Effects of pasture base and species mix complexity on persistence and weed ingress in summer-dry dairy pastures

2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (6) ◽  
pp. 561 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. N. Tozer ◽  
E. M. K. Minnee ◽  
R. M. Greenfield ◽  
C. A. Cameron
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Standard Treatment ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Complex Mixtures ◽  
First Year ◽  
Bare Ground ◽  
Basal Cover ◽  
Schedonorus Arundinaceus ◽  
Over Time

Basal and canopy cover of sown and unsown species in swards sown with six species mixtures were assessed monthly from autumn 2010 to spring 2014, to test the hypotheses that (a) sowing an alternative pasture base, or (b) increasing the complexity of the sown mix, improves persistence and reduces weed ingress in temperate summer-dry dairy pastures. Treatments comprised either perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) infected with AR1 endophyte or tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort.) infected with Max P endophyte to which were added either a legume (‘standard’, 2-species mix), a legume and two forage herbs (‘herbs’, 4-species), or three legumes, two forage herbs and two grasses (‘complex’, 8-species). In the first year, basal and canopy cover of sown species were higher in perennial ryegrass- than tall fescue-based swards, and basal cover of sown species was higher and the percentage bare ground lower in the ‘standard’ (50%) than ‘herbs’ and ‘complex’ swards (42%). By the final year, basal cover of sown species (25%), unsown species (28%), and percentage bare ground (47%) were similar in all six treatments. Although establishment was greater in perennial ryegrass than tall fescue-based swards and in the ‘standard’ than in the ‘herbs’ and ‘complex’ mixtures, the loss of sown species in these treatments was greater. The decline in basal cover of sown species was –27% in the standard treatment, –16% averaged over the ‘complex’ and ‘herbs’ treatment, –24% in perennial ryegrass-based swards and –15% in tall fescue-based swards. The results are contrary to both hypotheses with respect to weed ingress. However, support was provided for the hypotheses in the greater persistence (smaller decline over time in basal cover) in tall fescue than ryegrass-based swards, and ‘herbs’ and ‘complex’ than ‘standard’ mixtures.

Resistance of New Zealand dairy pastures to ingress of summer-active annual grass weeds

2012 ◽  
Vol 63 (10) ◽  
pp. 1026 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. N. Tozer ◽  
E. Minneé ◽  
C. A. Cameron
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
First Year ◽  
Similar Distribution ◽  
Annual Grass ◽  
Bare Ground ◽  
Second Year

Yellow bristle grass (Setaria pumila) and summer grass (Digitaria sanguinalis) are summer-active annual grass weeds which infest temperate dairy pastures. A study was undertaken over 2 years to compare hand-sown yellow bristle and summer grass establishment, survival, and seed production in pastures grazed by dairy cows and based on (i) tetraploid perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), (ii) tetraploid perennial ryegrass and white clover (Trifolium repens), and (iii) tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) and white clover, to determine which pasture type offered the greatest resistance to these grass weeds. Ingress of grass weeds was similar in all three pasture types. Total dry matter production was similar for all pasture types for the first year and lower in tall fescue + clover than perennial ryegrass pasture in the second year. All pasture types had a similar distribution of microsite types (bare ground ± canopy, basal cover ± canopy) in both years. The annual grass weeds were most prevalent in bare ground + canopy microsites, which were also the most frequent of the four microsite types. In the first year, <5% of microsites were occupied within 2 months of sowing, whereas in the second year, microsite occupation remained >13% for all assessments. In the first year, panicle production of yellow bristle and summer grass was similar (averaging 4.1 panicles plant–1); in the second year, panicle production was greater for summer grass (0.80 v. 0.16 panicles plant–1, respectively). Where present, these annual grass weeds are likely to spread in dryland dairy pastures sown with either perennial ryegrass or tall fescue. Variability in their panicle production between years shows how their impact on pasture performance and consequent need for control measures will also vary from year to year.

scholarly journals Performance of sown species and weed ingress in new dairy pastures based on tall fescue and perennial ryegrass

