The relation of maturity to total yield and seasonal distribution of yield in orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.)

Orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) is grown in the United States from the Canadian border to the northern parts of the Gulf states (8). Although Tennessee is near the southern boundary of orchardgrass adaptation, it ranks seventh among the states with 265,000 acres. Yields of orchardgrass per acre tend to be lower near the southern boundary of its adaptation.

Seasonal distribution of orchardgrass production is not uniform. In Tennessee the most rapid growth occurs in the spring and early summer. Rate of growth is slow in late summer and then increases in the fall. It would be desirable to have an orchardgrass which would produce more during late summer.

Orchardgrass is often grown in association with perennial legumes such as alfalfa. Since the orchardgrass varieties grown in Tennessee mature earlier than these legumes, it is difficult to get maximum yields of high quality forage from orchardgrass-legume mixtures. A later maturing variety of orchardgrass is needed.

The objective of this study was to determine the relationship in orchardgrass of maturity (time of anthesis) to total season production and seasonal distribution of production.