Species selection tool: Soil‐specific forage species selection for New York State

Abstract

AbstractSelection of forage species that are best suited to a particular soil type and forage use provide the most efficient land use. This program was developed to provide recommendations for perennial forage species in New York State, based on soil type and intended forage use through a web interface (http://www.forages.org). Forage species uses include both pasture and stored feed for different livestock classes as well as soil conservation uses. A database was developed that contains potential yields for more than 30 species and more than 40 species mixtures on each of 612 agricultural soil types in New York State. The database has potential forage yields based on native soil drainage as well as yields for optimal artificial drainage. Potential yields are modified by the program based on soil pH and the optimal pH range for each forage species. Species are recommended based on potential yield, intended forage use, and soil type. The program also provides pasture yield distributions, a summary of species traits, and potential corn grain and silage yields for a selected soil type. Computer‐based species recommendations agree with current published recommendations. The program has been used successfully by the National Resources Conservation Service and New York extension personnel for more than 20 years. Although the soil type/species yield relationships will not apply directly to other regions of the world, the method utilized to develop the database could be used to create similar species selection programs for other regions.