Relationships between growth and measured weather factors among contrasting varieties of Lolium, Dactylis and Festuca species

Italian, perennial, hybrid ryegrass, tall fescue and cocksfoot were used to determine the influence of the weather upon grass growth. Throughout the spring and summer months of 1975 and 1976, weather conditions were monitored. Crop growth rate, leaf extension rate, leaf appearance rate and tillering were recorded. Natural (control), covered and irrigated treatments were applied. In spring, crop growth rates were correlated with solar radiation and temperature, but growth rates were greatest at high levels of insolation. Leaf extension rate was associated with temperature during spring. But during summer this association between temperature and leaf extension became confused as soil water deficit increased. Leaf extension rate in the tall fescue variety SI 70 was the slowest of all for a given temperature. In 1975 leaf growth was very sensitive to temperature; the rate of leaf appearance increased as temperature increased. In 1976 water deficit reduced crop growth rate in spring, and was the major factor influencing crop growth rates in all varieties during summer. Leaf extension and leaf appearance rates were both reduced by increasing soil water deficit. The ryegrasses appeared most sensitive to drought and poor recovery growth was found in the Italian RvP and the hybrid Snowdon.     

The morphological and physiological responses of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.; syn. Schedonorus phoenix Scop.) to variable water availability

There is a growing interest in the use of deficit irrigation and perennial pasture species other than perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) in temperate agriculture, in response to the decreasing availability of irrigation water. Deficit irrigation requires an understanding of plant responses to drought stress to ensure maximum dry‐matter return on water applied. A glasshouse study was undertaken to investigate some of the morphological and physiological responses of perennial ryegrass, cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.; syn. Schedonorus phoenix Scop.) to varied moisture availability. One water treatment involved frequent applications of water to maintain a soil water potential of approximately ?10 kPa (100% treatment), and three other treatments involved applications at the same frequency, but using 33, 66 or 133% of the water applied in the 100% treatment. The water treatments continued over two plant regrowth cycles, followed by a ‘recovery’ phase of a single regrowth cycle during which all plants received the same water allocation as the 100% treatment. Depletion and replenishment of stubble water‐soluble carbohydrate (WSC) differed between the three species in response to soil moisture availability. By the second regrowth cycle, stubble WSC concentration and content in moisture‐stressed cocksfoot plants had increased, followed by a decrease during the subsequent recovery phase when the stored WSC reserves were utilized to support regrowth. The changes in stubble WSC reserves corresponded to the maintenance of relatively stable (i.e. the smallest reduction in leaf DM in response to moisture stress), but consistently lower DM production for cocksfoot compared with the other species. In contrast, moisture stress had no effect on the stubble WSC reserves of perennial ryegrass and tall fescue, with the exception of a significant decrease in WSC concentration under the 33% water treatment for perennial ryegrass. Perennial ryegrass achieved an intermediate DM yield and maintained positive growth rates throughout the study, even when watered at 33% of the requirement for optimal soil moisture levels. However, a more pronounced reduction in leaf DM in plants under moisture stress compared with the other species, combined with declining WSC reserves and the death of daughter tillers, highlighted the vulnerability of perennial ryegrass to poor persistence under prolonged drought conditions. Tall fescue appeared to have the greatest scope under moisture stress in terms of maintaining productivity and displaying attributes that contribute to persistence. Its leaf DM was consistently greater than that of the other species, displaying a smaller decline in growth under water stress compared to perennial ryegrass and an ability to recover faster upon re‐watering. This study has expanded the information available that compares and defines the potential of each species under moisture stress and emphasizes the importance of balancing short‐term DM production with long‐term persistence in choice of pasture species.     

