Novel Festuca arundinacea Shreb. and Dactylis glomerata L. germplasm to improve adaptation for marginal environments

2008 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 436 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. A. Harris ◽  
S. G. Clark ◽  
K. F. M. Reed ◽  
Z. N. Nie ◽  
K. F. Smith

Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb., Lolium arundinceum Schreb., S.J. Darbyshire) and cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) were identified for improvement for low to medium rainfall (400–700 mm) environments where persistence of common cultivars has been unreliable. Over 200 accessions and experimental varieties of tall fescue and cocksfoot sourced from the Mediterranean basin were screened over 2 years at sites on the North-West Slopes of NSW and on the Central Highlands of Victoria, respectively. These were compared with some locally naturalised plants and most of the cultivars available in Australasia as well as cultivars developed for warm temperate and Mediterranean climates in Italy, France, Uruguay and the USA. To date, the screened accessions and experimental varieties have exhibited varying degrees of summer activity and other attributes of commercial value. Six tall fescue accessions were selected for development of synthetic varieties. These included three Sardinian accessions that after 2 years had superior persistence to cv. Demeter and recorded the highest yield scores, the mean of which exceeded that of the best performing cultivars by 34% and that of Demeter by 64%. A further three select North African accessions of tall fescue had similar yield ratings to Demeter and that of the best performing winter-active, summer-dormant cultivars. After 2 years, four Mediterranean accessions of cocksfoot were selected. These had recorded the highest yield scores, the mean of which was 34% greater than that recorded for the highest yielding cultivars and 40% greater than cv. Currie, compared with which these accessions were densely tillered and fine-leafed. The four select Mediterranean cocksfoot accessions exhibited 100% persistence; the persistence of the cultivars ranged from 31–97%. Select plants of the best performing accessions were subsequently removed from the field sites and transferred to pollen-proof glasshouse chambers for synthesis of experimental varieties. The endophyte-free tall fescue synthetics were based on Sardinian accessions selected for year round production and persistence or North African accessions that had similar yield to Demeter but with improved winter production and some summer activity. The cocksfoot synthetics were based on select plants of accessions from North Africa and included both D. glomerata and D. glomerata ssp. glomerata × spp. hispanica hybrids exhibiting persistence, dense tillering and seasonal productivity.

2002 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. Moyer ◽  
A. L. Boswall

Foxtail barley (Hordeum jubatum L.) is a troublesome weed in irrigated pastures. Several grass species seeded on two irrigated pastures at Lethbridge to test their ability to compete with foxtail barley. Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) and creeping foxtail (Alopecurus arundinaceus Poir) reduced foxtail barley groundcover significantly compared to orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), pubescent wheatgrass (Agropyron trichophorum (Link) Richt.) and western wheatgrass (Agropyron smithii Rydb.); therefore, seeding of these grasses in areas subject to foxtail barley invasion should be encouraged. Key words: Foxtail barley, tall fescue, creeping foxtail, wet soils, salinity, weed suppression


Author(s):  
G.D. Milne ◽  
S.C. Moloney ◽  
D.R. Smith

A drought pasture demonstration programme was established on the east coast of the North Island, between 1990 and 1992. Dryland pasture species were established on 1500 ha, on 91 farms, to encourage other farmers to use them rather than relying totally on perennial ryegrass. 97% of pastures were established successfully, proving to farmers that dryland pasture species can be established reliably. As well as establishing pastures after cultivation, it was also proven that these species can be reliably established by direct drilling, or by oversowing onto hill country, using techniques developed in this programme. Some farmers monitored the amount of grazing obtained from the new pastures, and found that on average they received 112% more grazing annually than resident pastures, the largest increases occurring in summer. Many farmers also reported better animal growth rates on the new pastures, especially in summer and autumn. Monitoring of species presence in tiller cores has shown the sown species to be persisting well to date (Nov 1992), with the exceptions of tall fescue and grazing brome when sown onto hill country. The programme reinforced factors important in the establishment and grazing management of dryland pastures. The programme has brought about a noticeable change in attitude to dryland species, and seed sales have increased markedly while ryegrass sales have decreased. Keywords: Cichorium intybus, Dactylis glomerata, drought, Festuca arundinacea, demonstration, dryland pasture establishment


