Abstract

This study investigated yield stability over three years of Festulolium species and perennial ryegrass ( Lolium perenne L.) under the agro-ecological conditions of southern and central Sweden using 26 trials from the official variety testing of forage crops in these regions in the period 2006-2010. The first harvest in each year was used as a measurement of yield stability. In southern Sweden, the decline in dry matter yield at first harvest (DMYFH) over the three years was largest in perennial ryegrass, but significantly less in loloid Festulolium. Yield of festucoid Festulolium did not decrease and had a significantly different ( P<0.001) slope coefficient to the other species. In central Sweden, there were no significant differences in DMYFH between varieties and species in the third year, but festucoid Festulolium suffered significantly less yield decline than the other two species. The Festulolium varieties behaved differently between the two regions, mainly because of greater winter damage with increasing latitude. Perennial ryegrass displayed similar behaviour in both regions.

Keywords

Festulolium; Lolium perenne; yield stability; sustainability; productivity; dry matter yield

Published in

Grassland Science in Europe
2012, volume: 17, pages: 118-120
Book title: Grassland - a European resource? Proceedings of the 24th General Meeting of the European Grassland Federation
ISBN: 978-83-89250-77-3
Publisher: Garmond Oficyna Wydawnicza

Conference

24th General Meeting of the European-Grassland-Federation, JUN 03-07, 2012, Lublin, POLAND

Authors' information