Johnsongrass is a nonnative invasive species introduced as a forage crop from the Mediterranean region (Miller and Miller 1999). This perennial species has become naturalized and is found in 47 of the 50 United States (Alaska, Minnesota, and Maine being the exceptions) (USDA 2004). Johnsongrass has become problematic along roadsides in Kentucky due to its aggressive and prolific nature and rapi...

Plant functional traits are thought to drive variation in primary productivity. However, there is a lack of work examining how dominant species identity affects trait-productivity relationships. The productivity of 12 pasture mixtures was determined in a 3-year field experiment. The mixtures were based on either the winter-active ryegrass (Lolium perenne) or winter-dormant tall fescue (Festuca ...

1. Flood-sensitive plant species are restricted to highly elevated sites in floodplains, but why flood-tolerant plants do not grow at higher elevations is much less clear. We test the hypothesis that a trade-off exists between flood-tolerance and selective root placement in nutrient-rich patches, a putatively important trait in the more competitive highly elevated sites. 2. Achillea ptarmica , ...

Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) is an important cool-season perennial grass species used as forage and turf, and in conservation plantings. There are three morphotypes in hexaploid tall fescue: Continental, Mediterranean and Rhizomatous. This study was conducted to develop morphotype-specific molecular markers to distinguish Continental and Mediterranean tall fescues, and establish th...

The daily BW gain of stocker steers grazing tall fescue [Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) S.J. Darbysh. = Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort.]-based pastures typically declines during summer. To avoid these declines, in part to mitigate the effects of tall fescue toxicosis, it is commonly advised to move cattle to warm-season forage during this period. A 3-yr (2006, 2007, and 2008) grazing ...

Phytoremediation of creosote-contaminated soil was monitored in the presence of Tall fescue, Kentucky blue grass, or Wild rye. For all three grass species, plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) were evaluated for plant growth promotion and protection of plants from contaminant toxicity. A number of parameters were monitored including plant tissue water content, root growth, plant chloroph...

Tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus (Shreb.) Dumort) is a cool-season forage grown in the mid-south United States of America that has potential for spring silage. Ergovaline produced by fungal endophyte Neotyphodium coenophialum preserved tall silage and can induce toxicosis livestock. Condensed tannins, such as quebracho (Schinopsis quebracho-colorado (Schltdl.) F.A. Barkley T. Meyer) extrac...

Tall fescue [Schedonorus arundinaceous (Schreb.) Dumort. nom. cons. Lolium arundinaceum Darbysh.] is the dominant pasture grass across much of southeast USA. The species productive, but grows slowly in summer. Plants also harbor an endophytic fungus (Epichloe coenophiala), which produces alkaloids that are toxic to cattle. Adding summer-productive forages fescue-based systems may benefit animal...

Carryover effects of feeding soybean hulls (SBH) on toxic tall fescue [Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.)] pasture and effects of postgraze steroid implantation on performance and physiology of steers were evaluated in a 2-yr experiment. Following grazing, 36 steers were assigned to 9 pens, and pens were randomly assigned 3 to the following pasture-pen combinations: 1) feeding SBH on pasture an...