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Effect of stubble-height management on crown temperature of perennial ryegrass, tall fescue and chicory
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-20, 02:39 authored by Adam LangworthyAdam Langworthy, Richard RawnsleyRichard Rawnsley, Mark FreemanMark Freeman, Stephen CorkreyStephen Corkrey, Matthew HarrisonMatthew Harrison, Pembleton, KG, Peter Lane, Henry, DADefoliating pasture to shorter stubble heights (height above the soil surface) may increase temperature at the plant crown (plant–soil interface). This is especially relevant to summer C3 pasture production in parts of south-eastern Australia, where above-optimal ambient temperatures (≥30°C) are often recorded. A rainfed field experiment in north-west Tasmania, Australia, quantified the effect of stubble-height management on the upper distribution of crown temperatures (90th and 75th percentiles) experienced by three pasture species: perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.; syn. Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort.; syn. L. arundinaceum (Schreb.) Darbysh.), and chicory (Cichorium intybus L.). Three stubble-height treatment levels were evaluated: 35, 55 and 115 mm. Defoliation to shorter stubble heights (35 or 55 mm cf. 115 mm) increased the crown temperature of all species in the subsequent regrowth cycle (period between successive defoliation events). In the second summer, defoliating to shorter stubble heights increased the 90th percentile of crown temperature by an average of 4.2°C for perennial ryegrass, 3.6°C for tall fescue and 1.8°C for chicory. Chicory and second-year tall fescue swards experienced less-extreme crown temperatures than perennial ryegrass. This may partly explain why these two species often outyield perennial ryegrass in hotter summer environments than north-west Tasmania, and hence the increasing interest in their use.
Funding
Dairy Australia Limited
History
Publication title
Crop and Pasture ScienceVolume
70Pagination
183-194ISSN
1836-0947Department/School
Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA)Publisher
CSIRO PublishingPlace of publication
AustraliaRights statement
Copyright the author(s) 2019Repository Status
- Restricted