Author(s):  
R.J. Johnson ◽  
N.A. Thomson ◽  
D.A. Mccallum ◽  
T.G. Judd

Seasonal and annual dry matter production of ryegrass was compared with drought- and grass grub-tolerant species Grasslands Roa tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), Grasslands Maru phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.) and Grasslands Kara cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) as both single species and different combinations of mixes in two trials from 1982 to 1991. In trial 1, Nui ryegrass (damaged by Argentine stem weevil) produced significantly less than cocksfoot, phalaris and mixtures of the drought-tolerant grasses. Yatsyn-1 ryegrass in trial 2 was not subjected to stem weevil attack and the annual dry matter production was significantly higher than that of tall fescue and, although not significantly, higher than that of phalaris and cocksfoot. In both trials the highest producing mixture was the phalaris/ cocksfoot mix with the exception of the triple mix of phalaris/cocksfoot/tall fescue in trial 2. The phalaris/cocksfoot mix produced significantly more than phalaris as a single species and although not significant, 14% more than cocksfoot suggesting these species are complementary in a mix. The triple mix in trial 2 produced significantly more than all single species except ryegrass. Mixes of srgnificant. tall fescue/phalaris and tall fescue/cocksfoot had no advantage in DM production over single-species sowings of phalaris or cocksfoot, but improved yields over tall fescue. These results show possible complementary effects to sowing phalaris and cocksfoot. The addition of tall fescue to the mix had small and non-significant benefits. Keywords: Dactylis glomerata, Festuca arundinacea, Loliumperenne, Phalaris aquatica. grass grub, pasture mixes, pasture production, single species, summer dry spells


Author(s):  
D.A. Mccallum ◽  
N.A. Thomson ◽  
A.H.C. Roberts

The effect of replacing white clover with fertiliser nitrogen (N) on dry matter production and grass grub populations in 'Grasslands Roa' tell fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), 'Grasslands Mat-u' phalaris (Phalutis aquatica L.), 'Grasslands Kara' cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.), 'Grasslands Mama' prairie grass (Bromus willdenowii Kunth) and 'old' (30 year plus) ryegrass was measured over a 2 year period. For all pastures the replacement of white clover with fertiliser N significantly reduced grass grub numbers. This was greatest in tall fescue, phalaris and cocksfoot, showing that pure swards of these species were resistant to grass grub. Decreases in grass grub numbers in ryegrass and prairie grass were less. There was overall a significant increase in pasture production by eliminating white clover and applying fertiliser N, with a differential response between species. Average annual production of prairie grass was unaffected, whereas the yield of cocksfoot increased by 9 % and old ryegrass, phalaris and tall fescue increased by 26 % . Most of this extra production for tall fescue and phalaris occurred in autumn. These results show that the use of tall fescue and phalaris and the replacement of white clover with fertiliser N has potential for increasing pasture production in districts subject to grass damage. Keywords old ryegrass, Roa tall fescue, Maru phalaris, Kara cocksfoot, Matua prairie grass, white clover, grass grub, nitrogen fertiliser


Author(s):  
Andrew W. Macfarlane

Over the last 10 years Canterbury farmers have started to diversify their pasture base in order to optimise their stock production. While ryegrass is still the base grass of our pastoral system, it is unsuited to many sites where pasture must generate high stock growth rates despite seasonally low rainfall, high soil temperatures and pasture pest challenge. On such sites, pastures based on cocksfoot, (Dactylis glomerata L.), phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L . ) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) or prairie grass (Bromus willdenowii Kunth, cv. 'Grasslands Matua') or lucerne (Medicago sativa) or chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) have lifted net farming returns. Keywords ryegrass, endophyte, tall fescue, phalaris, cocksfoot, prairie grass, chicory, pasture pests, rainfall, stock production, pasture persistence


Agriculture ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 487
Author(s):  
Euro Pannacci ◽  
Daniele Del Buono ◽  
Maria Luce Bartucca ◽  
Luigi Nasini ◽  
Primo Proietti ◽  
...  