The silage yield potential of hybrid ryegrass over a 5-year period in Northern Ireland relative to other ryegrasses and timothy

The yield and persistency of grass species within a managed sward are a major consideration when determining species mixtures for either long-term or short-term sward management systems. Perennial ryegrass is lower yielding but more persistent than Italian ryegrass. Hybrid ryegrass, an interspecies cross between perennial and Italian ryegrass, may be higher yielding than perennial ryegrass and more persistent than Italian ryegrass. Therefore, the yield and persistency of hybrid ryegrass was investigated in Northern Ireland in five experiments, each harvested over five consecutive years, and compared with that of Italian ryegrass, perennial ryegrass and timothy. The performance of the five grass species were in the expected order; Italian ryegrass was higher yielding than hybrid ryegrass, which was higher than perennial ryegrass, with timothy the lowest, whereas perennial ryegrass and timothy had significantly higher sward densities than the hybrid and Italian ryegrasses. In addition, it was found that the rate of decline in yield and sward density with age was the same for all species. Consequently, this study indicated that the higher yielding Italian and hybrid ryegrasses could continue to out-perform perennial ryegrass for 5 years, opening the possibility of more extensive farming use of these species, particularly in Northern Ireland.     

Some differences between eight grasses within the Lolium-Festuca complex when grown in conditions of severe water shortage

Differences between eight related grasses within the Lolium-Festuca complex in conditions of severe water shortage were investigated. Transparent covers were used to restrict the access of rain to field plots of pure stands of Westerwolds ryegrass ( Lolium multiflorum var. Westerwoldicum), Italian ryegrass ( L. multiflorum ), hybrid ryegrass ( L. multiflorum × L. perenne ), perennial ryegrass ( L. perenne ), meadow fescue ( Festuca pratensis ), Italian ryegrass × meadow fescue, perennial ryegrass × meadow rescue, tall fescue ( Festuca arundinacea ) and three mixtures (Italian ryegrass with perennial ryegrass; Italian ryegrass with tall fescue; perennial ryegrass with tall rescue) grown in west Wales. Westerwolds ryegrass and Italian ryegrass died out after 12–15 months of exclusion of rain; meadow fescue, meadow rescue × ryegrass hybrids and perennial ryegrass died out after ≊ 2 years of exclusion of rain; tall rescue was still alive after 4 years of exclusion of rain. During the 2 years after the year of sowing, the loss of water from the top 1 m of soil was greater with tall rescue than with the other grasses. Tall fescue and perennial ryegrass had a low rate of leaf expansion, a small increase in length of exposed leaf sheath and a high weight per unit area of emerging leaf blade. Tall rescue had a greater number and weight of roots than the other grasses, particularly in the 50–100 cm layer of soil, on an adjoining, uncovered site. The order of suitability of the eight grasses for conditions of severe water shortage appears to be tall fescue > perennial ryegrass > perennial ryegrass × meadow rescue, meadow fescue, Italian ryegrass × meadow rescue, hybrid ryegrass > Italian ryegrass > Westerwolds ryegrass.     

Component yields and quality of binary mixtures of lucerne and perennial, Italian or short rotation hybrid ryegrass

Studies were conducted to characterize sward dynamics of lucerne ( Medicago sativa L.) and perennial, Italian or short rotation hybrid rye-grass ( Lolium perenne L. and L. multiflorum Lam.) binary mixtures under hay management. Lucerne/timothy ( Phleum pratense L.) mixtures were included as controls. The study was conducted on two farms in central Pennsylvania, USA on Hagerstown silt loams (fine, mixed, mesic hapludalf). Total dry matter yield, grass yield and yield of digestible dry matter were higher for tetraploid perennial and tetraploid Italian ryegrass mixtures than for timothy mixtures. Seasonal production differed for the three kinds of ryegrass. Italian ryegrass dry matter yields were higher in cuts 2 and 3 than perennial ryegrass yields. Grass yields represented 34%, 24% and 12% of total yields of the Italian, perennial or short rotation, and timothy mixtures, respectively. However, herbage in vitro dry matter digestibility of Italian was lower than that of perennial ryegrass.
The tetraploid perennial ryegrasses Grimalda and Reveille had high-ranking N concentrations more frequently than other cultivars, while Bar-vestra and Reveille tetraploid perennials and Bison short rotation ryegrass had high-ranking dry matter digestibility values more frequently than the other cultivars. Perennial ryegrass cultivars and Lipo tetraploid Italian ryegrass persisted well for 4 years and produced higher yields with a lower weed content than timothy mixtures. It is concluded that perennial ryegrasses and Lipo Italian ryegrass should be recommended over timothy, as companion grasses with lucerne.     

