Resilience of Festulolium in terms of productivity and impact on soil characteristics under machinery compaction

Festulolium are ryegrass (Lolium) and fescue (Festuca) species' hybrids developed to combine their attributes, the stress tolerance of fescues, together with the forage quality characteristics of ryegrass. To investigate the potential of Festulolium to combat soil compaction, three Festulolium populations growing in field plots were compared against relevant ryegrass (cultivar AberBite) and fescue (cultivar Kora) controls. Triplicate grass plots were established in 2012 and maintained under a cutting regime. In spring 2016, plant tiller densities were determined prior to half of each plot being compacted using machinery. Following compaction, soil bulk density and dry matter (DM) yield were measured from the compacted and non-compacted half of each plot. In the autumn, destructive soil and plant characteristics were measured, including root biomass. Baseline data showed Festulolium cultivars had higher tiller number than Kora. Kora had a higher DM yield, but no difference in yield was observed between all Festulolium populations and AberBite. Festulolium population Lp × Fg (Lolium perenne L. × Festuca glaucescens Roth.) had a higher root biomass than AberBite and Kora in both compacted and non-compacted soil, respectively. With an equivalent DM yield to ryegrass, the Festulolium demonstrated additional benefits underground through their larger root systems.