Tall fescue or creeping foxtail suppresses foxtail barley

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

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


Author(s):  
R.A. Moss ◽  
R.N. Burton ◽  
B.E. Allan

Grasslands Kara cocksfoot, Grasslands Nui ryegrass, Grasslands Roa tall fescue, Grasslands Gala grazing brome and Grasslands Maru phalaris were sown as single grass species with either white or Caucasian clover during December 1993, on a Lismore stony silt loam in Canterbury. Plots were irrigated and rotationally grazed by sheep. Total herbage produced during the first measurement period (September 1994 to July 1995) averaged 13.6 t DM/ha. All white clover-based swards produced similar yields, but with Caucasian clover, phalaris-based swards produced the most and ryegrass and grazing brome the least. Production tended to be lower from pastures sown with Caucasian than white clover (12.9 cf. 14.2,kg DM/ha). During the second measurement period (July 1995 to May 1996) total production was similar with both legumes. When evaluated over both measurement periods, phalaris and tall fescue gave the highest and cocksfoot and ryegrass the lowest production when sown with white clover, while cocksfoot and grazing brome were the lowestproducing swards with Caucasian clover. Ten --months-after-sow.ing,-white-cIover-contributed-in excess of40% of the DM in all swards except with ryegrass and grazing brome where it contributed 20%. The proportion of white clover then declined in all pastures over the following 20 months, ryegrass-based swards having the highest (10%) and cocksfoot the lowest (1%). When sown with Caucasian clover the legume content of swards increased during the 12 months from spring 1994 in swards containing phalaris, tall fescue and grazing brome. The proportion of legume in -cocksfoot swardsmdeclined-continuously from 22 to 4% over the 20 months while it increased continuously from 4 to 28% with ryegrass. The legume content in lo-month-old pastures was higher when sown with white than with Caucasian clover but this ratio was reversed by 28 months. This occurred with all pasture types but was most pronounced with ryegrass and cocksfoot pastures. The present experiment shows Caucasian clover can make a major contribution in irrigated pastures in Canterbury. 'Wattie Bush, RD 22, Peel Forest, Geruldine Keywords: Bromus stamineus, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca arundinacea, grazed pastures, herbage production, Lolium perenne, Phalaris aquatica, Trifolium ambiguum, Trifolium repens


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.


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):  
K.M. Pollock ◽  
D. Scott ◽  
J.S. Robertson

A 0.5 ha 6-year trial compared 6 grass species x 4 N fertiliser rates x 2 times of closing for summersaved standing winter feed. The pre-winter yields averaged 3.4 t DM/ha from November, closing with a high browntoplsweet vernal component, as compared with 1.7 t DM/ha from December closings with a low browntop/sweet vernal component. Grasslands Kara cocksfoot was the highest yielding cultivar, followed by Grasslands Apanui cocksfoot, Grasslands Wana cocksfoot, Grasslands Roa tall fescue, Grasslands Nui perennial ryegrass and Grasslands Maru phalaris, with decreasing proportions of sown grass. Nitrogen fertiliser had a limited effect on prewinter yields but did have a carry-over effect into spring yields. Keywords: Dactylis glomerata, fertiliser, Festuca arundinacea, high country, Lolium perenne, nitrogen, Phalaris aquatica, winter feed


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).


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.


Author(s):  
F.J. Parry ◽  
R.J. Lucas ◽  
B.A. Mckenzie

An experiment was conducted on a fertile Walcanui silt loam in 1991/92 to examine the productivity of 4 perennial pasture grass species, Grasslands Roa tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), Grasslands Marsden hybrid tyegrass (Lolium perenne x Lolium hybridum), Grasslands Maru phalaris (Phalaris aquatica), Grasslands Wana cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata), and 2 binary mixtures, tall fescue plus cocksfoot and phalaris plus cocksfoot. Between July 1991 and September 1992 the highest production came from phalaris plus cocksfoot at 19.05 t DM/ha. Hybrid ryegrass, phalaris, tall fescue plus cocksfoot, cocksfoot, and tall fescue produced 17.44, 17.13, 16.96, 14.17, and 13.13t DM/ha respectively. The botanical composition of both mixtures averaged equal proportions of the sown species. The proportion of cocksfoot increased over the summer period then declined for the following autumn/winter period. The experiment shows that simple pasture grass mixtures may be highly productive. These findings support the increasing farmer practice of sowmg some pasture grasses in simple mixtures. Keywords: binary mixture, botanical composition, Dactylis glomerata, dry matter production, Festuca arundinuceu, Lolium perenne x Lolium hybridum, pasture mixtures, Phalaris aquatica, seasonal production


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