Poaceae). Larvae recognized T. repens roots, whether released in groups of five or singly, when released 25 mm (meso-scale recognition) or 60 mm (macro-scale recognition) away from plant roots. There was no statistically significant difference in movement rates of larvae.


2003 ◽  
Vol 54 (9) ◽  
pp. 903 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. P. Boschma ◽  
M. J. Hill ◽  
J. M. Scott ◽  
G. G. Rapp

A field experiment was conducted to study the effects of defoliation and moisture stresses on perennial pasture grasses and to identify traits associated with their resilience. The experiment, conducted near Armidale on the Northern Tablelands of NSW, studied 4 introduced perennial grass species (Phalaris aquatica, Festuca arundinacea, Dactylis glomerata, and Lolium perenne) and 2 native grass species (Microlaena stipoides and Austrodanthonia richardsonii) subjected to 3 moisture regimes (non-stress moisture, moderate drought, and severe drought) and 2 defoliation intensities (severe and moderate). Basal area, herbage mass, phenological growth stage, nitrogen concentration, root mass, and rooting depth were compared over 2 independent 6-month periods: spring–summer (1 September 1994–28 February 1995) and summer–autumn (1 December 1994–31 May 1995). Multiple regression was used to determine which traits were important for determining plant resilience.The differences between species and their respective responses were evident in the traits measured. In general, basal area tended to increase over summer and show little change during autumn. Severe defoliation stimulated plant growth, resulting in higher harvested herbage mass than from those moderately defoliated. Reproductive development was suppressed by severe drought and reduced by moderate drought. Severe defoliation suppressed flowering of Dactylis and Lolium at both drought intensities, compared with moderate defoliation. Phalaris, Festuca, and Austrodanthonia were the deepest rooting species during spring–summer, and Dactylis the shallowest. All species had similar rooting depths during summer–autumn, with those under severe and moderate drought having the deepest and shallowest rooting, respectively.Carbohydrate reserves and basal area were important traits for determining plant resilience during spring–summer. During summer–autumn, maintaining basal area and plant biomass through moderate grazing was important for resilience.


2002 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 431 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. M. Lodge

A split-plot experiment was sown at Tamworth in 1992 to examine the effects of continuous sheep grazing and seasonal closures (autumn, spring, spring + autumn, and summer + winter) on the herbage mass, plant frequency and basal cover of 5 perennial grasses, when sown as monocultures or with a perennial (Trifolium repens cv. Haifa) or annual legume (Trifolium subterraneum var. subterraneum cv. Seaton Park). Plant basal area and crown density data were also collected. The perennial grasses were Phalaris aquatica cv. Sirosa, Festuca arundinacea, cv.� Demeter, Lolium perenne cv. Kangaroo Valley, Austrodanthonia richardsonii (syn. Danthonia richardsonii) cv.�Taranna, and A. bipartita (syn. D. linkii) cv. Bunderra. There was no significant effect of legume presence on the herbage mass or persistence of the perennial grasses. The only treatment that had a significant effect (P< 0.05) on either herbage mass, plant frequency or basal cover data was the grazing treatment × perennial grass interaction in each of the years 1993-98, except for herbage mass in December 1993 and basal cover in October 1998. In all of the grazing treatments examined, Kangaroo Valley ryegrass failed to persist after spring 1994; Demeter fescue had failed by spring 1997 and Sirosa phalaris by spring 1998. Six years after sowing the only temperate grass cultivars that were persisting in all grazing treatments were the native perennials, Taranna and Bunderra. Hence, the data represent the entire stand life from sowing to eventual failure for the 3 introduced cultivars. While grazing treatment effects within years for individual species were significant, overall grazing had little effect on the rate of decline in herbage mass and persistence of Kangaroo Valley, Demeter and Sirosa. By 1998, grazing treatment had no significant effect on the herbage mass and basal cover of Taranna and Bunderra, but their plant frequencies were lowest in the spring rest and summer + winter rest treatments.


2006 ◽  
Vol 46 (5) ◽  
pp. 637 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. S. Dear ◽  
G. A. Sandral ◽  
B. C. D. Wilson

