Component yields and quality of binary mixtures of lucerne and perennial, Italian or short rotation hybrid ryegrass

Abstract

AbstractStudies were conducted to characterize sward dynamics of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) and perennial, Italian or short rotation hybrid rye‐grass (Lolium perenne L. and L. multiflorum Lam.) binary mixtures under hay management. Lucerne/timothy (Phleum pratense L.) mixtures were included as controls. The study was conducted on two farms in central Pennsylvania, USA on Hagerstown silt loams (fine, mixed, mesic hapludalf). Total dry matter yield, grass yield and yield of digestible dry matter were higher for tetraploid perennial and tetraploid Italian ryegrass mixtures than for timothy mixtures. Seasonal production differed for the three kinds of ryegrass. Italian ryegrass dry matter yields were higher in cuts 2 and 3 than perennial ryegrass yields. Grass yields represented 34%, 24% and 12% of total yields of the Italian, perennial or short rotation, and timothy mixtures, respectively. However, herbage in vitro dry matter digestibility of Italian was lower than that of perennial ryegrass.The tetraploid perennial ryegrasses Grimalda and Reveille had high‐ranking N concentrations more frequently than other cultivars, while Bar‐vestra and Reveille tetraploid perennials and Bison short rotation ryegrass had high‐ranking dry matter digestibility values more frequently than the other cultivars. Perennial ryegrass cultivars and Lipo tetraploid Italian ryegrass persisted well for 4 years and produced higher yields with a lower weed content than timothy mixtures. It is concluded that perennial ryegrasses and Lipo Italian ryegrass should be recommended over timothy, as companion grasses with lucerne.