Establishment of irrigated timothy for forage production in Saskatchewan

Abstract

Irrigated timothy (Phleum pratense L.) hay from Saskatchewan could fill export demand for compressed hay, but basic agronomic information is lacking under Saskatchewan conditions. The objective of this research was to compare the establishment of irrigated timothy seedlings under wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), and Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) companion crops at two seeding rates. The ryegrass companion crop reduced timothy ground cover and tiller density in the year after establishment, with a greater reduction in ground cover at 10 kg ha-1 compared with a seeding rate of 5 kg ha-1 for the ryegrass. The ryegrass companion crop reduced timothy first harvest and total annual dry matter (DM) production for forage by 41% compared with the control (no companion crop) while timothy that was established with cereal companion crops did not differ from the control. Irrigated forage producers should not use annual ryegrass as a companion crop for irrigated timothy establishment in Saskatchewan.