Theme 13: Plant Improvement

Description

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the 'stay-green' character, originally introduced into perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) for amenity purposes, on herbage yield, N concentration and colour in field swards of 'stay-green' forage ryegrass managed in different ways for agricultural use. The conclusions were that the introduction of the 'stay-green' character (1) confers greater greenness only at some times of year and only when there has been a sufficiently long period of regrowth, (2) is expressed only in older, as distinct from young, tillers, (3) reduces herbage yield, particularly when a long interval is allowed between defoliations, and (4) reduces the decline in the concentration of N in herbage during the latter part of a long period of regrowth.

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'Stay-Green' and Non-'Stay-Green' Perennial Ryegrass in Field Swards with Different Intervals between Cuts

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the 'stay-green' character, originally introduced into perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) for amenity purposes, on herbage yield, N concentration and colour in field swards of 'stay-green' forage ryegrass managed in different ways for agricultural use. The conclusions were that the introduction of the 'stay-green' character (1) confers greater greenness only at some times of year and only when there has been a sufficiently long period of regrowth, (2) is expressed only in older, as distinct from young, tillers, (3) reduces herbage yield, particularly when a long interval is allowed between defoliations, and (4) reduces the decline in the concentration of N in herbage during the latter part of a long period of regrowth.