A comparison of the yield and composition of various mixtures of lucerne and grass sown in alternate rows with lucerne sown as a pure stand

Abstract

Abstract Various lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) /grass associations were compared with lucerne sown alone over a three-year period on high-fertility soil at Invermay Research Station. Companion grasses induded cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.). timothy (Phleum pratense L.), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), short-rotation ryegrass (Lolium perenne × L. multiflorum). phalaris (Phalaris tuberosa L.), meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis Huds.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), and prairie grass (Bromus catharticus Vahl.). All mixtures out-yielded lucerne sown alone in the first year, but differe:1ces in yield were small thereafter. The inclusion of a companion grass helped to control weeds except in the phalaris treatment. Although all the grasses had some merit, cocksfoot and tall fescue were considered superior to the others. Mixtures of lucerne with cocksfoot and tall fescue were more productive in winter than lucerne alone, weed control was good, and the balance of lucerne and grass was satisfa...