Yields, plant characteristics, total N and fibre composition of timothy cultivars grown at two latitudes

Abstract

Timothy (Phleum pratense L.) cultivars of southern (45°N) and northern (>=60°N) origin were grown in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada (46°N) and Jokioinen, Finland (61°N) in two years. Timothy was harvested twice a season and nitrogen applied at 100 or 150 kg/ha. Dry matter yields were higher in Charlottetown than in Jokioinen and northern cultivars outyielded southern cultivars. Nitrogen at 150 kg/ha increased total yields an average of 1.4 t/ha over the 100 kg N/ha rate. The stems and panicles of timothy were longer in Charlottetown. Northern cultivars had longer panicles. The leaf content of cultivars ranged from 139 to 230 g/kg. Northern cultivars had greater N concentrations (22.1 g/kg) in cut 2 than southern timothies (19.7 g/kg). Concentrations of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) in cut 1 were lower in Jokioinen. In conclusion, northern cultivars performed well in Charlottetown but there were differences in yield stability among cultivars. Nutritional quality of timothy cultivars varied among the sites and the significance of differences in NDF and ADF in relation to animal performance require further study.;