Digestion in vitro of Italian and perennial ryegrasses, red clover, white clover and lucerne

Herbage at various stages of growth from three field experiments, one with Italian ryegrass, one with perennial ryegrass and one with white clover, red clover and lucerne, was incubated for 0, 24 or 48 h in rumen liquor followed by 48 h in acid-pepsin. The proportion of cell content OM in herbage (measured by pepsin) declined with advancing stage of growth more quickly in the legumes than in Italian ryegrass. At a high level of digestibility the legumes had a higher proportion of cell content OM than Italian ryegrass, but the position tended to be reversed at a low level of digestibility. Decline in proportion of cell content and decline in digestibility of cell wall were both major contributors to the decline in digestibility of Italian ryegrass with advancing maturity, whereas in white clover the decline in proportion of cell content was entirely responsible for the decline in digestibility. Lucerne and red clover occupied intermediate positions. At an early vegetative stage rate of digestion appeared to be higher in Italian than in perennial ryegrass. Rate of digestion was higher in the legumes than in the ryegrasses, the difference being largest at an advanced stage of growth.     

Variation in spring temperatures, grass production and response to nitrogen over twenty years in the uplands

Large between-year variation was observed in spring air and soil temperatures at Pant-y-dwr Hill Centre (305 m altitude) from 1967 to 1984 and at Bronydd Mawr Research Centre (330 m) from 1985 to 1986 in Powys. The mean date of attaining T-sum 200°C accumulated air temperature was 13 March (range 9 February to 23 April) and that of soil temperature at 100 mm depth permanently above 5 5°C was 9 April (range 7 March to 4 May). Net herbage accumulation and response to applied N from Aberystwyth S23 perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) swards during April were also highly variable and were correlated with the date of reaching target soil temperatures of above 5 5°C for 5 consecutive days ( r =−0·68, P < 0·001 for net herbage accumulation and r =−0·70, P < 0·001 for response to N).
The use of early flowering varieties of perennial ryegrass gave a significant increase of herbage growth in spring compared with late varieties. From 1979 to 1980 net herbage accumulation during April from the early variety Frances was 94% more than from Perma (late) and 55% more than from Talbot (intermediate) varieties. Under conservation management more winter hardy and persistent varieties of Italian and hybrid ryegrasses ( L. multiflorum L. and L. multiflorum X L. perenne ) gave higher quantities of firstcut silage crops in early June than RvP Italian ryegrass.
After the severe winters of 1978–79 and 1985–86, subsequent spring production from a wide range of ryegrasses was shown to be affected by sward survival, highlighting the value of winter hardy varieties when resowing in the uplands     

SEASONAL TILLER POPULATIONS OF GRASS AND GRASSJCLOVER SWARDS WITH AND WITHOUT IRRIGATION

The number of tillers per unit area of pure swards of S23 and S24 perennial ryegrass, S37 cocksfoot, S48 timothy and of a S23 perennial ryegrass/white clover sward, were examined at intervals of 4 weeks during a period of two years. The monthly appearance of new tillers and the death of tillers of S23 and S24 ryegrass and S48 timothy were followed for 15 months. The studies were made with and without irrigation.
The number of tillers varied with season through the year. Tiller numbers increased rapidly in late winter or early spring, and then declined until midsummer. Numbers rose again between June and August. This seasonal pattern of tiller numbers was most marked in ryegrass and timothy and least in cocksfoot. The effect of irrigation on tiller numbers was variable, and usually small in relation to the overall seasonal fluctuations in tiller numbers, but dry soil conditions could delay an increase in tiller numbers between June and August. The relationship between seasonal fluctuations in tiller number and root growth of swards is discussed.     

A survey of ryegrass swards for the presence of fungal pathogens in relation to management