2014 ◽  
Vol 67 ◽  
pp. 231-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.N. Tozer ◽  
E.M.K. Minnee ◽  
C.A. Cameron
Keyword(s):  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Poor Performance ◽  
Percentage Cover ◽  
The Third ◽  
Schedonorus Arundinaceus ◽  
Pasture Productivity

Poor performance of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and subsequent weed ingress reduces pasture productivity Tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus) is more droughttolerant than perennial ryegrass and may perform better in summer dry upper North Island environments thus reducing weed ingress To compare swards based on perennial ryegrass and tall fescue for performance of sown species and weed ingress a replicated grazed plot study was established Measurements were made every 3 months from May 2010 until May 2013 Percentage cover of sown species at the canopy surface was significantly higher in perennial ryegrass than tall fescue swards over 3 years By the end of the third year basal and canopy cover of unsown species in tall fescue swards reached 28 and 40 respectively compared with only 13 and 7 respectively in perennial ryegrass Perennial ryegrass swards performed better and may provide a better option for keeping out weeds within the first 3 years of sowing

Use of water by six grass species. 1. Dry-matter yields and response to irrigation

1979 ◽  
Vol 93 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. A. Garwood ◽  
K. C. Tyson ◽  
J. Sinclair
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Field Capacity ◽  
Italian Ryegrass ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
First Year ◽  
Full Irrigation ◽  
Yield And Quality ◽  
Second Year

SUMMARYThe yield and quality of herbage produced by six grasses (perennial ryegrass, cocksfoot, timothy, rough-stalked meadow grass, tall fescue and Italian ryegrass) were examined both without irrigation and under two irrigation regimes. Water was applied according to the potential soil water deficit (potential SWD): the soil was either partially returned to field capacity (FC) after each cut or fully returned to FC whenever the potential SWD reached 25 mm. The swards were cut either at 3 (C3) or 6 (C6) week intervals over a 2 year period.Partial irrigation increased yields by 12–14% in the first year and by 36–58% in the second. Full irrigation produced little more growth than partial irrigation in the first year (maximum SWD, 188 mm) but increased yield by 78–93% in the second, very dry, year (maximum SWD, 311 mm). Under treatment C3 response per unit of water applied was similar with both partial and full irrigation, but under C6 the response was greater with partial (2·86 kg D.M./m3) than with full irrigation (1·79 kg D.M./m3).There were marked differences between the species in their ability to grow under drought conditions in the second year of the experiment. Without irrigation, roughstalked meadow grass and Italian ryegrass did not survive the drought. The performance of tall fescue was markedly superior to both perennial ryegrass and cocksfoot in these conditions. Of the surviving grasses timothy made least growth.

Effects of pasture species mixture, management, and environment on the productivity and persistence of dairy pastures in south-west Victoria. 1. Herbage accumulation and seasonal growth pattern

2004 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 625 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. N. Nie ◽  
D. F. Chapman ◽  
J. Tharmaraj ◽  
R. Clements
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
The Other ◽  
First Year ◽  
Seasonal Growth ◽  
Short Term ◽  
South West ◽  
Species Mixture

An experiment was conducted on 2 contrasting soil types for 4 years (1998–2001) to determine the effects of plant species mixture, management inputs, and environment on sown species herbage accumulation (SSHA) and seasonal growth pattern of pastures for dairy production. Five pasture types, combined with 3 management treatments, were established in south-west Victoria. Three of the pasture types were based on perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and white clover (Trifolium repens L.). One pasture type included short-term, winter- or summer-active species in the perennial ryegrass–white clover mixture. The final pasture type was based on the perennial grasses cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), and phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.). The 3 management treatments involved different levels of fertiliser input and weed/pest control. Pasture type had a significant impact on SSHA in 3 of 4 years. In the first year, the mixture based on cocksfoot, tall fescue, and phalaris had the lowest SSHA, but this pasture matched other types from 1999 onwards and yielded the highest in 2000, the year with the driest summer during the experiment. Ryegrass–white clover mixture based on old cultivars had generally lower SSHA than the other types except in the first year. Higher fertiliser inputs increased SSHA by 16–28% in 1998, 1999, and 2001. There was a significant site × pasture type interaction on SSHA in 2000. The mixture based on cocksfoot, tall fescue, and phalaris produced up to 1–2 t DM/ha.year more than the other types in summer and autumn in dry–normal years. The inclusion of short-term species, or more stoloniferous white clover cultivars, in the ryegrass–white clover mixture, had little effect on SSHA, or on the seasonal distribution of pasture growth. Pastures based on perennial grasses other than perennial ryegrass appear to have potential for altering the seasonality of pasture growth in south-west Victoria, although the benefits resulting from changing pasture type will depend on environment. Overall, increasing management inputs usually had a greater effect on SSHA than changing pasture type, but management responses were also affected by environment, particularly through the effects of a dry season on a sandy soil type.