The ability of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea L.) and orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), to remediate leachates polluted with S-metolachlor (SMR) has been assessed in static hydroponic cultures. Different SMR concentrations (0.25, 1.00, and 2.00 mg L−1) were applied in the growth media to test the capacity of the two grasses to tolerate and uptake this herbicide, and to regrowth after mowing. S-metolachlor did not severely affect the dry weight aerial biomass of D. glomerata and F. arundinacea, which were reduced by 5% and 10%, respectively, when compared to the untreated control, regardless of the SMR concentrations in the leachate. The regrowth ability of aerial biomass after mowing was reduced at the different SMR concentrations, according to a dose–response model. The SMR concentrations, which reduced the regrowth ability of F. arundinacea and D. glomerata of 10% and 30%, were found to be EC10 (Effective Concentration) of 0.21 and 0.38 mg L−1 and EC30 of 0.45 and 0.74 mg L−1, respectively. These values could be assumed as the SMR concentrations that were well tolerated by both the species, without compromising their aerial biomass regrowth. Finally, tall fescue was found to be more effective and faster than orchardgrass in decreasing the SMR in the leachate and, therefore, this species should be preferred to be used in the vegetative buffer strips (VBS).


In this paper the author investigates the periodical variations of the winds, rain and temperature, corresponding to the conditions of the moon’s declination, in a manner similar to that he has already followed in the case of the barometrical variations, on a period of years extending from 1815 to 1832 inclusive. In each case he gives tables of the average quantities for each week, at the middle of which the moon is in the equator, or else has either attained its maximum north or south declination. He thus finds that a north-east wind is most promoted by the constant solar influence which causes it, when the moon is about the equator, going from north to south; that a south-east wind, in like manner, prevails most when the moon is proceeding to acquire a southern declination ; that winds from the south and west blow more when the moon is in her mean degrees of declination, going either way, than with a full north or south declination ; and that a north-west wind, the common summer and fair weather wind of the climate, affects, in like manner, the mean declination, in either direction, in preference to the north or south, and most when the moon is coming north. He finds the average annual depth of rain, falling in the neighbourhood of London, is 25’17 inches.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-79
Author(s):  
Berrani Abdelkader ◽  
Meliani Samia ◽  
Bourabah Akila

Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the influence of season, age, sex, parity and gestation status on some biochemical parameters in local cross-bred goats raised in Tiaret, Algeria. Ninety cross bred local goats, from 2019 to 2020, aged between nine and seventy-two months at different physiological stage were used. Animals belong to different farms in Tiaret located at the north-west Algeria (35°22’ N, 1°19’ E). The mean values of triglycerides, creatinine and calcium were significantly (p<0,05) higher in winter than in spring. The physiological state of the goat had a significant influence (p<0,05) on cholesterol, urea, total proteins, calcium and phosphorus, with a high average values in non-pregnant goats, while triglycerides and globulin had significant higher values in postpartum and pregnant femals, respectively. In our work, parity had a significant influence (p<0,05) on cholesterol, calcium and phosphorus, with high average values in young goats and a significant influence (p<0,05) on triglycerides and creatinine with high average values in primiparous ones. Age significantly influenced (p<0,05) cholesterol, triglycerides, total protein, calcium and globulin. The results obtained from this study could serve as reference values for the local goats and other regions or countries with similar climatic and nutritional conditions.


2011 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 157-162
Author(s):  
G.D. Milne

Recent discussion about pasture persistence concentrates on pastures based on perennial ryegrass, the most commonly used grass species. This paper raises the question as to whether some of the causes of poor pasture persistence are due to perennial ryegrass being used in environments to which it is not suited. The adaptation to environmental stresses, particularly water, temperature and nutrient deficiencies, in different regions of New Zealand of tall fescue, cocksfoot, phalaris, and lucerne are discussed, and how this impacts on persistence advantages over perennial ryegrass. Keywords: persistence, pasture, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca arundinacea, Lolium perenne, Medicago sativa, Phalaris aquatica


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document