Environmental impact on winter survival and production in non-native grasses in the Nordic countries
2015
Oestrem, L., Bioforsk – Norwegian Inst. for Agricultural and Environmental Research, Hellevik i Fjaler (Norway). Horticulture and Urban Greening | Helgadottir, A., Agricultural Univ. of Iceland, Reykjavík (Iceland). Dept. of Land and Animal Resources | Niemelaeinen, O., Natural Resources Inst. Finland (Luke), Maaninka (Finland). Green Technology | Seppaenen, M., University of Helsinki (Finland). Dept. of Agricultural Sciences | Pedersen, M.G., DLF – Trifolium AS, Store Heddinge (Denmark). Research Div. | Halling, M., Swedish Univ. of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala (Sweden). Dept. of Crop Production Ecology | Rognli, O.A., Norwegian Univ. of Life Sciences, Aas (Norway). Dept. of Plant Sciences
Cultivars of perennial ryegrass, hybrid ryegrass, Festulolium of different species combinations, and tall fescue were compared with the main local cultivar of meadow fescue in field trials in the five Nordic countries during the first two ley years. Accumulated dry matter yield (DMY) of the summer cuts varied from 24.8 t haE-1 (Denmark) to 12.8 t haE-1 (Iceland). Averaged over years and sites tetraploid perennial ryegrass (20.5 t haE-1) yielded significantly more than meadow fescue (16.9 t haE-1), the latter being the lowest yielding species group. Generally, tall fescue had higher production capacity than meadow fescue, and more attention should be paid to it in most regions. Total DMY in the late fall when grass growth had ceased was significantly lower in the winter hardy species tall fescue and meadow fescue than in the cultivars of ryegrass and Festulolium. The estimated winter damage was lower in Denmark and Sweden compared to the other sites. Large differences in winter damage within species groups were observed due to different inherent adaptability of the cultivars, especially within loloid Festulolium. Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) was measured as a proxy for growth cessation on the field plots in Iceland and Norway. Higher NDVI values were obtained in Norway compared to Iceland, however, with the same order of decreasing values for the investigated cultivars during the autumn period. The different climatic conditions in the Nordic region were clearly reflected in significant genotype x environment interactions which underlines the necessity of regional testing of cultivars for optimal production. Further breeding of the non-native grasses for the northern and inland part of the region is needed, employing selection of plants with decreased growth during autumn to secure better hardening and winter survival.
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