The relative yield potential of Westerwolds and Italian ryegrass cultivars in autumn-planted pastures and their flowering patterns following spring-establishment.

Abstract

Herbage yield from autumn-planted Lolium multiflorum cultivar trials conducted in the Natal Mist Belt indicated that, in general, the Westerwolds ryegrass cultivars had greater yield potential than the Italian ryegrass cultivars during the cold winter months. Conversely, the Italian ryegrass cultivars generally outyielded the Westerwolds ryegrass cultivars during mid-spring. Observations on flowering patterns of spring-planted L. multiflorum cultivars revealed that the Westerwolds ryegrass cultivars flowered within five months of a spring planting. This limits the productive life of these pastures. Spring-planted Italian ryegrass cultivars did not flower and are thus to be preferred for the provision of high quality pastures during the autumn months.

Keywords: botany; cedara; cultivars; flowering; herbage yield; italian ryegrass; lolium multiflorum; natal; natal mist belt; ryegrass; seasonal yield patterns; south africa; westerwold