Yield performance of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) populations on the Northern Tableland of New South Wales

Abstract

Nine populations of Festuca arundinacea were grown in monoculture in two field trials on a black earth soil at Armidale, New South Wales during the period late 1967 to early 1970. There were four cutting treatments (at 2, 4, 8 and 16 week intervals) in both experiments and in trial 2 half the plots were irrigated. Seasonal and total herbage production were determined for two periods, each of forty-eight weeks duration, and tillering patterns were studied in trial 2. Differences were demonstrated in the seasonal and total production of the populations. Those selected from temperate environments were higher yielding in spring, summer and autumn and produced more total dry matter during the year than did those from the Mediterranean region ; however, in both experiments these latter yielded some 10 kg ha-1 day-1 more than the temperate fescues during the second winter. One cultivar-Goar's fescue-performed in a manner intermediate between the temperate and Mediterranean populations. Total dry matter yields were reduced when the cutting interval was decreased; in contrast, tiller numbers increased with frequency of cutting. The results suggest considerable potential value of Mediterranean fescues for winter pasture production on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales.