A Comparison of Yields from Plots Sown with a Single Species or a Mixture of Grass Species

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Abstract
The yields from plots under "hay" and "grazing" management and planted with 2-component mixtures of rye grass, meadow fescue and a triploid hybrid from a natural population, were compared with those from plots containing only 1 component. In the 3rd year of the experiment and particularly under "grazing" management the yields from mixed plots usually exceeded those of the components grown alone. The yields from the mixed plots appeared to be greater because competition was more severe between plants of the same species than between plants of different species. The intensity of competition was decreased by mixing the species because they were of different growth habit. The generally accepted conclusion that yields from mixed plots do not outyield those of pure plots was drawn largely from experiments in which the plants were grown under conditions which precluded any other result.