Surveys of perennial and Italian ryegrass swards (Lolium perenne L. and L. multiflorum Lam.) at regular intervals in 1977 and 1978 in Berkshire, Wales and Devon confirmed that leaf infection by Drechslera spp. was the most frequently occurring foliar fungal disease. Rhynchosporium spp. and Puccinia coronata Corda were also recorded but in contrast to Drechslera spp., which caused damage throughout the year, attacks by these two fungi were only sporadic.
The incidence of Drechslera was greater in 1977 than in 1978 and was greater in Berkshire where most fields were infected in both years than in Wales and Devon. Both perennial and Italian ryegrasses were infected. The number of leaves damaged increased with leaf age. Damage was greater on fields managed for conservation than those which were grazed. Infection increased from February onwards and was greatest in autumn. It is concluded that Drechslera might be controlled by removing infected herbage in autumn by cutting.
Rhynchosporium spp. were prevalent only in Berkshire and more Italian ryegrass fields ( ca , 50%) were infected than perennial ryegrass fields ( ca , 10%). Infection was confined to the period March to May. This pathogen caused more leaf area damage than Drechslera .
Puccinia coronata occurred only once in Devon and Wales. In Berkshire incidence was confined to 1978 and was common from September to November, when 60–70% of both Italian and perennial ryegrass fields were infected. Some difference between perennial ryegrass cultivars was observed.     

The influence of light and temperature during winter on growth and death in simulated swards of Lolium perenne

Two growth experiments were carried out in January-March 1978 in which simulated swards of perennial ryegrass were (1) heated by soil warming cables to give soil surface temperatures of approx. 7·5-9·C above ambient temperature, (2) shaded with netting to reduce light levels by approx. 50%, or (3) both heated and shaded.
Heating alone increased leaf appearance, death, extension, lamina size, leaf area index (LAI), tillering (month 1)and whole plant weight (month 2) and reduced stubble water-soluble carbohydrates and specific leaf weight (SLW).
Shading alone increased leaf extension, lamina size and LAI but to a lesser extent than did heating. Shading decreased SLW, leaf death rate, tillering (month 2), stubble carbohydrates and whole plant weight, but not herbage weight.
The effects of heating plus shading were similar to those of heating alone, except that the increases in leaf size, extension and LAI were even greater, and shoot bases and roots had low or negative growth rates.
In general the heating treatments caused a rapid turnover of leaf material, but net herbage growth was relatively insensitive. It is concluded that (1) temperature rather than light was limiting whole plant growth, especially from mid-February to mid-March and (2) mild, dull weather in winter is likely to induce tiller death associated with reduced investment in carbohydrate reserves.     

Stress and recovery of hill pastures in the North Island of New Zealand

Moisture and treading treatments were imposed on intact turves that were relocated to a glasshouse after being removed from three hill pastures of different soil fertility in the North Island of New Zealand. The experiment consisted of a 2‐month stress phase, where the treatments were wetting (W), wetting and treading (WT), drying (D) and control (C). In this phase, herbage accumulation rate, tiller density and leaf extension rate were lower on the D turves, and herbage accumulation rate and tiller density were lower on the WT turves than for the C turves. Herbage accumulation rate was higher on the W treatment than on the C treatment. In the 2‐month recovery phase, herbage accumulation rate and leaf extension rate on the D turves were higher than those of the C treatment. Herbage accumulation rate and tiller density took longer to recover on the WT turves but by the end of the recovery period tiller density on these turves exceeded that of the C turves and the original tiller densities on the WT turves. Changes (increase or decrease) in leaf extension rate were associated with the W treatment and tiller density with the WT treatment. Moisture was limiting on the D and C turves, but on the W and WT turves, where moisture was adequate for plant growth, nutrients were limiting, notably phosphorus on the W and WT turves and sulphur on the W turves. The D treatment turves recovered very quickly once the stress was removed but the WT turves were slower to recover. Under the experimental conditions applied, the hill pasture turves were more resilient to the drying treatment than the wetting and treading treatment.     

Factors influencing tissue turnover during winter in perennial ryegrass-dominated swards

Despite low net grass growth rates in Ireland between mid-November and February, tissue continuously turns over as new leaves are produced and older leaves senesce. The effects of closing swards from grazing on three dates in autumn (1 September, 20 September and 10 October) on tissue turnover in a perennial ryegrass sward during the winter were examined at two sites in the north-east and south of Ireland. Leaf extension and senescence rates were greater in the south than in the north-east, and were greatest on the earliest closing date at both sites. Leaf appearance and extension rates at both sites were closely correlated with accumulated daily air temperature above 6°C and mean soil temperature. Site-specific factors also influenced tissue flux, possibly including grazing intensity at closing and density of tillers of perennial ryegrass. Swards in the autumn with high herbage masses [>2000 kg dry matter (DM) ha⁻¹ approximately] and high leaf area index (LAI; about 2·5 and above) had the greatest leaf senescence rates and the greatest declines in herbage mass during the winter. Leaf senescence rates per tiller in high LAI swards were correlated positively with amount of leaf per tiller and also the proportion of green leaf in the second youngest expanding leaf lost to senescence. As potentially a complex of interactive factors influences tissue flux in winter, it is proposed that the data from this study be used in conjunction with other data to construct a dynamic model to predict more reliably optimum closing date in autumn for herbage utilization in winter.     

