Growth, yield and quality of a range of grasses in a continental climate

The possibility of producing herbage of higher quality than that of tall fe scue (Festuca arundinacea) in a continental climate with cold winters, hot summers and low precipitation was investigated, with and without irrigation , at Taigu, Shanxi, China. Tall fescue was compared with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), meadow fescue (Festuca, pratensis) and perennial ryegras s x meadow fescue in field swards, managed by cutting, during the year of s owing and in the three subsequent years. Perennial ryegrass yielded well in the year of sowing, but was low yielding subsequently; perennial ryegrass x meadow fescue yielded well in the year of sowing and in the following yea r. Both of these grasses had high rates of leaf appearance and extension an d a high proportion of cell content in the dry matter. Tall fescue yielded well, but was low in proportion of cell content.