Strip Planting a Legume into Warm‐Season Grass Pasture: Defoliation Effects During the Year of Establishment

Abstract

ABSTRACTNovel approaches are needed for overcoming barriers to successful association of herbaceous legumes with grasses in warm‐climate pastures and to identify low‐cost, long‐term solutions to the problem of N limitation in low‐input systems. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate defoliation management options during the year of establishment when rhizoma peanut (RP) (Arachis glabrata Benth.) was strip planted into existing bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flüggé). Treatments were four defoliation strategies: (i) Control (no defoliation of the planted RP strip and adjacent bahiagrass harvested for hay), (ii) Hay Production (RP strip and adjacent bahiagrass harvested for hay every 28 d), (iii) Simulated Continuous Stocking (pastures grazed weekly), and (iv) Rotational Stocking (pastures grazed every 28 d). Simulated Continuous and Rotational Stocking reduced RP canopy cover and frequency of occurrence. Greatest RP cover during the establishment year was achieved in August with 32 and 29% for the Control and Hay Production treatments compared to 5 and 4% for Simulated Continuous and Rotational Stocking, respectively. Spread of RP was least in Simulated Continuous Stocking. Light penetration to the level of RP in the canopy was not a primary driver of RP response because it was greatest for grazed plots where RP performed poorest. Results show that defoliation management during the establishment year is critical and if pastures are defoliated, hay production is the recommended option.