Seedling emergence and herbage yield of summer-active tall fescue sown at different times and sowing depths

Abstract

Background: Tall fescue is sensitive to sowing depth and, in the Pampas region of Argentina, its sowing is often delayed from autumn (average air temperature 18.5°C) to winter (average air temperature 10.0°C). Since tall fescue is sensitive to the sowing depth, and temperature determines the emergence period, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of sowing depth at different times on seedling emergence and herbage yield.

Methods: Two field experiments were carried out in Pergamino, Buenos Aires province, Argentina, to evaluate a summer-active tall fescue at two sowing times and five sowing depths. The emergence of seedlings and the herbage yield in the year of sowing were determined.

Results: Seedling emergence was maximal when sown at 1.2–1.5 cm depth and at 230 growing degree days (GDD) in early autumn and 257 GDD in winter. In both years and sowing seasons, herbage yield was positively related to the number of seedlings at maximum emergence.

Conclusions: No differences in seedling emergence were observed between the autumn and winter sowings, and the emergence of tall fescue was well explained by the thermal time. The concept of “critical depth” was determined as the sowing depth at which the greatest seedling emergence and forage yield are achieved.

Keywords

herbage yield / no-till sowing / seedling emergence

References

[1] Andrews, M., Douglas, A., Jones, A. V., Milburn, C. E., Porter, D., & McKenzie, B. A. (1997). Emergence of temperate pasture grases from different sowing depths: Importance of seed weight, coleoptiele plus mesocotyl length and shoot strength. Annals of Applied Biology, 130, 549-560. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-7348.1997.tb07681.x

[2] Bertin, O. D., Scheneiter, J. O., & Carrete, J. R. (1990). Field establishment of two tall fescue cultivars. INTA, Pergamino, Estación Experimental Agropecuaria. Carpeta de Forrajeras y Producción Bovina. Información Parcial, 225, 4. https://doi.org/10.1111/gfs.12184

[3] Braun, R. C., Courtney, L. E., & Patton, A. J. (2023). Seed morphology, germination, and seedling vigor characteristics of fine fescue taxa and other cool-season turfgrass species. Crop Science, 63, 1613-1627. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20936

[4] Brock, J. L. (1973). Effect of sowing depth and post-sowing compaction on the estabishment of tall fescue varieties. New Zealand Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 1(1), 11-14. https://doi.org/10.1080/03015521.1973.10427606

[5] Brock, J. L., Albrecht, K. A., & Hume, D. E. (1997). Stolons and rhizomes in tall fescue under grazing. Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association, 59, 93-98. https://doi.org/10.33584/jnzg.1997.59.2255

[6] Butler, T. J., Celen, A. E., Webb, S. L., Krstic, D. B., & Interrante, S. M. (2017). Germination in cool-season forage grasses under a range of temperatures. Crop Science, 57, 1725-1731. https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2015.10.0647

[7] Charles, G. W., Blair, G. J., & Andrews, A. C. (1991a). The effect of sowing time, sowing technique and post-sowing weed competition on tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) seedling establishment. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 42(7), 1251-1259. https://doi.org/10.1071/AR9911251

[8] Charles, G. W., Blair, G. J., & Andrews, A. C. (1991b). The effect of soil temperature. sowing depth and soil bulk density on the seedling emergence of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) and White clover (Trifolium repens L.). Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 42(7), 1261-1269. https://doi.org/10.1071/AR9911261

[9] Charlton, J. F. L., Hampton, J. G., & Scott, D. J. (1986). Temperature effects on germination of New Zealand herbage grasses. Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association, 47, 165-l72. https://doi.org/10.33584/jnzg.1986.47.1750

[10] Ferreras, L. A., Magra, G., Besson, P., Kovalevski, E., & García, F. (2007). Physical quality indicators in soils from the northern pampa region of Argentina under no till management. Ciencia del suelo, 25(2), 159-172.

[11] Galizzi, F. J., Mancuso, W. A., & Vallecillo, S. M. (2003). Establishment of forage species in a flood-prone area, with and without soil removal. La Revista Argentina de Producción Animal, 23(1), 236-237.

[12] Hill, M. J., Kay, G., & Yeates, S. J. (1985). A comparison of the growth of seedlings of Mediterranean and temperate tall fescues, phalaris and annual ryegrass. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 25(4), 818-823. https://doi.org/10.1071/EA9850818

[13] Hill, M. J., Pearson, C. J., & Kirby, A. C. (1985). Germination and seedling growth of prairie grass, tall fescue and Italian ryegrass at different temperatures. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 36(1), 13-24. https://doi.org/10.1071/AR9850013

[14] Hume, D. E., & Barker, D. J. (1991). Natural reseeding of five grass species in summer dry hill country. Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association, 53, 97-104. https://doi.org/10.33584/jnzg.1991.53.1988

[15] Jiang, Y., & Su, D. (2018). Models of turfgrass seed germination related to water content. PLoS One, 13(10), e0204983. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0204983

[16] Jones, A. V., Andrews, M., Bolstridgel, N., & Percival, S. (1995). Emergence of pasture grasses from different sowing depths: Importance of coleoptile and mesocotyl width. Proceedings Agronomy Society of New Zealand, 25, 29-34.

