The effects of grazing on yield, quality and persistence of deep-rooted forage mixtures.

摘要

Maritime summers have become increasingly dry, causing naturalized pastures to decrease in productivity, however, deep-rooted forages may remain productive, allowing naturalized pastures to recover. Persistence, productivity and quality of 10 deep-rooted, binary grass-legume mixtures were evaluated under a first-cut harvest and subsequent grazing system. There were no differences in yield between mixtures in any year. Total mean yields (kg ha-1 ) for 2001, 2002 and 2003 were 6403, 8029 and 7123, respectively. While red clover mixtures yielded more in the first production year, alfalfa mixtures outyielded red clover thereafter. Smooth and meadow bromegrass mixtures were of highest quality, contained the highest quantity of legume and persisted under grazing. Orchardgrass mixtures varied in quality due to their rapid and early maturity. During winter 2002--2003, many tall fescue and orchardgrass plots were winterkilled. All mixtures performed well in the trial and are a viable option in a management intensive grazing system.