Tall fescue experiment

The Tall Fescue experiment at the Hamilton Proof Site aimed to determine best practice establishment and management strategies for summer active tall fescue.  Summer active tall fescue is a suitable option for heavy, waterlogged soils.  It is capable of responding to summer rainfall, providing out-of-season green feed.  The biggest issues with summer active tall fescue are its slow establishment and vigorous spring growth which makes quality difficult to maintain.

At the Hamilton EverGraze Proof Site, summer active tall fescue was sown on the valley floors as part of the “Triple System” (Figure 1).

Figure 1. EverGraze Triple System
Figure 1. EverGraze Triple System

 

Summer active tall fescue
Summer active tall fescue

Sowing depth (5, 10, 20 or 35 mm) and rate (8, 16, 24 or 32 kg/ha) were tested for their influence on seedling emergence and density of summer active tall fescue.

The grazing management trial was established in spring 2004 and was subsequently over-sown with subterranean clover and white clover.  Between October 2006 and October 2008, set stocking was compared to rotational grazing at three different intervals.  Set stocked plots were grazed to maintain approximately 1200 kg DM/ha at all times.  In the rotations, stock were grazed when the fescue recovered two, three or four leaves on each tiller, and removed when 1200 kg DM/ha remained. Plots were grazed by Merino or Coopworth ewes.

The following results data for this study is available;

Further information is also available in the key message Summer active tall fescue provides autumn feed in poorly drained soils

Research

loader

Generating PDF - please wait

NOTE: Depending on the size of the page this may take a while (Click on "Cancel" to stop PDF generation)

Cancel