[17] Jones, A. V., Andrews, M., McKenzie, B. A., & Milbum, C. E. (1996). Shoot strength and seedling emergence of a range of pasture grasses and seed lots of timothy (Phleum pratense L.) of different mean seed weight. Proceedings Agronomy Society of New Zealand, 26, 31-35.

[18] Lonati, M., Moot, D. J., Aceto, P., Cavallero, A., & Lucas, R. J. (2009). Thermal time requirements for germination, emergence and seedling development of adventive legume and grass species. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 52, 17-29. https://doi.org/10.1080/00288230909510485

[19] Mattera, J., Camarasa., J., Pacente, E. Y., & Gastaldi, L. (2019). Siembra de pasturas. Cuanto. cuanto y como. Producir XXI (328). Online. https://www.producirxxi.com.ar/producirxxi/siembra-de-pasturas-cuanto-cuando-y-como/

[20] Moot, D. J., Scott, W. R., Roy, A. M., & Nicholls, A. C. (2000). Base temperature and thermal time requirements for germination and emergence of temperate pasture species. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 43(1), 15-25. https://doi.org/10.1080/00288233.2000.9513404

[21] Moreno, A., Barletta, P. Y., & Scheneiter, J. O. (2015). Como afectan el rastrojo de soja y el sistema de siembra el establecimiento de alfalfa. Revista de Tecnología Agropecuaria, 29(10), 58-62.

[22] Peri, P. L., Brown, H. E., & McKenzie, B. A. (2000). The effect of sowing depth on the emergence and early development of six pasture species. In 30th New Zealand Agronomy Society Conference, Palmerston North (Vol. 30, pp. 45-53).

[23] Porter, D., Mitchell, A., & Lucas, R. J. (1993). Effects of sowing depth and additional nitrogen on emergence and establishment of a range of New Zealand pasture grasses. Proceedings Agronomy Society of New Zealand, 23, 69-74.

[24] Raeside, M., Friend, M., Behrendt, R., Lawson, A., & Clark, S. (2012). Tall fescue establishment and management in south west Victoria. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 55(1), 31-46. https://doi.org/10.1080/00288233.2011.643903

[25] Reed, K. F. M., Nie, Z. N., & Clark, B. (2008). Field evaluation of phalaris, tall fescue and cocksfoot cultivars and accessions in western Victoria, Australia. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 59, 971-981. https://doi.org/10.1071/AR08080

[26] Di Rienzo, J. A., Casanoves, F., Balzarini, M. G., Gonzalez, L., Tablada, M. Y., & Robledo, C. W. (2020). InfoStat versión 2020. Centro de Transferencia InfoStat, FCA, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina. http://www.infostat.com.ar

[27] Robson, M. J., Ryle, G. J. A., & Woledge, J. (1988). The grass plant—Its form and function. In M. B. Jones & A. Lazemby (Eds.), In the grass crop: The physiological basis of production (pp. 25-83). Chapman and Hall.

[28] Sanderson, M. A., & Elwinger, G. F. (2004). Emergence and seedling structure of temperate grasses at different planting depths. Agronomy Journal, 96, 685-691. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj2004.0685

[29] Scheneiter, J. O., & Assuero, S. G. (2010). Tiller population density and productivity in tall fescue and prairie grass swards. Ciencia e Investigacion Agraria, 37(2), 35-44. https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-16202010000200004

[30] Scheneiter, J. O., Kaufmann, I. I., Ferreyra, A. R., & Llorente, R. T. (2015). The herbage productivity of tall fescue in the Pampas region of Argentina is correlated to its ecological niche. Grass and Forage Science, 71, 403-412. https://doi.org/10.1111/gfs.12184

[31] Thom, E. R., Fraser, T. J., & Hume, D. E. (2011). Sowing methods for successful pasture establishment—A review. NZGA: Research and Practice Series, 15, 31-37. https://doi.org/10.33584/rps.15.2011.3217

[32] Woodman, R. F., Doney, R. J., & Allan, B. E. (1990). Effects of drilling depth on seedling growth of seven dryland pasture species. Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association, 52, 167-170. https://doi.org/10.33584/jnzg.1990.52.1974

[33] Zerpa, G., Denoia, J., Sosa, O. and Martín, B. (2000). Influence of sowing date and fertilization and irrigation practices on the establishment of a co-associated pasture. Archivos Latinoamericanos de Producción Animal8(2), 51-54.

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2025 The Author(s). Grassland Research published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Chinese Grassland Society and Lanzhou University.