ARS | Publication request: SEASONAL TILLERING PATTERNS IN GRAZED ORCHARDGRASS

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: November 3, 2003
Publication Date: November 3, 2003
Citation: BRINK, G.E. 2003. SEASONAL TILLERING PATTERNS IN GRAZED ORCHARDGRASS in 2003. [CD-ROM]. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, ARS.

Technical Abstract: Orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) tiller production has an impact on pasture productivity and is strongly influenced by N fertilization. Our objective was to determine seasonal tillering patterns in orchardgrass managed under a typical intensive, rotational grazing system. Beginning in May, a 1.5 ha paddock composed equally of orchardgrass and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) on an area basis was grazed by lactating dairy cattle every 30 d to a 15-cm stubble. Before grazing each month, orchardgrass plants were sampled (10-cm diameter section) at six random locations, and number of tillers, tiller dry wt., tiller length, and number of leaves per tiller were measured. Nitrogen (56 kg ha-1) was applied by the producer in late June. Number of tillers were similar in May and June (2020 tillers m-2), but increased to 6350 tillers m-2 in July following N application. Mean tiller length declined throughout the grazing season. Mean tiller dry wt. increased through June, but declined in July due to the production of new, smaller tillers. Number of tillers declined during the fall. Further study is needed to determine N application dates that provide optimum pasture DM production and tiller density.