Publication Date
1993
Description
An experiment was conducted in Sardinia to develop an appropriate rotational grazing management regime in spring for an ecotype of annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum Gaudin). Three intermittent defoliation treatments were compared using sward surface height (10, 15 or 20 cm) to determine time of cutting. Forage dry matter yield, tiller population density, LAI, vertical distribution of plant tissues and other related characteristics were measured. Cutting when sward reached 10 cm resulted In significantly lower yields but a better canopy structure (denser sward, higher percentage of leaves in the bottom layers, higher leaf: sheath ratio) than the other treatments. The results suggest & that the frequently defoliated swards could.be utilized by sheep more efficiently than the others because the bottom layer of the tall swards consisted only of stem and sheath material. This effect could compensate for the lower 101al forage yield of the intensively defoliated sward.
Citation
Roggero, P P.; Franca, A; Sitzia, M; and Caredda, S, "Canopy Structure and Forage Production of Lolium rididum Gaudin as influenced by the Frequency of Defoliation" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 9.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session8/9
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Canopy Structure and Forage Production of Lolium rididum Gaudin as influenced by the Frequency of Defoliation
An experiment was conducted in Sardinia to develop an appropriate rotational grazing management regime in spring for an ecotype of annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum Gaudin). Three intermittent defoliation treatments were compared using sward surface height (10, 15 or 20 cm) to determine time of cutting. Forage dry matter yield, tiller population density, LAI, vertical distribution of plant tissues and other related characteristics were measured. Cutting when sward reached 10 cm resulted In significantly lower yields but a better canopy structure (denser sward, higher percentage of leaves in the bottom layers, higher leaf: sheath ratio) than the other treatments. The results suggest & that the frequently defoliated swards could.be utilized by sheep more efficiently than the others because the bottom layer of the tall swards consisted only of stem and sheath material. This effect could compensate for the lower 101al forage yield of the intensively defoliated sward.
