Leafiness of orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata) is defined as the proportion of leaves in the total dry plant biomass. This indicator is a key criterion for assessing the quality of forage mass and the nutritional value of the stand.
In the reference
10
varieties
crop Cocksfoot,
where this is mentioned in the description.
In breeding practice, leafiness is quantified by dividing the leaf mass by the total dry matter mass of a sheaf. Indicators exceeding 65–70% are considered high for breeding accessions. Under experimental conditions, control samples demonstrate a level of approximately 61.9%, while promising breeding lines reach 67.8–73.6%.
This trait directly affects the nutritional value of the forage, as leaves contain less fiber and more protein compared to stems, which increases the palatability of the crop for livestock. To maintain high nutritional value facilitated by high leafiness, it is recommended to utilize orchard grass before the heading phase.
General information about the subject — on the page
Leafiness.
Varieties of Cocksfoot mentioned in the description
Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.