The influence of tall fescue on the germination, seedling growth and yield of birdsfoot trefoil

Abstract

The influence of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) on germination and seedling growth of birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) was evaluated during 1983‐85 at Manhattan, Kansas. Studies were designed to evaluate tall fescue cv. Kentucky‐31 for possible allelopathic compounds, determine the effects of tall fescue on the germination, seedling growth and yield of birdsfoot trefoil, and to characterize the chemical properties of tall fescue. Fescue produced allelopathic compounds, particularly during the spring and autumn months when it was actively growing. The greatest trefoil inhibition occurred with fescue plant extracts prepared during the autumn (September and October). The concentration of fescue extracts influenced trefoil germination, with greater inhibition as fescue concentration increased. In a sand medium under greenhouse conditions, fescue extracts prepared in spring and autumn reduced trefoil growth by 50 and 56%, respectively, with no inhibition during the summer months. Under field conditions, full strength fescue extracts reduced trefoil plant populations by 14 and 57% with spring and autumn prepared extracts, respectively. Fescue competition reduced sod‐seeded trefoil plants per unit area by 17 and 31% for spring and autumn seeding, respectively. Full strength fescue extracts reduced trefoil seedling growth by an average of 37%, and trefoil dry matter yields by 53%.

Binary mixtures of alfalfa and birdsfoot trefoil with tall fescue: Herbage traits associated with the improved growth performance of beef steers

“…is a popular pasture species that is broadly adapted to many soil and climatic conditions, has high forage production potential and is typically very responsive to supplemental irrigation and fertilizer (Waldron et al, 2002). Although tall fescue can be productive in pure stands, pasture and livestock performance have been improved by introducing legumes into fescue pastures (Hoveland et al, 1981;Stephenson & Posler, 1988). For instance, in New Mexico USA, an irrigated, non-grazed, binary mixture of tall fescue and alfalfa (Medicago sativa, L.) had greater clipped herbage mass in comparison with N-fertilized (168 kg N ha −1 year −1 ) tall fescue monocultures (Lauriault, Guldan, & Martin, 2003).…”

Performance of steers grazing rhizomatous and nonrhizomatous birdsfoot trefoil in pure stands and in tall fescue mixtures1,2

“…(TF) is the most widely planted grass species in the humid pasture region of the United States. Although TF is productive in pure stands, performance of livestock grazing TF can be improved by introducing legumes into TF pastures (Hoveland et al, 1985(Hoveland et al, , 1991Stephenson and Posler, 1988). One legume that grows well in a mixture with TF is birdsfoot trefoil (McGraw et al, 1989;Hoveland et al, 1988).…”

Comparison of osmotic and allelopathic effects of grass leaf extracts on grass seed germination and radicle elongation

“…However, many of the results of bioassay studies used for demonstrating allelopathy are difficult to apply to field situations, in part because the methods used do not always accurately reflect ecological reality (Stowe, 1979;Wardle 1987). One of the most widely used bioassay techniques for studying allelopathy involves the preparation of aqueous extracts of plant leaf or root material and observing the influence of these extracts on germination and radicle growth of test species in petri dishes (Inderjit and Dakshini, 1990;Luu et al, 1989;Putnam, 1985;Stephenson and Posler, 1988). Although it is often assumed that the response of seeds or seedlings to plant extracts is due entirely to allelopathy, the possibility exists that the extracts may also exert negative osmotic effects on the test species (Bell, 1974), and some investigations have qualitatively assessed the relative importance of the osmotic influence and allelopathic potential of plant extracts on seed germination (e.g.…”