GROWTH OF PRAIRIE GRASS (BROMUS-WILLDENOWII) AND TALL FESCUE X PERENNIAL RYEGRASS (FESTUCA-ARUNDINACEA X LOLIUM-PERENNE) ON THE APPALACHIANPLATEAU OF SOUTHERN WEST-VIRGINIA, USA

The productivity and persistence of prairie grass (Bromus willdenowii Kunth) cv. Grasslands Matua were compared with a similarly managed end ophyte-free tall fescue x perennial ryegrass hybrid (Festuca arundinac ea Schreb. x Lolium perenne L.) cv. Johnstone. A field study was condu cted on the Appalachian Plateau of southern West Virginia, USA (81-deg rees-W, longitude; 38-degrees-N, latitude; 850m above sea level) for t hree consecutive years. Nitrogen totalling 0, 168, and 336 kg N ha-1 y ear-1 was applied to stands managed as hay. Annual herbage yields were similar for both species in year 1 (1989), but by year 3 (1991) Matua sown-grass yield was about 35% of first-year yields. Total herbage yi eld for Matua plots in the third year was similar to first-year yields owing to encroachment by non-seeded grasses and white clover (Trifoli um repens L.). Matua was susceptible to powdery mildew [Blumeria grami nis (DC) E. O. Speer] in this environment, and was similar in producti vity (first year only) and nutritive quality to tall fescue x perennia l ryegrass hybrid. Matua use may be limited to areas where low-tempera ture stress and resultant winter damage is unlikely to occur.