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Yield Testing Cool-Season Forage Grasses in Pure Stands vs. Binary Mixtures with Alfalfa¹

Cool season perennial forage grasses are grown in pure stands and in mixtures with other grasses or legumes. Differential environmental and competitive effects between pure and mixed stands may cause interactions with cultivars or breeding lines. Our objective was to compare the productivity of cultivars of four cool-season perennial forage grasses in pure stands and binary mixtures with alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Cultivars of orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb), and timothy (Phleum pratense L.) were grown in replicated trials in pure stands and binary mixtures with alfalfa at five Wisconsin locations for up to three seasons. Differences among cultivars were significant for 12 of 38 species-environment combinations in pure stands and eight in mixed stands. Coefficients of variation were slightly higher for pure stands, while the square root of broad sense heritability showed no consistent differences between stand types. Rank correlations for cultivar yield between the two stand types were generally nonsignificant for all species, except timothy. Both stand types were about equally susceptible to cultivar x environment interaction, except cultivar x year interaction for timothy. We concluded that additional replication is necessary to obtain the desired level of precision in forage yield trials. With the possible exception of timothy, recommendations of superior grass cultivars in alfalfa mixtures should be based on mixed stand performance.

Key Words: Bromus inermis Leyss • Dactylis glomerata L • Festuca arundinacea Schreb • Medicago sativa L • Phleum pratense L • Evaluation • Grass breeding • Heritability

² Assistant professor and professor.

Received for publication June 29, 1983.