Publication Date
1997
Description
The forage production and botanical changes of lucerne cultivars in pure stands and in grass mixtures were studied in a split-plot experiment with irrigation and sheep grazing. The non dormant lucerne cultivars (Medicago sativa) CUF 101, Monarca SPINTA, P 30 and common were the main plots, and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), canarygrass (Phalaris aquatica), cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata), tall wheatgrass (Thynopirum ponticum) and prairie grass (Bromus catharticus) were the subplots. The experiment was grazed 3, 6 and 4 times during 3 years. Total yield was similar for all lucerne cultivars except P 30. Grass production and non sown species incidence did not differ between main plots. Lucerne yield was lower in tall fescue subplots than in other mixtures and pure stands (P<0.05). Grass production was higher in tall fescue mixtures than in tall wheatgrass, canarygrass and prairie grass, and all were superior to cocksfoot (P<0.05). Tall fescue severely suppressed lucerne and non sown species. All lucerne-grass mixtures were superior to pure lucerne, so it emphasized the grass contribution to forage production and to non sown species control.
Citation
Enrique, M L. and Minon, D P., "Forage Production of Irrigated Lecerne- Grass Mixtures Grazed by Sheep" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 58.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1997/session29/58
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Forage Production of Irrigated Lecerne- Grass Mixtures Grazed by Sheep
The forage production and botanical changes of lucerne cultivars in pure stands and in grass mixtures were studied in a split-plot experiment with irrigation and sheep grazing. The non dormant lucerne cultivars (Medicago sativa) CUF 101, Monarca SPINTA, P 30 and common were the main plots, and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), canarygrass (Phalaris aquatica), cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata), tall wheatgrass (Thynopirum ponticum) and prairie grass (Bromus catharticus) were the subplots. The experiment was grazed 3, 6 and 4 times during 3 years. Total yield was similar for all lucerne cultivars except P 30. Grass production and non sown species incidence did not differ between main plots. Lucerne yield was lower in tall fescue subplots than in other mixtures and pure stands (P<0.05). Grass production was higher in tall fescue mixtures than in tall wheatgrass, canarygrass and prairie grass, and all were superior to cocksfoot (P<0.05). Tall fescue severely suppressed lucerne and non sown species. All lucerne-grass mixtures were superior to pure lucerne, so it emphasized the grass contribution to forage production and to non sown species control.
