Field evaluation of phalaris, tall fescue and cocksfoot cultivars and accessions in western Victoria, Australia
K. F. M. Reed A B C , Z. N. Nie A B and B. Clark A BA Department of Primary Industries, PB1, Hamilton, Vic. 3300, Australia.
B Future Farm Industries CRC, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Present address: Reed Pasture Science, 430 Beveridge Rd, Hamilton, Vic. 3300, Australia. Email: rps@eftel.net.au
Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 59(10) 971-981 https://doi.org/10.1071/AR08080
Submitted: 4 March 2008 Accepted: 15 July 2008 Published: 18 September 2008
Abstract
To assess their potential usefulness in the central and south-western Victorian environment, cultivars/experimental varieties and accessions of each of three perennial grasses, phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb. = syn. Lolium arundinaceum. (Schreb.) Darbysh.), and cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.), were established as swards by spring-sowing and then evaluated under rotational grazing by sheep. Pasture establishment, production, and survival following severe drought were measured at two locations. Persistent novel material of phalaris and tall fescue was identified that could increase the cool-season and year-round production relative to that obtained from current commercial cultivars.
Phalaris and tall fescue varieties were compared at Hamilton. Results indicated that, in contrast to tall fescue, the seedling vigour of winter-active phalaris types was similar in spring relative to that of summer-active types. Most phalaris cultivars were more productive than tall fescue in autumn and winter (P < 0.05). For the experimental phalaris variety Perla × Sirocco, dry matter (DM) production during these seasons was 19% greater than for the most productive tall fescue, cv. Fraydo (P < 0.05).
In a short growing season site at Warrak, winter-active cultivars of tall fescue produced up to 17% more DM in winter (P < 0.05) than the highest yielding, summer-active cv. Quantum MaxP, but for cumulative production over 3 years, Quantum MaxP was significantly more productive (P < 0.05) than 18 other entries. However, the persistence of Quantum and Quantum MaxP declined considerably post-drought; a more persistent accession from Sardinia, FA 005, was as productive as Quantum MaxP. Of the 13 cultivars compared in the longer growing season of Hamilton, Fraydo and Resolute MaxP were the most productive in winter (P < 0.05). For cumulative herbage yield over 4 years, Fraydo, Quantum MaxP, Quantum, Resolute MaxP, and Tanit were the most productive cultivars (P < 0.05). Infection with the MaxP endophyte did not affect persistence of Quantum at either site but improved the persistence of Resolute at Hamilton (P < 0.05). At Warrak, MaxP endophyte-infected Quantum was 35% more productive in summer–autumn than the endophyte-free cv. Quantum (P < 0.05).
Compared with the most productive commercial cv. Holdfast, experimental varieties from breeding populations of winter-active phalaris selected for grazing tolerance and which incorporated Perla, were superior for seedling vigour (rating 5 v. 3), winter growth (by ≥15%), and cumulative production over 4 years (≥12%) (P < 0.05).
Additional keywords: winter-active, summer vigour, seasonal growth, endophyte.
Acknowledgments
This work was part of the ‘National field evaluation of pastures’ project, Genetic Resources Program of the CRC for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity. Dr Richard Culvenor, CSIRO, Mr Eric Hall, Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research, and Drs E. Piano and L. Pecceti, Instituto Sperimentale per le Colture Foraggere, Lodi, Italy, each provided seed of experimental varieties and/or seed from their collections. We thank Gavin Kearney, Hamilton, for Biometric services, and Steve Clark, DPI, for his advice and cooperation. For their cooperation in providing access and facilitating cultivation, soil pits, and grazing we acknowledge the landowners who made this field study feasible, viz. the late Simon Gubbins of Murroa, Byaduk North, Vic., and John Stephens, Warrak, Vic. The Grains Research and Development Corporation, the CRC for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity, Victorian Department of Primary Industries, Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment, and the Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority provided financial support. For their technical support in the field we thank Vincent O’Shea, Fiona Cameron, and Jamie Smith. For help with site selection and soil analysis we thank Austin Brown and Mark Imhoff, DPI Werribee.
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