Track 1-10: Assessment and Impact of Grass and Forage Quality
Publication Date
2013
Location
Sydney, Australia
Description
Past research has shown digestibility decreases along leaf lifespan (LLS) in several grasses (i.e. Groot and Neute-boom 1997; Insúa et al. 2013; Agnusdei et al. 2012). This phenomenon has not yet been quantified in tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.). Therefore, additional knowledge on the dynamics of leaf quality decline along LLS is necessary to verify the proper defoliation window necessary to optimize forage quality and production (Fulkerson and Donaghy 2001; Lemaire et al. 2009) in tall fescue. Further, this window might differ between old and new types (i.e. softer vs rough-leaved). The objectives of the study were: (1) to compare leaf quality dynamics of two tall fescue cultivars differing in leaf softness as related to leaf turnover; and (2) to determine the defoliation regime that enables to obtain similar forage quality between cultivars.
Citation
Agnusdei, Mónica G.; Insúa, Juan Ramón; and Di Marco, Oscar Norberto, "Forage Quality and Defoliation Interval in Tall Fescue Cultivars" (2013). IGC Proceedings (1985-2023). 33.
(URL: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/22/1-10/33)
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Forage Quality and Defoliation Interval in Tall Fescue Cultivars
Sydney, Australia
Past research has shown digestibility decreases along leaf lifespan (LLS) in several grasses (i.e. Groot and Neute-boom 1997; Insúa et al. 2013; Agnusdei et al. 2012). This phenomenon has not yet been quantified in tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.). Therefore, additional knowledge on the dynamics of leaf quality decline along LLS is necessary to verify the proper defoliation window necessary to optimize forage quality and production (Fulkerson and Donaghy 2001; Lemaire et al. 2009) in tall fescue. Further, this window might differ between old and new types (i.e. softer vs rough-leaved). The objectives of the study were: (1) to compare leaf quality dynamics of two tall fescue cultivars differing in leaf softness as related to leaf turnover; and (2) to determine the defoliation regime that enables to obtain similar forage quality between cultivars.
