EVALUATION OF BROMEGRASS WHEN GROWN IN PURE STAND AND IN MIXTURE WITH ALFALFA

Abstract

The two best and two lowest yielding of nine bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) strains were as readily identified from two-year as from three-year hay yield data. Root production was not satisfactorily evaluated from four soil cores per plot. Grass stand was very variable, for both strains and management systems. Spring vigor in the first year of production tended to be associated with plant number established in the seedling year. Strains were satisfactorily characterized for spring vigor in the second year of production and third-year data were not necessary. Strain differences in fall growth and rhizome extension were more pronounced, and coefficients of variation were reduced, as the stands aged.Alfalfa seeded with bromegrass masked the grass and made it difficult to evaluate most grass characters. Bromegrass strains evaluated in pure grass swards either with or without fertilizer gave comparable results. An advantage from fertilizer application was that the coefficient of variation for hay yield was reduced.