Tillering in ‘Grasslands Nui’ perennial ryegrass swards 3. Aerial tillering in swards grazed by sheep

Abstract

The effect of sheep grazing on ryegrass aerial tiller development in mixed perennial ryegrass — white clover swards was studied in two experiments. Aerial tiller numbers were increased by lax grazing and reduced by hard grazing. Later interruption of reproductive development encouraged aerial tiller development. Aerial tillers made a minor contribution to herbage production and ryegrass tiller populations. It was concluded that aerial tillering contributed little to ryegrass persistence in mixed swards under the grazing systems used in this experiment, but that under different grazing or climatic conditions they could be more important.

Keywords:

• ryegrass
• Latium perenne
• tillering
• aerial tillers
• grazing