Are more productive varieties of Paspalum dilatatum less tolerant to drought?

Paspalum dilatatum Poir., is a perennial C₄ grass widely distributed in the Argentinean Pampas. The response to water availability for materials developed with forage‐production purposes is unknown. We hypothesized that genetic differences between commercial varieties are reflected in their regrowth capacity under water stress. The effect of five levels of constant water supply on three plant varieties (two derived from apomictic materials: ‘Relincho’ and ‘Alonso’ and one from sexually‐derived material: ‘Primo’) were examined in the greenhouse. Leaf‐ and plant‐response traits were followed during 38 d after a single defoliation event. Seven response variables were measured: three of them were morphogenetic (leaf elongation rate, leaf appearance rate and leaf elongation duration) and four were structural (number of live leaves, lamina length, tiller biomass and tiller production). The sexual material showed higher values for growth variables than the apomictic varieties (leaf elongation rate, leaf length and tiller biomass) across the environmental range. Apomictic varieties showed a proportionally similar drought response to the sexual material for the seven variables. No intra‐specific trade‐off (statistical interaction) was found between growth under high water availability conditions and drought tolerance.     

The rate of water loss from cut grass of different species dried at 20°C

The water loss from tall fescue cv. S170, perennial ryegrass cv. S24, Italian ryegrass cv. R v P and timothy cv. S352 when dried as a thin layer under controlled conditions at 20°C and r.h. 50% is described. Comparisons were made on six occasions between mid-April and mid-June. Tall fescue dried faster than the other species and the time to reach a water concentration of 0·2 g water per g dry matter varied little between the six harvests. In contrast, the drying time for the ryegrasses and timothy increased to maximal values in mid-May and then fell. Drying time was dependent on the initial water concentration of the grass, the ratio of leaf to stem and on the amount of true stem exposed to the drying environment. The practical implications in relation to haymaking are discussed.     

The effect of sward structure as influenced by ryegrass genotype on bite dimensions and short-term intake rate by dairy cows

Abstract The effects of genotypic variation in ryegrasses on sward structure, bite dimensions and intake rate by dairy cows were investigated. Two experiments were conducted. In Experiment 1, swards were in a vegetative state whereas, in Experiment 2, they were partly reproductive and were taller with higher herbage mass but lower leaf proportion than in Experiment 1. Applicability of relationships between sward structure and bite characteristics, previously established from artificial or hand‐constructed swards, to field conditions were tested. Additional short‐term intake rates and/or sward structural characteristics were considered as indicators of potential intake for use in protocols for the evaluation of grass varieties. Four cultivars were studied: AberElan, Twins (diploid and tetraploid perennial ryegrasses respectively), Polly, a hybrid ryegrass (perennial × Italian ryegrass) and Multimo (Italian ryegrass), each established in 200‐m² plots in four replicated blocks. Herbage intake rate was determined by short‐term liveweight change (taking account of insensible weight loss) using 16 dairy cows allocated to four balanced groups with each plot grazed by one group for a 1‐h assessment period. One block was grazed per day, over a 4‐d experimental period, with each group grazing each variety in a complete crossover design. Sward characteristics and bite rate were also measured in both experiments. Bite dimensions were subsequently estimated, with bite depth being determined as a function of extended tiller height (ETH) in both experiments. Within both experiments, bite mass and intake rate did not differ significantly between swards of different cultivars despite swards containing Multimo generally having a higher ETH and water‐soluble carbohydrate concentration and lower green leaf mass, sward bulk density and neutral‐detergent fibre concentration than the other swards. However, bite depth was significantly higher (P < 0·01) in swards containing Multimo swards than in the others and, in Experiment 1, bite depth, as a proportion of ETH, was higher in swards containing Multimo and lower in those containing Twins than in the other two cultivars, whereas there was no difference in Experiment 2. Taking both experiments together, the mean bite depth was 0·5 of ETH with sward bulk density accounting for almost half the variance in the relationship between bite depth and ETH. The bulk density of the bite (bite mass per unit bite volume), measured in Experiment 2, followed a similar pattern to sward bulk density, increasing in the order Multimo, Polly, AberElan and Twins. It is concluded that the relationships between sward characteristics and bite dimensions, derived from artificial swards, are applicable to field swards, although the range in natural ryegrass sward characteristics is usually not as wide as in experiments using artificial swards. Lack of precision in the measurement of short‐term intake and in sward‐based measurements is likely to preclude their use in the evaluation of grass varieties.     

