The value of timothy (Phleum pratense L.) in ryegrass — timothy mixtures managed to simulate intensive grazing

AbstractThe performance of timothy in mixtures with perennial ryegrass was assessed under a simulated intensive grazing management over two harvest years in 1974–75. Three seed rates of S23 perennial ryegrass were factorially combined with three rates of Scots timothy and compared with pure stands of each grass. All were sown with Huia white clover. When cut six times at monthly intervals and with an annual N input of 350 kg ha−1, there were no significant differences in total DM production in either year. The 2‐year mean DM yield for the nine mixtures and six pure swards was 9·77 t ha−1 (range 9·34–10·16). Compared with the pure ryegrass swards, in both years the ryegrass‐timothy mixtures produced earlier spring growth but were significantly lower yielding at the second cut. Over the first five cuts the proptortion of timothy in the three mixtures with 22·4 kg ha−1 ryegrass seed averaged 26% in the first year and 37% in the second. Corresponding calculated mean DM yields of timothy were 2·75 and 3·00 t ha−1.It is concluded that an early timothy variety is capable of competing with a late‐heading perennial ryegrass in frequently cut swards managed to simulate intensive grazing. The strong development of timothy in the dry summer of 1975 suggests that in mixtures of late perennial ryegrass varieties, an early variety of timothy should be beneficial for its spring growth in grazed swards.