THE GROWTH OF VARIETIES OF PERENNIAL RYEGRASS IN THE SEEDING YEAR

These studies showed that in the first autumn the capacity for soil establishment of different varieties of perennial ryegrass was connected with seed size. On one of two experimental fields, shoot production in the early stages was found to be positively correlated with seed size. The rate of tillering was initially similar for all varieties, but by January or February, the pasture varieties had the highest tiller numbers. However, shoot weights at this time differed very little from variety to variety. Tillering virtually ceased during December and January and started again in February.
The yields obtained from the five varieties in spring, when cut with an autoscythe. differed greatly despite the similar shoot weights of individual plants. It is suggested that the spring growth in pasture varieties is largely below cutting level.