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Ryegrass and Orchardgrass-Alfalfa for Annual Forage and Pasture in South-Central Alaska¹

Alaska Agricultural Experiment Station, Palmer

ABSTRACT

Dry matter yields and crude protein percentages were determined for spring-seeded common ryegrass (predominantly Lolium multiflorum) and orchardgrass-alfalfa (Dactylis glomerata-Medicago sativa) at progressive midsummer dates and at fixed intervals thereafter during 1963, 1964, and 1965. Yields were consistently higher from the ryegrass swards. Crude protein content was uniformly higher from orchardgrass-alfalfa. Aftermath production from both swards was progressively less as the first harvest was delayed. This production was significantly correlated with mean daily photoperiod, global short-wave radiation, and 10-cm soil temperatures, in addition to length of recovery prior to sampling. Grazing animals displayed a marked preference for ryegrass in the early head stage of maturity; no preference 1 to 2 wk later; and rejected ryegrass in favor of orchardgrass-alfalfa 2 to 4 wk later, when ryegrass was past anthesis and very rank. Both orchardgrass and alfalfa remained vegetative throughout the growing season in these trials.

¹ Research supported in part by Crops Research Division, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture.

² Present address: Agricultural Engineering Research Division, Agricultural Research Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Bushland, Texas.