Orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) As an universal forage crop in adaptive grassland farming (review)

The review summarizes the results of domestic and foreign literature on the biological and ecological characteristics and use of orchardgrass in forage production. In Russia and the world, the orchardgrass is one of the most widespread species in natural and seeded meadows. With a sufficient supply of nitrogen, it surpasses other grasses in terms of competitiveness and yield, producing 5 to 12 t/ha of dry matter in different regions of Russia. Under optimal conditions of use, its productive longevity is 8 to 10 years or more. Orchardgrass provides 3 to 5 cuttings per season and is resistant to animal grazing. It provides the earliest fodder in the spring in the green mowing system. Orchardgrass is highly aggressive and will quickly displace other grasses from a sward, so it is often grown in monoculture. It has good foliage and accumulates 15 to 25% crude protein when used before the heading phase. Orchardgrass is superior to meadow fescue, perennial ryegrass, and timothy in terms of drought resistance, but like ryegrass it can be thinned out in the winter-spring period under unfavorable overwintering conditions, and has poor resistance to flooding and near groundwater. Its high shade tolerance makes it suitable for interrow sowing in turf-humus orchards. This improves soil fertility and fruit quality. Under conditions of climate warming, orchardgrass may expand its range in Russia.

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