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Cumulative Effects of Cutting Management on Forage Yields and Tiller Densities of Tall Fescue and Orchardgrass¹

When tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) and orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) were cut each week after the first harvest, forage yields before flowering increased when first harvest was delayed and decreased as stubble height increased. Neither stubble height nor time of first harvest affected yields after flowering in the 1st harvest year. In the 2nd and 3rd years, yields after flowering decreased as stubble height increased. In the 3rd year they also decreased when the first harvest was delayed, so much that total forage yields were similar for all dates of first harvest, even though preflowering yields differed. The decrease in post-flowering yield was associated with a decrease in stand density. Although increased stubble height decreased total forage yields, it increased yields of forage plus stubble, indicating higher total dry-matter production. However, production was still higher when the grasses were cut closely every month instead of every week. This treatment gave the maximum forage production, because less of the total production was left as stubble.

Key Words: Cutting frequency • Stubble height • Harvest date • Stand density • LAI • Festuca arundinaceaSchreb. • Dactylis glomerata L.

² Research Agronomists and former Research Agronomist (now Chairman, Department of Agronomy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla. 32601), respectively, Plant Science Research Division, Agricultural Research Service, U S Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Md. 20705.

Received for publication March 5, 1971.