Yield and Persistence of Forage and Root-type Chicory Cultivars

Abstract

A challenge in managing chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) as a forage is dealing with bolting of flower stalks in spring. Cultivars of chicory with reduced bolting potential, used mainly for root and sugar production (root types), are available. An experiment was conducted at Rock Springs, PA, to compare forage cultivars and European root‐type cultivars of chicory for yield, bolting, and persistence under clipping. ‘Grasslands Puna,’ ‘Lacerta,’ and ‘Forage Feast’ forage cultivars and ‘Dagerrad,’ ‘Halle,’ and ‘Katrein’ root‐type cultivars were sown in April 1999. Plots were cut every 4 week during May to August 2000 and 2001. Dry matter (DM) yield was determined at each harvest and bolting was estimated visually. Stand densities were determined periodically from October 1999 to June 2002. The cultivars did not differ in DM yield in 2000 (average DM of 6700 lb/acre). Grasslands Puna and Lacerta yielded more DM than other cultivars in 2001. More than 80% of Lacerta and Puna plants bolted at the first harvest in both years, whereas only 30 to 40% of Forage Feast and the root cultivars bolted. There was < 10% bolting in Forage Feast and the root‐type cultivars after the first harvest in 2000 and during all harvests of 2001. Lacerta suffered a 52% loss of plants in 2000 and a cumulative loss of 90% by June 2002. In June 2002 Lacerta had 2 plants/ft2, whereas the other cultivars averaged 6 plants/ft2. Reduced bolting would be a useful characteristic of forage chicory cultivars provided that yield and persistence were not compromised.

Available Soil Phosphorus Affects Herbage Yield and Stand Persistence in Forage Chicory

“…In addition to its poor persistence, the amount of stem tissue in Lacerta forage DMY indicated that its nutritive value was probably less than the more leafy cultivars, and this is consistent with reports on nutritive value of whole plants (Labreveux et al, 2006). Poor overall performance of Lacerta is consistent with other studies (Sanderson et al, 2003; Sanderson, 2007) and with the observation that Lacerta functions more like a biennial than a perennial (Foster et al, 2002b; Sanderson, 2007). The apparent intolerance of Lacerta to frequent defoliation when bolting is in conflict with the need to maintain a high leaf proportion for acceptable forage quality, making it an unsuitable cultivar for perennial pasture in Appalachia.…”

“…Others have also reported differences in frost heaving damage among chicory cultivars, but results are inconsistent. In previous trials at the same research farm in PA where this trial was conducted, Forage Feast and Lacerta heaved more than Puna in one trial (Sanderson, 2007), but not in another (Sanderson et al, 2003). Reasons for this inconsistency among trials and sites are not evident.…”

“…Because individual plants were not tracked, it is impossible to determine whether the rapid decline in Lacerta plant populations in our study was a direct consequence of bolting; however, the high degree of bolting coupled with rapid population decline suggests this was the case. Sanderson (2007) also observed a high degree of bolting coupled with stand loss in Lacerta, and suggested that frequent removal of reproductive shoots weakened the plants. In addition to its poor persistence, the amount of stem tissue in Lacerta forage DMY indicated that its nutritive value was probably less than the more leafy cultivars, and this is consistent with reports on nutritive value of whole plants (Labreveux et al, 2006).…”

“…Li et al (1997b) recommend that Australian chicory stands deteriorated past the point of practical utility when plant population density fell below 25 plants m −2 . Sanderson (2007) proposed that the stand density threshold for acceptable productivity of monoculture chicory in the United States may be greater than the Australian threshold, but did not suggest an alternative value. By comparing stand density in May and September to subsequent cumulative forage DMY, we determined that stands ending the harvest season with <50 plants m −2 were unlikely to yield more than 2000 kg ha −1 yr −1 (approximately one‐half of the maximum following‐year yield) in the following year at either site.…”

“…Cumulative forage DMY of chicory in the United States ranged from a maximum of 10,000 to a minimum of 2000 kg ha −1 yr −1 , with steady yield declines over time in every study (Jung et al, 1996; Volesky, 1996; Collins and McCoy, 1997; Belesky et al, 2000; Sanderson et al, 2003; Labreveux et al, 2004; Sanderson, 2007). Initial stand densities for both sites were less than previous reports from PA (Sanderson et al, 2003; Sanderson, 2007), but greater than densities reported from New Zealand (Li et al, 1997b). Greater initial stand population density in WV was probably a function of near‐ideal post‐planting precipitation distribution vs. drier conditions in Pennsylvania.…”