Water use and chemical composition of ryegrass (Lolium) cultivars

Significant differences in total dry matter yields of shoots and roots were found between 11 ryegrass (Lolium) cultivars grown in a glasshouse. Although shoot yield varied significantly between individual cultivars there was no overall difference between the annual and perennial cultivars; whereas for roots, the yields of the perennial plants were much smaller than those of the annual types. Water use (g H2O g total DM−1) also varied significantly between cultivars. However, there was no relationship between efficient water use and dry matter production.