Meadow foxtail

Economic importance

One of the best perennial grasses suitable for cultivation in periodically flooded areas.

After grazing, it regrows quickly. In the forest zone, it can be grazed 3–4 times during the summer.

When used for hay, it produces two cuts with a total yield of 3–4 t/ha. It gives the highest yields in the 3rd–4th years of life.

Meadow foxtail is considered an excellent grass component of grass mixtures in hay-pasture crop rotations. It is used in mixtures with other grasses to create long-term cultivated pastures.

Cultivation areas

It has become widespread in the Non-Chernozem Zone and mountainous regions, partly in the forest-steppe zone on wet meadows.

Botanical description

Meadow foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis L.) is a perennial grass of the tall rhizomatous–loosely tufted type.

The stems are well covered with leaves. Plant height is 70–120 cm.

The inflorescence is a spike (spike-like panicle). In appearance it resembles the inflorescence of timothy grass, but it is not cylindrical; it is a spike-like panicle tapering toward the top, and it also differs in the softer texture of the inflorescence.

Biological features

It produces a high yield on moist soils due to the good leafiness of the stems. It tolerates flooding well, and is therefore one of the best perennial grasses for sodding floodplains and drained bogs.

Winter hardiness is high; drought resistance is satisfactory.

Vegetation

It can persist in the herbage for up to 10 years.

Development type: winter–spring.

Agrotechnology

Soil cultivation is the same as for other perennial grasses.

Seeding rate in grass mixtures is 6–10 kg/ha. Depth of sowing: 1–2 cm.

List of sources

1. Niklyaev V. S. (2000). Fundamentals of Agricultural Production Technology. Agriculture and Crop Production. Moscow: Bylina.