Horizontal distribution and growth, senescence and defoliation fluxes of perennial ryegrass and tall fescue pure and mixed swards

The experiment was carried in INRA (Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique) at Theix, France. Two grasses (perennial ryegrass and tall fescue) were grown in sward boxes (0,13 m(2)), using three different sward horizontal distribution (pure, alternate rows and alternate strips) and three defoliation intervals (3,5, 7 and 14 days between two successive defoliation) with four replications. Four months after sowing, at defoliation date, sward boxes were offered to four individual dry ewes and removed after 340 bites.m(-2) had been taken. For each grass species, the population density and the tiller mass, sward height, herbage production, bite depth and bite mass and growth, senescence and defoliation fluxes were studied. Taller swards generated by less frequent defoliation, resulted in larger numbers for bite depth and size than for shorter. On the other hand, under more frequent defoliation, sward height was maintained lower, and bite and size were smaller. The horizontal distribution of the sward resulted in different responses in relation to the growth, senescence and defoliation fluxes. In alternate row arrangement, tall fescue probably had the growth flux limited by interspecific competition.