Effects of cultivars and overseeding dates of Italian ryegrass [Lolium multiflorum] on winter yield of perennial guineagrass [Panicum maximum] pasture
2006
Okumura, K.(Okinawa-ken. Animal Husbandry Experiment Station, Nakijin (Japan)) | Inafuku, M. | Kouki, K. | Ebina, M.
We evaluated the effect of overseeding of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) into a guineagrass (Panicum maximum Jacq.) pasture on winter forage production in the subtropical southwestern islands of Japan. In Trial 1, five cultivars of Italian ryegrass, ranging from extremely early- to middle-maturity types, were sown in late December. A very early cultivar 'Sachiaoba' showed highest dry matter yields in both the first and second cuttings in spring. At the third cutting in early summer, all Italian ryegrass cultivars had already died and had no influence on the yield of guineagrass. In Trial 2, 'Sachiaoba' was sown on 4 dates between late November and late December (27 November, 6, 16 and 26 December). Although overseeding date did not affect the total dry matter yield at the first cutting, delayed overseeding increased the percentage of Italian ryegrass from 23 (27 November) to 91% (26 December). The latest seeding date (26 December) allowed 30 more days for guineagrass to grow than the earliest date (27 November). The results show that overseeding a very early-maturity cultivar of Italian ryegrass after mid-December is most effective in increasing forage production from a dormant guineagrass pasture in the low-temperature season.
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