Мелиорация и гидротехника (Feb 2024)
On prospects for cultivating tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) on irrigated lands of the Lower Volga region
Abstract
Purpose: to perform a review of an under-investigated bluegrass crop – tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), which is not widespread in forage production, but has some advantages over other bluegrass grasses. Discussion. Tall fescue is characterized by high seed and forage yields, a long-time growing season, early regrowth in spring, an ability to vegetate until late autumn, and an active regrow capacity. Fescue agrocenoses are responsive to irrigation and a high background of mineral nutrition. The ability to grow on saline and alkalini soils is also important. It is widely used for slope and ravines stabilization. Providing optimal combinations of plant life factors creates conditions for good growth, development and formation of high productivity for a long time as well as allows the crop to persist and prevail in multi-species agrocenoses in a wide variety of soil and climatic conditions – from forest and forest-steppe to steppe and semi-desert regions. Tall fescue grows well in damp places under natural conditions. This moisture-loving plant tolerates moisture-saturated, heavy loamy soils well. Regulation of the water regime of fescue crops ensures a more complete use of the biological potential of the crop, which is expressed in the receipt of two additional mowings, compared to natural moisture conditions. Tall fescue is used mainly in the form of hay, silage and haylage. Conclusion. Cultivation of tall fescue against the background of mineral fertilizer application and irrigation ensures an yield increase on average up to 15 t/ha of dry matter and up to 2.5 t/ha of crude protein collection. The wide distribution of this valuable crop in forage production in arid zones is hampered by the lack of scientifically based rational methods for creating highly productive grass stands and elements of cultivation technology.
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