Competition in Seeds Mixtures at High Elevations (850 Ft.) at Moelglomen, Talybont, Cardiganshire

Abstract

Summary. The experiment was designed to obtain further information on the value of certain species and strains of grasses and legumes for permanent grass on upland, thin soiled, dry fields of low fertility. Their ability to compete in mixtures and their persistency were studied in detail and the evidence indicates, in a general way, that these factors operate in rather a different manner on the uplands as compared to the lowlands. Pedigree cocksfoot is superior in productivity to pedigree perennial rye‐grass, but the need for a small seeding of pedigree perennial rye‐grass to help protect the pedigree cocksfoot during the first few years is suggested. Montgomery red clover has proved itself to be infinitely better than Lotus major, kidney vetch and wild red clover, especially for hay. Of the bottom grasses in the test, smooth‐stalked meadow grass has been a failure, and although rough‐stalked meadow grass made a fair contribution to the second crop of hay when sown at a heavy seed rate, crested dogstail and the fine‐leaved fescues have been far more aggressive. The heavy contribution of crested dogstail to the second‐year hay crop is worthy of note. The aggressiveness of the fine‐leaved fescues in the aftermath of the third harvest year is a factor to be further considered. Chewing's fescue, in distinct contrast to red fescue (pedigree), gets very winter‐burned and unpalatable. Wild white clover is an essential constituent in mixtures for these conditions. It is probable that Italian rye‐grass at 10 or even 12 lb. per acre is not too much where the spring grazing is hard and where the fields are not closed for hay until early May. Indigenous and pedigree strains have given more hay, more leaf and have been more persistent than the commercial strains.

Potential pasture production in the uplands of Wales

“…Data over the three years, however, confirmed the increased relative performance of red fescue in the second and subsequent years as shown previously by the earlier work of Thomas (1934;1936). Analyses of in vitro DOMD highlighted the poorer nutritive value of S59 particularly in the summer months.…”

Productivity of S. 59 red fescue with and without S. 184 white clover under hill conditions: 2. Herbage measurements in relation to animal performance

“…Herbage productivity Dry-matter production data over the 2 years confirmed the evidence reported under cutting (Munro & Davies, 19746) of the increasing superiority of S. 59 red fescue in the second harvest year. The supremacy of red fescue in later years in comparison with other grass species was also reported by other workers (Thomas, 1934;Davies, 1940;and Hunt, 1962).…”

Production and regrowth characteristics ofLotus pedunculatusCav. cv. ‘Grasslands Maku’

“…Lotus pedunculatus has frequently been referred to as being intolerant of hard grazing, particu--Iarly the erect, tetraploid cultivars (Thomas 1935;Davis 1969;Armstrong 1974;Lambert et al 1974). Only where competition from companion species is minimal, such as in wet, infertile soils, does it seem that L. pedunculatuscan withstand severe defoliation (HoweIl 1948;Charlton 1975).…”