PRODUCTIVITY AND QUALITY OF PERENNIAL AND HYBRID RYEGRASS, ORCHARDGRASS AND REED CANARYGRASS GROWN IN THE LOWER MAINLAND OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
A study was conducted in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia to determine the yield and quality characteristics of four grass species. Two cultivars of perennial ryegrass (PR), hybrid ryegrass (HR), orchardgrass (OG), and reed canarygrass (RC) were grown under a four-cut management system for two production years with annual rates of N:P2O5:K2O of 300:200:200 kg/ha. Dry matter yields of PR, HR and RC over the two production years were similar but each produced significantly less than OG. However, both PR and HR equalled OG in the production of digestible dry matter. RC equalled HR in the production of digestible dry matter but produced significantly less than either PR or OG. In vitro dry matter digestibility was significantly different among species, averaging 67% for PR, 64% for HR, 63% for RC and 59% for OG. It fluctuated throughout the growing season in a similar pattern for each cultivar in each production year, HR being an exception in the second year because it remained at constant digestibility. PR and HR were especially productive in the spring and early summer whereas OG produced digestible dry matter more evenly over the growing season. RC was the least productive species in the fall. Nitrogen content was highest for RC, intermediate for PR and OG, and lowest for HR. The differences observed among these species, in terms of seasonal and annual productivity and quality characteristics, emphasize the need for carefully defining grass production requirements before selecting the species, cultivar, and management system to meet those requirements.Key words: Grasses, yield, quality, digestibility, nitrogen content, nutritive value

This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit: