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In greenland mixtures, various grasses and herbs come together. Identifying them correctly is often not easy. We briefly and compactly introduce some of the most important species.
In grassland mixtures, a variety of grasses and herbs come together. Identifying them correctly is often not easy. We introduce some of the most important species briefly and compactly.
Various species are found in grassland. Each of them is suitable for different management practices, intensities, or locations. Grasses can be identified particularly well in May based on their flowering. Without flowers, leaves, leaf sheaths, leaf ligules, and stems provide information about the species.
To assess the stand, one must know the proportion of species and their nutritional value. The Forage Value Index (FVI) provides information on the estimated forage value. The scale ranges from -1 (weeds) to 8 for high-quality species. The most important species in grassland is the high-yielding and high-quality German ryegrass. The Common Bentgrass, which does not provide significant yields, is not very popular.
The most important grasses and clover species in grassland are briefly presented.
German ryegrass is recognizable by the unbranched spikelets along the spindle. Its shiny lower leaf surfaces and turf-like growth are characteristic. The FVI of this high-quality and high-yielding species is 8.
Italian ryegrass resembles German ryegrass but has awns on the spikelets. It is not suitable for permanent grassland as it does not tiller. However, it provides very good yields in fodder production (FVI 8).
Cock's-foot is a tall grass that can withstand about four cuts per year and prefers moist locations (FVI 7). Its spike resembles that of Timothy grass, but the spikelets on Cock's-foot are strippable.
In addition, Cock's-foot can be recognized by its long ribbed leaves and the absence of an auricle and ligule at the leaf base. It is vigorous and productive.
Timothy grass is very winter-hardy and also suitable for high altitudes (FVI 8). Its spikelets, unlike those of Cock's-foot, cannot be stripped but are firmly attached to the spike.
Timothy grass has a cereal-like growth habit. It has a serrated ligule at the leaf base, but no auricle.
Common bentgrass tolerates both dryness and wetness. It has slightly drooping double spikelets or panicles. The glumes of the spikelets are awned.
The rough leaves of common bentgrass are not popular on pasture; hence, there are now fine-leaved varieties available (FVI 6). It is not very competitive. It does not have an auricle and has a very short ligule.
Meadow fescue is not suitable for grazing, tolerates a maximum of three cuts per year, but provides good quality (FVI 8). It resembles rough bentgrass with its slightly curved double spikelets or panicles but has awnless glumes on the spikelets.
Meadow fescue can be recognized by its tussocky growth. It has both an auricle and a ligule at the leaf base, and the leaves are ribbed.
Meadow fescue is hardy, winter-hardy, and drought-tolerant. It forms turf but develops slowly in its youth. It can be recognized by its panicle.
Meadow fescue is easily recognizable by the stiff, upright, dark green leaves (FVI 8). It has a short, collar-like ligule.
Crested dog's-tail is very drought-tolerant, tolerates multiple cuts, and is suitable for grazing (FVI 7). It is bluish-green, forms tussocks, and has tufted panicles. The older leaves of this early-maturing species are quite hard and are avoided by livestock later in the year on pasture.
Common Bent is not well-regarded and forms a felt-like turf in gaps. After the first cut, it remains about 10 cm high and provides little yield later with its fine leaves (FVI 4 to 7) - especially in dry conditions.
Clover, in general, is tasty, protein-rich fodder. White clover is particularly robust, as well as tolerant to trampling, grazing, and cutting (FVI 8). It spreads through stolons in the stand, forming flat, low-growing carpets in the sward.
Red clover cannot spread across the area through stolons but only through seeds. Therefore, it is only suitable for mowing meadows (FVI 7). Generally, its proportion in the sward also decreases after several cuts. It is high-yielding and taller in growth than white clover.
