Seasonal production of coloured brome (Bromus coloratus Steud,) cv. Exceltas, a new high quality perennial temperate pasture grass

In response to the need to find better adapted and more persistent perennial grasses for pastures in temperate regions, the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA) and the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks and Environment (DPIPWE) have developed a number of new pasture grass cultivars, including Exceltas, a cultivar of Bromus coloratus (coloured brome). This paper compares the seasonal herbage production and the persistence of Exceltas with 9 commercial cultivars of Lolium perenne (perennial ryegrass) in a replicated trial conducted under dryland conditions at Cressy, Tasmania. Results from the second year seasonal herbage production measurements showed Exceltas, with a total annual production of 8483 kg DM/ha, to be significantly higher than all the diploid L. perenne cultivars and significantly higher than all tetraploid cultivars with the exception of the cultivar Bealey which produced 8041 kg DM/ha. Plant frequency (%) of each line was used as a measure of persistence. Exceltas was the only cultivar whose frequency counts were not significantly reduced by the dry summer experienced in year two of the study. The results from this study highlight the potential of the B. coloratus cultivar Exceltas for use as an alternative perennial grass for dryland temperate pastures receiving >650 mm or pastures receiving summer rainfall or under irrigation.