scholarly journals Weed ingress in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus)based swards under dairy grazing

2016 ◽  
Vol 69 ◽  
pp. 263-269
Author(s):  
K.N. Tozer ◽  
E.M.K. Minnee ◽  
R.M. Greenfield ◽  
C.A. Cameron
Keyword(s):  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Schedonorus Arundinaceus

Weed ingress was assessed monthly over four years in a total of six swards of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) or tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus) to which were added a legume (2 species mix) legume and forage herbs (4 species mix) or legumes herbs other grasses (8 species mix) Unsown species (weeds) present were from 13 families of which Asteraceae was the most abundant Asteraceae species increased from

scholarly journals 'GRASSLANDS ROA' TALL FESCUE: A REVIEW.

1983 ◽  
pp. 74-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.L. Brock
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Slow Growth ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
First Year ◽  
Young Stock ◽  
Dry Conditions ◽  
Seed Mixture ◽  
Development Methods

Relative to perennial ryegrass, tall fescue has increased summer production, pest resistance and persistency under summer dry conditions. The new cultivar 'Grasslands Roa' also has attributes of increased crown rust resistance and a high acceptability to stock. Animal performance has proved similar to that of perennial ryegrass with no stock health problems. Roa has very slow growth and no other grass species should be included in the seed mixture; the seed should be well covered at sowing: N fertiliser could be used to speed seedling growth; grazing should be frequent and lax with young stock during the first year to allow adequate root development. Methods of use of Roa are discussed. Keywords: Festuca arundinacea, Roa tall fescue, potential, selection, summergrowth, drought tolerance, establishment management.

scholarly journals Persistence of perennial ryegrass, tall fescue and cocksfoot following sequential annual sowings: pasture yield, composition and density in three establishment years under cattle grazing in Waikato

2020 ◽  
Vol 82 ◽  
pp. 149-159
Author(s):  
Gerald P. Cosgrove ◽  
Michael R. Trolove ◽  
Maryann R. Staincliffe ◽  
Katherine N. Tozer
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Plant Breeding ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Pasture Grass ◽  
Flowering Date ◽  
Abiotic Stressors ◽  
Pasture Yield ◽  
Over Time

Persistence is an important component of perennial pasture-grass productivity. Defining the traits that affect persistence is essential for improving pasture longevity through plant breeding and for identifying criteria that should be included in cultivar ranking indices. Compared with a conventional longitudinal study (a single study monitored over time), repeated annual sowings allow the effects on persistence of sowing year and the ensuing interactions between environment and age of pasture to be identified. An experiment commenced in 2016 in Waikato, in which eight cultivars of perennial ryegrass representing different ploidy, flowering date, and cultivar age, and one each of tall fescue and cocksfoot were sown each autumn in a randomised complete block design with four replicates in autumn 2016, spring 2017 and autumn 2018. This paper reports interim data on pasture yield, composition and density in the autumn following each sowing, and for the 2018 sowing only, in the 6 months after sowing. For the three successive autumn measurements there were significant effects due to cultivar, year of sowing and their interactions for all pasture variables. These differences in establishment may have consequences for the future resilience of these pastures under natural biotic and abiotic stressors.

Detection of RFLPs in Perennial Ryegrass, Using Heterologous Probes from Tall Fescue

Crop Science ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 1366-1370 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. W. Xu ◽  
David A. Sleper ◽  
S. Chao
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue
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