Agronomic characteristics of pasture grass cultivars under laboratory and field conditions (establishment year)

Some agronomic characteristics of six pasture grass cultivars were studied under field and laboratory conditions. The cultivars were the followings: two diploids of Lolium perenne (Aber Elan and Olympion), two tetraploids of the same species (Aber Oscar and BA 11358), one hybrid Festuca pratensis x L. perenne (Prior) and one hybrid Festuca pratensis x L. multiflorum (Elmet). In the field experiment, Aber Oscar and Aber Elan had better emergence. All cultivars’ tillers increased significantly with time. The highest development in height achieved by Aber Oscar and Elmet. The most productive cultivars were Aber Οscar and Olympion. But the dry mutter production did not differ significantly among cultivars. In the laboratory the length of roots and shoots were significantly influenced by the factor cultivar. Aber Οscar had the longest root and shoot and Aber Elan and Olympion the shortest. Overall during the establishment phase Aber Οscar showed the best agronomic characteristics among the six cultivars tested.