Orchardgrass & Timothy Variety Trial - Canton

Timothy and orchardgrass varieties (six of each) were established at two sites differing in soil drainage (Upper site = better drained) in 1993 at Canton, St. Lawrence County, NY. Varieties were selected to have similar heading dates across species. Grass was fertilized with commercial N according to recommendations and harvested 4 times in 1994 and 3 times in 1995-98. Table 1 shows that timothy and orchardgrass yields were relatively consistent across years, and timothy was able to maintain its yield somewhat better than orchardgrass on a less well drained site. Across years, Richmond and Tiller timothy outyielded other timothy varieties, while orchardgrass varieties were more variable. Yields vary by soil type and season. A two-fold difference in yields from a given field can be expected in wet vs. dry years. Grass yields over the past 4 years at recommended N fertilizer rates have ranged from 3 up to 7 tons hay (12% moisture) per acre across northern NY.

Two-cut Mangement. Management at Canton was changed to a two-cut, dry-cow management in 1999. Yield in 1999 was 13% less than the average of the previous 3-4 cut seasons (Table 1). On average, two-cut management will result about a 15% yield drop compared to a three-cut management. On the Up slope site, average timothy and orchardgrass yields were identical (Table 2). On the Down slope site, orchardgrass significantly outyielded timothy by 0.4 tons/acre. Tiller and Richmond timothy continued to outyield other timothy varieties. There were less differences among orchardgrass varieties.

Table 1. Yield (tons/acre @ 12% moisture) of timothy and orchardgrass varieties under commercial N fertilization, at 75 lbs. actual N/acre in the early spring, and 50 lbs. actual N/acre prior to each regrowth. Four harvests were taken in 1994 and three harvests in 1995-98. Management was changed to a two-harvest dry-cow forage management in 1999. Grasses were sown in 1993 on a better-drained site (Upper site) and a less well drained site (Lower site).

Timothy varieties: Chazy, Climax, Mariposa, Mohawk, Richmond and Tiller.

Orchardgrass varieties: Benchmark, Dawn, Haymate, OKAY, Pennlate and Axiom.

Table 2. Hay equivalent Yield (@12% moisture) of Orchardgrass and Timothy varieties under a two-harvest system at Canton, 1999.