Autumn‐Accumulated Tall Fescue and Orchardgrass. I. Growth and Quality as Influenced by Nitrogen and Soil Temperature¹

Abstract

In many situations autumn‐saved pastures offers an excellent alternative to more traditional and expensive livestock programs where hay or silage are the main winter feeds. Environmental conditions during the period of fall forage accumulation are markedly different from those of the spring and summer months and both forage yield and quality were affected. The objective of this research was to study the effects of temperature and nitrogen fertilization on the growth and quality of autumn‐accumulated forage. Two field experiments were conducted during 1970–71 on a Beltsville silt loam soil (Typic Fragiudults) to measure the influence of N rates and soil temperatures on the growth and quality of autumn‐saved ‘Ky‐31’ tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) and ‘Potomac’ orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.). Nitrogen was applied at either 0, 50 (1970 only), or 100 kg N/ha in late September. In 1971 soil temperatures were maintained at ambient and approximately 12, 20, and 27 C during the autumn using specially designed field equipment. Forage samples were collected from randomly‐selected, previously unharvested areas. These were separated into green, dead, and miscellaneous fractions for yield and quality evaluation. Tall fescue was a more suitable species for autumn‐saved pasture primarily due to its superior growth compared with orchardgrass. Differences in quality were not consistently found between the species. In November of each year, dry matter availability reached a maximum of approximately 4,000 and 3,300 kg/ha for tall fescue and orchardgrass, respectively. During December under ambient conditions net loss of dry matter occurred in both species, presumably due to a greater rate of leaf death and decay than leaf growth. Digestibility and protein percentages decreased only slightly during autumn. The minimum IVDMD and crude protein levels measured during approximately 100 days of accumulation in either year were 80 and 13.5% for tall fescue and 73.0 and 15.2% for orchardgrass, respectively. Nitrogen fertilization stimulated growth of the autumn‐saved pastures and also tended to increase crude protein percentages. An application of 100 kg N/ha in late summer produced up to 50% more dry matter by early winter than zero N. IVDMD of the forage was not affected by N fertilization. Growth of the grasses during fall was stimulated by increasing the soil temperature. This effect was greater for tall fescue than orchardgrass. Plant quality was only slightly affected. However, the relative effects of the soil temperature treatments in relation to air temperatures and light parameters were not determined.

Yield, persistence, and nutritive value of autumn harvested tall fescue

“…1). Similar DM yields have been reported by Burns and Chamblee (2000), Rayburn et al (1979), and Archer and Decker (1977) in areas with longer growing seasons. The average annual DM yield was 9.6 Mg DM ha -1 in the first production year and 8.2 Mg DM ha -1 in the second production year.…”

“…S. J. Darbyshire, synonym Festuca arundinacea Schreb.] maintains yield and nutritive value better during autumn than a number of other cool-season grasses (Brown et al 1963;Berry and Hoveland 1969;Archer and Decker 1977). Tall fescue, therefore, has the characteristics necessary for the extension of the growing season.…”

Effects of the utilization term and additional sowing of Festuca arundinacea and Festulolium on the production of winter pasture

“…VIII). The higher yields with the preparatory cut in June than those with the preparatory cut in August correspond well with the conclusions of Archer and Decker (1977), Collins and Balasko (1981) or Gerrish et al (1994) according to which the early saving of the stand in the growing period results in increased autumn and winter yields. A very highly significant effect on the yields was also that of the term of main use.…”

“…The term of main use was observed to have a significant effect (P < 0. . Dry matter losses with the proceeding winter can be derived from a higher rate of dying and decomposing leaves and from the restricted growth of leaves (ARChER & DECKER, 1977;AChILLES et al, 2002). As compared with the grass stands with no additional sowing, higher yields from the additionally sown grass stands can also relate to the fact that the leaves of both Festuca arundinacea and Festulolium are harder and their decomposition is therefore slower.…”

Can Festulolium, Dactylis glomerata and Arrhenatherum elatius be used for extension of the autumn grazing season in Central Europe?

“…This can be an effect of senescence and retranslocation of N into storage organs (Hejcman et al 2010). Archer and Decker (1977) determined that the CP content in Festuca arundinacea was lower compared to Dactylis glomerata in the autumn. However, they considered the difference insignificant.…”