• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.247-254
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• 2003

A study was carried to compare two varieties of tall fescue(Festuca arundinacea Schr.): Fawn (endophyte infection) and Roa(endophyte-free). The study examined plant height, botanical composition, and dry matter yield of mixed pasture. The cattle grazed on a mixed pasture of tall fescue species and orchardgrass(Dactylis glomerata L.), perennial ryegrass(Lolium perenne L.) and white clover(Trifolium repens L.) during March 22, 1997, to September 21, 1997. The number of grazing animals was 4.3/ paddock(50m x50m) and was adjusted according to the condition of pasture. Dry matter yields determined on ungrazed pasture(7-time harvests) were 1,690 $\pm$407kg and 1,128 $\pm$ 238kg/ha on pastures consisting of Fawn and Roa, respectively. This difference was significant(P<0.01). There were 17.71 $\pm$ 1.27cm and 12.83$\pm$0.90cm in average plant lengths of Fawn and Roa(P<0.01), respectively The botanical composition of tall fescue and orchardgrass in the mixture treatment included in the Fawn variety were shown in 34.2 and 3.8％, comparing Roa with 17.1 and 9.6％, on the 21th of September, 1997, respectively. Tall fescue Roa represented a higher botanical composition than orchardgrass(a main species on Cheju). Crude protein content of Fawn was slightly less than that of Roa. From these results, we may conclude that Roa variety is nutritionally better, but is less adaptible to high temperature climate than Fawn. However, Roa variety is still better than orchardgrass in high temperature conditions.