Herbage production and quality of a range of secondary grass species at five rates of fertilizer nitrogen application

Abstract

The productivity of ten grasses was measured under six cuts per annum for 3 years and three cuts for a fourth harvest year in comparison with a perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) control. The grasses were Yorkshire fog (Holcus lanatus), two red fescues (Festuca rubra), creeping bent (Agrostis stolonifera), bent (Agrostis castellana), bent (Agrostis capillaris), smooth meadow‐grass (Poa pratensis), crested dogstail (Cynosurus cristatus), sweet vernal (Anthoxanthum odoratum) and timothy (Phleum bertolonii). Another grass sown, rough meadow‐grass (Poa trivialis), did not persist after the first harvest year. Annual N rates were 0, 120, 240, 360 and 480 kg ha−1. Classified by DM production, the grasses grouped into: high (perennial ryegrass, Yorkshire fog and red fescue), intermediate (creeping bent, bent (A. castellana), crested dogstail and smooth meadow‐grass) and low (bent (A. capillaris), sweet vernal and timothy. With frequent cutting, production ranking interacted with N rate: Yorkshire fog. red fescue and creeping bent were more productive than ryegrass at the 0 N and 120 N rates but not at higher N rates; crested dogstail and sweet vernal outperformed ryegrass at 0 N; ryegrass and smooth meadow‐grass performed relatively better at moderate to high N. DM production of ryegrass was matched or exceeded by some of the other grasses during different parts of the season particularly at low N rates. Notable features from the 3‐cut regime were the outstanding DM production of Yorkshire fog at all N rates and the poor production of bent (A. capillaris) and crested dogstail. High DM response to applied N in both cutting regimes was given by perennial ryegrass. smooth meadow‐grass, red fescue cv. Boreal, timothy, crested dogstail and Yorkshire fog. N concentrations were highest in less productive grasses such as the bents and lowest in highly productive ryegrass and Yorkshire fog. Ryegrass was superior in digestibility to the other grasses, but especially to the red fescues, bents and smooth meadow‐grass. The other grasses, especially Yorkshire fog and bent (A. capillaris) were superior to ryegrass in P, K and Mg concentrations, but not Ca. It is concluded that the annual and/or seasonal production of some of the secondary grasses at low to moderate N rates, e.g. the performance of Yorkshire fog and red fescue, warrant a reconsideration of their poor reputation, particularly within the context of increasing grassland extensification. Breeding to improve selected characteristics, such as digestibility in red fescue, seems justified. Assessment of the grazing and ensiling qualities of secondary grasses require further study.

Botanical composition, production and nutrient status of an originally Lolium perenne-dominant cut grass sward receiving long-term manure applications

“…Common bent occurs widely in grassland on impoverished soils and can be an indicator of low P conditions (Peeters 2004). Yorkshire fog is capable of growing under low soil fertility (Watt 1978) and has a higher DM production potential at low N than perennial ryegrass (Frame 1991). In contrast, rough stalked meadowgrass, a major component of the meadow grass fraction, is associated with grassland on fertile soils (Peeters 2004).…”

“…Frame (1991) has shown that the highest yielding of the so-called secondary grasses (those not usually sown but ingressing with sward age) can outyield perennial ryegrass at low fertilizer application rates (up to 200 kg N ha −1 ). The data from this study also support the conclusion drawn by Collins and Murphy (1979) from their survey data of grassland in Ireland that soil fertility is more important than botanical composition in determining the productivity of grassland.…”

“…The botanical composition of grassland has an impact on herbage production potential and nutritive value for animals, including mineral and crude protein content (Frame 1989(Frame , 1991. Botanical composition of herbage in treatments in the long-term slurry experiment was first determined in 1981-1982 (after 16 years) by Christie (1987).…”

The relative contribution of remobilization and root uptake in supplying nitrogen after defoliation for regrowth of laminae in four grass species

“…Similar changes in botanical composition have been observed with cessation of fertilizer application, with species indicating nutrient-rich conditions such as L. perenne being replaced by species indicating nutrient-poorer conditions (Dahmen, Kuhbauch & Thome, 1989;Oomes, 1990;OlflF & Bakker, 1991). The invading ' secondary' grass species are often more suited than L. perenne to adverse conditions such as reduced N levels (Frame, 1991).…”

Varying the ratio of 15N‐labelled ammonium and nitrate‐N supplied to creeping bent: effects on nitrogen absorption and assimilation, and plant growth

“…Creeping bent (Agrostis stolonifera) is one of the most important and productive secondary grasses in British agriculture (Haggar, 1976 ;Frame, 1991). This species is a dominant component of old permanent pasture (Bailey, 1997), and under conditions of sub-optimal nitrogen (N) supply ( 160 kg fertilizer N ha −" yr −" ) is also a vigorous colonizer of perennial ryegrass reseeds (Whinham & Beaverstock, 1985 ;Stevens & Laughlin, 1996).…”