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 less than 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.