The tolerance of 5 perennial grasses during the seedling stage to pre- and post-emergent grass herbicides was examined in 3 glasshouse experiments. The perennial grass species screened were phalaris, (Phalaris aquatica L.), cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.), wallaby grass [Austrodanthonia richardsonii (Cashm.) H.P. Linder], perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.). Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) were included as non-target species and annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum Gaudin) and oats (Avena spp.) as representatives of typical weed species. Herbicides evaluated were fluazifop-p, tralkoxydim, diclofop-methyl, fenoxaprop-p-ethyl, fenoxaprop-p-ethyl + pyrazoline, sethoxydim, flamprop-m-methyl, quizalofop-p-ethyl, clethodim, simazine, imazethapyr, propyzamide, carbetamide, clodinafop-propargyl + cloquintocet-mexyl, propaquizafop, atrazine, trifluralin, triallate, pendimethalin, metribuzin, trifluralin + oryzalin, cyanazine, chlorsulfuron and triasulfuron. Herbicide phytotoxicity was assessed 15 and 30 days after post-emergent herbicide application using the European Weed Research Committee (EWRC) visual score of leaf damage (1 indicating no effect, 9 indicating all plants dead) and plant herbage yield depression relative to the unsprayed control. Plant responses to pre-emergent herbicides were assessed 45 days after sowing. Most herbicides were highly phytotoxic (EWRC score 4–9) to the perennial grass seedlings. However, atrazine, flamprop-m-methyl, imazethapyr, fenoxaprop-ethyl, and triallate caused less severe phytotoxicity (EWRC score 1–4) in phalaris, fescue, cocksfoot and perennial ryegrass from which they could be expected to recover, with yield reductions of between 0 and 45%, 30 days after spraying. Simazine caused yield losses of 20–50% in fescue, phalaris and perennial ryegrass which may be acceptable in swards with high weed burdens. Wallaby grass showed tolerance to flamprop-m-methyl, carbetamide, propyzamide and imazethapyr. Subterranean clover was tolerant of most herbicides with yield losses less than 20% except for the post-emergent herbicides simazine and atrazine, and the pre-emergent herbicides triasulfuron, metribuzin, cyanazine and chlorsulfuron where yield suppression was between 50 and 99%.


2000 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 299 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Virgona ◽  
A. Bowcher

The response to variation in grazing interval over the spring–autumn period in southern New South Wales was examined on 4 perennial grass species over 2 years. Plots of phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L. cv. Sirolan), cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L. cv. Porto), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Shreb cv. Demeter) and a native danthonia (Danthonia richardsonii cv. Taranna), were grazed by sheep every 2, 5 or 8 weeks, either rainfed or given supplementary irrigation. Basal cover was monitored over this period and is combined with measurements of phenological development and herbage mass to explain differences in persistence. The seasons differed with respect to rainfall, 1994–95 being dry compared to 1995–96. Over the 1994–95 season, the relative change in basal cover [RCBC, the ratio of final (May 1995) to initial (September 1994) basal cover] of the 3 introduced perennial grasses was significantly less than 1, which indicated a decline in basal cover over the measurement period. In contrast, RCBC was 1.55 for danthonia. Grazing interval treatments significantly affected RCBC in 1994–95, RCBC increasing with grazing interval. In the 8-week grazing interval, RCBC did not significantly differ from 1. Changes in density were also measured in 1994–95 and followed a similar pattern to RCBC for species effects although there was no significant effect of grazing interval. In 1995–96, there were interactions between watering and both species and grazing interval. The RCBC (September 1995–May 1996) was significantly greater than 1 for cocksfoot and tall fescue under irrigated conditions but not under rainfed conditions. The response to grazing interval depended on water supply. The 5-week grazing interval led to the highest RCBC under both rainfed and irrigated conditions. However, when rainfed, the 5- and 8-week treatments were not significantly different, whereas under irrigation, the 2- and 5-week treatments did not significantly differ. For the 1995–96 season, a movement index (MI, ratio of newly colonised area to that occupied throughout the season) was measured. There was a strong interaction between species and watering but phalaris was the most mobile (highest MI) of the 4 species under both rainfed and irrigated conditions. The absence of any interaction between species and grazing interval in either 1994–95 or 1995–96 suggests that response to grazing of these species may be similar despite differences in survival mechanisms.


2000 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 813 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. M. Lodge

