Offered Papers Theme A: Efficient Production from Grassland
Description
The perception that cocksfoot is of lower nutritional value and less productive than perennial ryegrass is largely the result of studies in which management was based on perennial ryegrass (to the detriment of cocksfoot) or involved defoliation of both species at the same time (Greenhalgh & Reid, 1969; Johnson & Thomson, 1996). Maintaining plants in a vegetative state through species-specific management is essential to retain the high quality and productivity of cocksfoot. Defoliation at or before 4-5 fully expanded live leaves per tiller is recommended as the ideal physiological regrowth stage for defoliation of cocksfoot, resulting in metabolisable energy (ME) levels in excess of 11MJ/kg dry matter (DM) (Rawnsley et al., 2002). The aim of the current study was to provide an objective comparison of the nutritional value of cocksfoot and perennial ryegrass grown in dryland conditions under a management regime based on the physiological status of each grass species.
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
The Nutritional Value of Cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) and Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) Under Leaf-Stage Based Defoliation Management
The perception that cocksfoot is of lower nutritional value and less productive than perennial ryegrass is largely the result of studies in which management was based on perennial ryegrass (to the detriment of cocksfoot) or involved defoliation of both species at the same time (Greenhalgh & Reid, 1969; Johnson & Thomson, 1996). Maintaining plants in a vegetative state through species-specific management is essential to retain the high quality and productivity of cocksfoot. Defoliation at or before 4-5 fully expanded live leaves per tiller is recommended as the ideal physiological regrowth stage for defoliation of cocksfoot, resulting in metabolisable energy (ME) levels in excess of 11MJ/kg dry matter (DM) (Rawnsley et al., 2002). The aim of the current study was to provide an objective comparison of the nutritional value of cocksfoot and perennial ryegrass grown in dryland conditions under a management regime based on the physiological status of each grass species.
