Tall fescue and chicory for increased summer forage production

Production of summer forage is an important consideration in environments prone to extremes of heat or moisture stress. Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) and chicory (Cichorum intybus) are two forage species with the potential to overcome the production shortfalls of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) in such environments. Trials from three New Zealand regions prone to summer drought (Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay and Canterbury) were used to compare production of tall fescue and chicory with production from resident ryegrass. Consistent production advantages from tall fescue and chicory were evident in the two years after establishment. Potential production advantages can disappear in subsequent years when summer moisture levels are very high or very low, or temperatures extremely high. Moderate moisture levels in summer, indicated by moderate ryegrass production, gave the biggest relative summer production advantages to tall fescue.