Two experiments were conducted on plots sown in autumn 1992, at Tamworth in northern New South Wales. The first compared the establishment of 3 perennial grasses when sown as monocultures or with competitors in either broadcast-sown swards or alternate row-sown plots. Sowing rate and species of competitor were also examined as factors affecting perennial grass establishment. Perennial grasses were Austrodanthonia richardsonii (synonym Danthonia richardsonii) cv. Taranna, A. bipartita (synonym D. linkii) cv. Bunderra, and Phalaris aquatica cv. Sirosa. Competitors were Trifolium subterraneum var. brachycalycinum cv. Clare, T. repens cv. Haifa, and Lolium rigidum cv. Wimmera. In spring 1992, competitors were removed from 144 of the 288 plots to prevent them from seeding. A second experiment compared the longer-term (1993–96) dry matter yield and persistence of these perennial grasses under continuous grazing in plots were the competitor was present in year 1 (1992) or in all years (1992–96). In spring 1992, mean dry matter yield of perennial grass was higher (P<0.001) in row-sown plots then those sown by broadcasting. Mean dry matter yield of perennial grass was lowest at low sowing rate, but not significantly different at medium and high sowing rates (about 350 kg DM/ha). Compared with the monocultures, the presence of a competitor reduced mean perennial grass dry matter yields by 48, 69 and 85%, respectively for white clover, subterranean clover and annual ryegrass. Perennial grass plant numbers were highest (P<0.001) in the medium and high sowing rates of the monocultures and in white clover competitor plots and lowest (P<0.001) in all broadcast-sown plots, where annual ryegrass was the competitor. By spring 1996, white clover and annual ryegrass had declined to a low level in the pasture in all plots and the only major competitor was subterranean clover (1200 kg DM/ha, 40% plant frequency). Mean dry matter yields were highest (P<0.001) for Sirosa in 1993, but with dry conditions in 1994 and continuous grazing they were highest for Bunderra in all other years. The implications of these data for devising sowing strategies to maximise the establishment of perennial grasses and their long-term persistence in this environment are discussed.


1973 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 271 ◽  
Author(s):  
BA Hamilton ◽  
KJ Hutchinson ◽  
PC Annis ◽  
JB Donnelly

Oesophageal extrusa samples were collected from sheep grazing monospecific swards of four temperate perennial grasses. The in vitro digestibility and the proportion of green plant material in the extrusa samples were related exponentially to the yield of herbage on offer. The digestibility of ingesta was highly correlated with the yield of green herbage. When the yield of green herbage exceeded c. 550 kg/ha the sheep selected a diet more digestible than the mean of the green plant material on offer, and when there were low amounts of green herbage available the ingesta was less digestible than the green plant material on offer because of the low proportion of green plant material eaten. A relationship between the proportion of green plant material in extrusa samples and the green herbage yield was determined for each species, and no significant difference in regressions between species was found. It is suggested that the pooled relationship obtained in this study may be used to predict the proportion of green plant material in the ingesta of sheep over a range of grass species and yields.


1967 ◽  
Vol 7 (26) ◽  
pp. 249 ◽  
Author(s):  
RN Oram ◽  
K Hoen

Forty-six cultivars in eleven perennial grass species were assessed in association with subterranean clover in five trials extending over two to four growing seasons. Established stands of several phalaris and cocksfoot cultivars yielded more sown grass herbage and total herbage than Wimmera ryegrass, Australia Commercial phalaris and Currie cocksfoot. The highest yields were from C.P.I.19331 phalaris and G1 35 cocksfoot. G135 was also more resistant than Wimmera ryegrass to the invasion of older stands by barley grass. The herbage yield of the perennial grasses was more stable between years and trials than that of Wimmera ryegrass. The probable utility of these cultivars in the wheat belt and in the adjacent higher-rainfall pastoral zones is discussed.


1972 ◽  
Vol 12 (57) ◽  
pp. 355 ◽  
Author(s):  
KFM Reed

August-born Corriedale lambs were weaned at ten weeks old and, for the following 12 months, were grazed on 16 plots. Each plot had been sown six years previously, to one of eight pasture mixtures which differed in their grass component, but not in their clover component. Trifolium perenne, Phalaris tuberosa, Dacylis glomerata, Trifolium repens, T . subterraneum, and T. fragiferum were sown. Hordem leporinum volunteered in most plots. Where perennial grass species were sown, Trifolium repens (white clover) contributed less than two per cent to the pasture present on the plots. For the two plots where perennial grass was not sown, white clover contributed up to 31 per cent. The total for all sown clover species present in the pasture varied from approximately 100 to 1000 kg ha-1, or approximately 3-30 per cent. Apart from the two plots where perennial qrass was not sown, the clover species present was mainly Trifolium subterraneum (subterranean clover). Average fleece weights varied from 3.1-4.9 kg on the different plots. The amount of sown clover present in the pasture accounted for 77 per cent of the between-plot variation in fleece weight and 66 per cent of the between-plot variation in annual liveweight gain. Measurements of pasture growth were made for four pasture mixtures. Total pasture growth showed differences of over 50 per cent due to pasture mixture, yet, when grazed at 20 weaners per hectare, differences in annual liveweight gain and fleece weight (10 months wool), due to pasture mixture, did not exceed 10 per cent. Annual liveweight gain and fleece weight were not correlated total pasture growth. However, pasture growth rate measured at monthly intervals, accounted for 43 per cent of the variation in mean daily liveweight gain during these individual months.


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