Performance of ‘Grasslands Puna’ Chicory at Different Management Levels

Abstract

Abstract‘Grasslands Puna’ chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) is a perennial taprooted herb that shows potential to produce high yields of palatable forage for ruminants. Our objective was to determine management effects on herbage production and quality, and stand persistence. Chicory and ‘Pennlate’ orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) were established on Hagerstown silt loam (fine, mixed, mesic Typic Hapludalf) soil at Rock Springs, PA. Treatments were intensive, moderate, and lenient management, corresponding to 25‐, 37‐, and 50‐cm chicory canopy height at harvest, with N fertilizer applied after each harvest except the last. The experimental design was a 2 × 3 (species × managements) factorial with five replications. Total yields of forage averaged 9A Mg ha−1 for chicory and 7.9 Mg ha−1 for orchardgrass in 1992 and 1993. Management did not affect total yield of chicory the first harvest year, nor that of orchardgrass in either year. Chicory yield was greatest from plants under lenient management the second year. Mean crude protein concentration in chicory and orchardgrass was 200 g kg−1 and 185 g kg −1 respectively, but both species showed a potential to accumulate concentrations greater than 250 g kg−1. Low concentrations (110 g kg−1) were associated with floral stem production. Chicory herbage had higher concentrations of Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Cu, and Zn, than did orchardgrass. Our results show that Grasslands Puna can withstand a range of defoliation intensities while maintaining excellent productivity.