Performance of seed mixtures containing tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) for permanent meadows in mountain areas

摘要

Suitable strategies are required to face the recurrent drought periods in the southern region of the Alps. Because of its tolerance against drought, tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) has been targeted as a desirable component of seed mixturesfor the establishment of permanent meadows under mountain environment. In a four year field experiment at two drought-endangered sites at altitudes of 835 and 1,200 m a.s.l., four seed mixtures (two seed mixtures already in use in practice and two seed mixtures containing respectively 40 and 60% seed weight of tall fescue) combined with three cutting frequencies (2, 3 and 4 cuts y'1) coupled with increasing fertilisation rates (1, 1.4 and 2 livestock units ha~(-1)), were investigated. Dry matter yield and forage quality, including in vitro digestibility, were assessed for the trial's duration. Only small differences between the seed mixtures were ascertained across the observation period. For the seed mixtures containing tall fescue, a slight reductionof the in vitro digestibility at higher management intensity for one of the two seed mixcures and different content in magnesium and manganese were detected. It is concluded that the seed mixtures including tall fescue perform similarly to those alreadyin use.