Progress in breeding interspecific hybrid ryegrasses

Stable hybrids were produced between tetraploid perennial and Italian ryegrasses derived from commercial varieties and germplasm introduced from European collections. Spaced plant characteristics were used to select Fl plants for the production of F2 families which were assessed in small plots for growth and quality traits. Ten of the 19 selected hybrid families were based on perennial ryegrass collected from the Zurich Uplands. The influence of this parental material in improving vegetative growth during early spring, late summer and autumn was demonstrated. Its use in improving feeding value by increasing the water-soluble carbohydrate content of hybrids was also shown. Consequently, selected hybrid varieties based on this new genetic resource showed considerable improvements in seasonal growth and quality over the older hybrid variety Augusta and Italian ryegrass variety RvP.     

基于相对生长率的大豆旱灾系统敏感性定量评估研究

针对大豆旱灾系统敏感性定量评估的复杂性与重要性,依托新马桥农水综合试验站开展大豆防雨棚盆栽受旱胁迫专项试验,分析了大豆不同生育期受旱胁迫对根(冠)干物质积累及根冠比的影响,运用作物生长解析法构建了基于相对生长率(RGR)的大豆旱灾系统敏感性函数,实现对大豆旱灾系统敏感性的定量评估。结果表明:大豆苗期受旱胁迫会出现相对生长率较大幅度的降低,但随着受旱胁迫度的增大对大豆生长和干物质积累的抑制作用增强不明显,且受旱胁迫会激发自身适应受旱胁迫的机制而可能对后期生长发育有利,宜根据时机控制该生育期水分供给,保证苗全即可;大豆分枝期旱灾系统敏感性较强,但该生育期内轻度受旱胁迫对大豆生长发育影响不明显,宜保证该生育期水分供给高于轻度受旱胁迫(土壤含水率田间持水含水率的55%),以保障大豆株壮、枝多;大豆花荚期是水分和养分需求最大的时期,该生育期旱灾系统较敏感,特别是重度受旱胁迫时系统敏感性最大,宜充分保证该生育期的水分供给(土壤含水率田间持水含水率的75%),以保障大豆花多、荚多、粒多;大豆鼓粒成熟期由于营养生长基本停止、干物质积累几乎停滞,导致基于总干物质相对生长率旱灾系统敏感性最小,但该期是产量形成的关键期,宜保证该生育期尤其鼓粒期的水分供给(土壤含水率田间持水含水率的75%),以保障完熟期粒多、粒重。     

Physiological responses of argentine peanut varieties to water stress.: Light interception, radiation use efficiency and partitioning of assimilates

In Argentina, peanut production is concentrated in areas where unpredictable and intermittent periods of water deficit occur almost every year especially, during the pod growth period. Florman INTA is the most popular variety among peanut producers, but it is highly sensitive to drought. Manfredi 393 INTA was released as a drought-tolerant variety. Differences between these varieties in radiation interception and crop mass accumulation relative to light levels, as well as in allocation of assimilate to economic yield under water deficit, have not been previously studied.

An experiment was set with two different regimes of water supply. Half of the crop was irrigated (IRR) from sowing to maturity, while the other half received no water between 47 and 113 days after sowing. The fraction of PAR intercepted, (f), leaf area, pod and vegetative above-ground biomass and leaf carbon dioxide exchange rate (CER) were measured periodically during the water deficit period. The leaf area index, degree of leaf folding, canopy extinction coefficient, radiation use efficiency (RUE), partitioning factor, (p), and harvest index (HI) were calculated from the measurements.

