Publication Date
1993
Description
Dactylis glomerata (orchardgrass) is not completely winter hardy under the extreme continental climate of the Canadian prairies. It grows vigorously in the autumn, but cutting or grazing at this time may affect its winter survival. Miniature snow fences (30 cm) were used to examine the interaction between autumn harvest date and stubble height effects on winter survival and subsequent yields. Plants cut in September and October had lower autumn carbohydrate storage levels and, in the absence of a snow fence, suffered more winter kill and had lower spring yields than plants cut in August. The presence of a snow fence encouraged snow trapping which insulated the tiller species from the extreme winter temperatures and reduced the cutting date effects. Thus autumn cutting' date appears to influence winter survival of orchardgrass more through its effect on the snow-trapping ability of the stubble than through its effect on storage carbohydrated levels.
Citation
King, Jane R. and Van Esbroeck, G A., "Factors affecting Winter Survival of Dactylis glomerata in Alberta, Canada" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 6.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session17/6
Included in
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Factors affecting Winter Survival of Dactylis glomerata in Alberta, Canada
Dactylis glomerata (orchardgrass) is not completely winter hardy under the extreme continental climate of the Canadian prairies. It grows vigorously in the autumn, but cutting or grazing at this time may affect its winter survival. Miniature snow fences (30 cm) were used to examine the interaction between autumn harvest date and stubble height effects on winter survival and subsequent yields. Plants cut in September and October had lower autumn carbohydrate storage levels and, in the absence of a snow fence, suffered more winter kill and had lower spring yields than plants cut in August. The presence of a snow fence encouraged snow trapping which insulated the tiller species from the extreme winter temperatures and reduced the cutting date effects. Thus autumn cutting' date appears to influence winter survival of orchardgrass more through its effect on the snow-trapping ability of the stubble than through its effect on storage carbohydrated levels.
