Productivity and Persistency of Bromus wildenowii Kunth cv. Grasslands Matua in Japan

The study was conducted to evaluate herbage productivity, persistency and suitable management of prairie grass (Bromus willdenowll Kunth cv. Grasslands Matua) in Japan. Dry matter (DM) yields of S temperate grasses including prairie grass were compared. Pield plots were cut every month for 3 years. Annual DM yield of prairie grass was the highest in each year, but prairie grass was less persistent than the remaining grasses. In a grazing experiment, however, 1he seedlings of prairie grass appeared in flushes in autumn, and these ensured the persistency of prairie grass pasture, Under a forage conservation plus grazing regime, 95% of the fallen viable seeds were shed at cutting In the spring. The results indicated that cutting for forage conservation after deferring in the spring increased the number of fallen seeds and seedlings germinating in autumn,