Under water stress, f was reduced in both varieties with respect to their controls, and the reduction was proportionally higher in Florman INTA as a consequence of a higher leaf area reduction and degree of leaf folding. However, f remained higher in Florman INTA than in Manfredi 393 INTA due to the enhanced capacity of the former to generate leaf area under non-limiting water supply.

RUE values were higher in Manfredi 393 INTA than in Florman INTA, both under irrigation as well as under severe water deficit, where they were obtained using a two-parameter exponential model. The reason for the higher RUE values in Manfredi 393 INTA was its ability to maintain a higher leaf CER.

Partitioning to pods under irrigation was greater in Manfredi 393 INTA than in Florman INTA, as a result of a longer pod filling period and higher p. Towards the end of podfill, there was a rapid increase of p in Florman INTA, but too late to improve its HI. Under water stress, the time course of p for both varieties was lower than in the IRR treatments and consequently, HI at harvest was reduced. Low HI values could be attributed to some extent to the mechanical impedance of the upper soil layer, caused by water deficit. Mechanical impedance alters the relation among p and HI values obtained under irrigation and water stress. However, even if it is accounted for, cultivars with high HI under IRR conditions usually have high HI under water deficit.     

PRODUCTIVITY OF ITALIAN AND PERENNIAL RYEGRASS MIXTURES

Italian ryegrass cv. Leda and perennial ryegrass cv. Presto were sown alone and in five mixtures containing different proportions of viable seed and compared with hybrid ryegrass cv. Manawa and Italian ryegrass cv. S22. Yields and herbage composition were measured five times in 1962 and 1963, with particular reference to the contribution from perennial ryegrass in the first year and the effects of Italian ryegrass on second-year production. Italian ryegrass dominated first-year production wbile perennial ryegrass dominated second-year production. Manawa was the top yielder in the first year, but both Manawa and S22 bebaved as Italian ryegrasses and were badly frosted and weedy in the second year. The mixtures were generally intermediate in yield between the components and tended towards the yield of the more vigorous component. Since the more vigorous component changed from cut to cut or from season to season, the sums of harvests sbowed some advantage for certain mixtures. Certain pairs of herbage varieties can be sown togetber witb yield advantage. Furtber physiological investigations are warranted and the breeder has a part to play in a search for complementary varieties.     

Herbage productivity of brome grass (Bromus carinatus)

Herbage production and quality of swards of brome grass (Bromus carinatus. Hook and Am) were compared with other commonly sown grasses at two sites in Scotland. At Ayr, the comparison was with perennial ryegrass ( Lolium perenne L.), cocksfoot ( Dactylis glomerata L.) and timothy ( Phleum pratense L.) under 6-cut (experiment 1) and 4-cut (experiment 2) regimes over 3 years with 360 kg ha⁻¹ fertilizer N applied annually in each experiment. At Edinburgh, brome grass was compared over 3 years with perennial ryegrass and cocksfoot under a 7-cut system given 3(X)-35O kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ (experiment 3) and with perennial ryegrass, cocksfoot and Italian ryegrass ( Lolium multiflorum Lam.) under a 4-cut system given 250–325 kg N ha⁻¹ annually (experiment 4).
Over the 3 years, brome grass gave 1.18, 6.19 and 1.3% less dry matter (DM) production than the other grasses in experiments 1, 2 and 3 respectively; in experiment 4, it was 1 % less productive than Italian ryegrass but 1.2% more productive than the other grasses. The organic matter digestibility (OMD) of brome grass was lower than that of perennial ryegrass but higher than timothy at Ayr, similar to perennial and Italian ryegrasses at Edinburgh but markedly superior to cocksfoot at both sites. N concentrations in brome grass were higher than in the ryegrasses but lower than in cocksfoot. Mineral composition data showed brome grass to be high in P and K, low in Ca and Mg and very low in Na compared with corresponding concentrations in the other grasses.
The variable performance of this brome grass species ( B. carinatus ) against commonly used grasses in the reported experiments, together with similar evidence from the literature, leads to the conclusion that it is unlikely to be suitable for widespread use in the UK; nevertheless, it has shown some promise in drought-prone situations.