Development:

Developed by means of individual selection

Pedigree:

Developed from the variety ‘Dr.von Schmieders’

Maintainer and representative of selection breeders:

Derived Public Person State Priekuļi Cereal Breeding Institute

Authors of the variety:

I. Holms

Registered:

The variety has been included in Section “A” of Plant Variety Catalogue since 1 January 2006.

Morphological description:

 Loose tussock high grass, starts flowering at the end of the first third and beginning of the second third of June.

Winter hardiness – very good

Economic characteristics:

Productive for 5 - 8 years. Meadow fescue develops already during the year of sowing and creates a dens stand, but yields the highest crop on the 2^nd - 3^rd year of life. Creates a closed stand, perfectly regrows. Good trampling tolerance, which is why it can be used for pasture grasslands. Meadow fescue is usually grown in mixtures with other grasses and legumes. The most suitable are early red clover, alfalfa, eastern galega, timothy-grass, perennial ryegrass. The growth rate is rather irregular, 2/3 of the total crop can be harvested in late May, early June. In the second half of summer, the growth rate is slower. Ripening - medium early. Regrowth rate - good.

Productivity - dry matter productivity - high (10-11 t ha^-1)
Seed crop - high (0.4-0.6 t ha^-1)

Quality:

Nutritive value - high

Susceptibility to diseases:

Disease resistance - good, especially against leaf and stem rusts.

Use:

Useful - variety for mowing type of harvesting.

Suitable for grass mixtures, for the development of medium early meadow and pasture stands, together with early ar medium early red clover, Alsike clover, timothy-grass, in a cultivated, moist, mineral and peat soils.

Since 2008, the species has been included in the lists of plants for biological farming.

Cultivation:

Undemanding in terms of soils, drought hardy, capable to adapt to various growth conditions easily. The best results are achieved in loose, rich in organic substances, sufficiently moist mineral soils, as well as cultivated, improved grass bogs, the variety does not suffer from temporary flooding. In the event of regular fertilisation, the production of grass crops in pastures occurs at a steadier pace.

For information:

Baiba Ošmane