The impact of underseeding barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) on timothy (Phleum pratense L.)-clover (Trifolium pratense L.; Trifolium hybridum L.) forage production in a cool maritime climate

Growing barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in the year of forage establishment is a common agronomic practice in marginal growing regions, but is often not recommended to growers. We examined the effect of silage barley production over an establishing timothy (Phleum pratense L.)clover (Trifolium pratense L.; Trifolium hybridum L.) forage sward in a 4-year study near St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. The experiment compared two barley varieties differing in plant height (semidwarf Chapais and Leger), three barley seeding rates and the effect of a forage understorey on forage (barley) production in the establishment year and forage (timothy-clover) production in the subsequent year. The taller Leger yielded similar forage biomass to Chapais in the year of forage establishment, which (when planted at 375 plants m(-2)) was roughly twice that of a pure- stand timothy-clover mix. Increasing the barley seeding rate from 125 to 375 plants m(-2) resulted in a linear increase in forage yield in the year of planting. The production of barley forage in the establishment year resulted in reduced timothy-clover forage yield in the year following barley planted at 125 and 375 seeds m(-2), but not for barley planted at 250 seeds m(-2). Companion planting also altered forage species composition in that higher barley seeding rates resulted in 12-18% less timothy and 2-4% lower fibre levels in the year following planting. Barley seeded at rates of 250-375 seeds m(-2) and undersown with a timothy-clover mixture (harvested at mid-milk) resulted in greater forage yield of poorer quality than pure- stand timothy-clover in the planting year, and a barley seeding rate of 250 seeds m(-2) did not impede forage production in the subsequent year.