Sickle-bar Mower Research Articles

Nutritive Value of Alfalfa Harvested with a Modified Flail Chopper

The leaves of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) are a valuable source of protein, and the stems a source of fiber. Harvest methods are sought that would allow separation of different plant fractions for agricultural or industrial functions. A solution is proposed, consisting of collecting leaves together with upper, fine stem fragments, while leaving most of the stem standing in the field. For this purpose, a modified flail chopper (MFC), typically used for harvesting green forage, was employed. The objective of this study was to assess the forage value of alfalfa biomass harvested at various development stages using an MFC, and stem stubble remaining after harvest. Alfalfa was harvested with a sickle-bar mower or MFC in the first and second cuts at bud, early flower and late flower stages of development. Using the MFC, 60% to 74% of the potential dry matter yield of alfalfa was harvested, in which the proportion of leaves was, on average, 22% greater than the proportion of leaves in forage harvested with a mower. Crude protein concentration was, on average, 16% greater and neutral detergent fiber concentration 13% less in alfalfa harvested with the MFC than with a mower. In alfalfa harvested with the MFC at early flower, crude protein concentration and in vitro true digestibility were similar or greater than, with neutral and acid detergent fiber at a similar or lower level as in forage harvested with a mower at bud stage. The forage nutritive value of alfalfa harvested with an MFC at late flower was similar to the forage value of alfalfa cut with a mower at early flower. The chemical composition of the 20 to 50 cm tall residual stubble was affected little by plant maturity or harvest method, and the quality parameters also indicate the possibility of its forage use.

The effects of different mowing regimes on diversity of grasses in lowland meadows

This study addresses the question of how changing the mowing regime influences the floristic composition and floristic diversity of grasses in an experimental lowland meadow. The study location is Bia?owie?a Forest, NE Poland. To achieve the aim we used phytosociological data from long-term studies in Bia?owie?a Forest on the course of secondary succession. The relationship between the biodiversity of grasses and type of mowing was determined using statistical analysis. Changes in the dominance and frequency of individual grass species have occurred during the last 28 years of observations. The analysis of floristic similarity demonstrated a turnover of species between the individual years of observation. Principal component analysis showed that the change in mowing method resulted in a change of the species composition, cover, and domination. However, differences in the intensity of disturbance level were rather small (one cut yearly by scythe, by sickle bar mower, and by trimmer), and changes in floristic composition were also moderate in most years. During the initial years (1984?1990), Dactylis glomerata, Agrostis gigantea, and Anthoxanthum odoratum dominated. After 1990, Arrhenatherum elatius and Holcus lanatus spread and took over, with Trisetum flavescens joining them later. Between 2008 and 2012 the cover of Dactylis glomerata increased more than two times. The reasons for the floristic transformations were changes in the management mode, e.g., the transition from mowing by scythe (medium disturbance) to mechanized mowing, first by sickle bar mower (strong disturbance) and then by trimmer (weak disturbance).

Management of the Stink Bugs Dolycoris baccarum (L.) and Piezodorus lituratus (F.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), and Chalky Spot Damage on Red Lentil in Southeast Anatolia Region, Turkey

Chalky spot damage caused by the stink bugs Dolycoris baccarum (L.) and Piezodorus lituratus (F.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is a serious problem for red lentil production in Southeast Anatolia, Turkey. This study aimed to determine spraying time against stink bugs, based on lentil developmental stages and evaluate potential agronomic methods (early vs. timely harvest and traditional harvest with sickle bar mower vs. combine harvester) to reduce chalky spot. Field trials were carried out during 2011–2012 in three provinces of Southeast Anatolia (Diyarbakir, Mardin and Sanliurfa).Chalky spot damage was initiated at the R6 stage (full seed, seed on nodes 10-13 fill the pod cavities) when the stink bug nymphs started to be observed and the plant had soft immature seeds that were more susceptible to feeding by stink bugs. In early harvested lentil fields, the percentage of chalky spot damage was 0.60 and 0.20 in Diyarbakir and Sanliurfa provinces, respectively. It was lower than that of timely harvest. On the other hand, damaged seed percentage significantly reduced by changing the harvesting from traditional to combine harvesting and damage ratio was 0.90 and 0.00 in Diyarbakir and Mardin provinces, respectively. We conclude that the management to protect lentil crops from stink bug infestations should be initiated at the R6 growth stage, and that crops should be harvested a week earlier using combine harvester to reduce stink bug density and chalky spot damage.

Exploring nest destruction and bird mortality in mown Mediterranean dry grasslands: an increasing threat to grassland bird conservation

In recent years, haying has extended to Iberian Mediterranean dry grasslands potentially impacting on grassland bird ecology. We evaluated the impact of haying on a grassland bird community of South Portugal. Our main goals were: (1) to investigate the exposure of different species to haying, (2) to investigate potential removal of nests and dead birds from hayed fields by haying machinery using the ratio (REC) between the expected number of records and the number of records collected and (3) to link clutch destruction and bird mortality with haying management practices. Hayed fields were surveyed for signs of breeding and birds censused prior to mowing. Linear models were computed, linking the REC with haying machinery and sward properties. GLMs and model averaging were used to obtain models linking clutch destruction, bird mortality and haying management variables. Only 4 % of records evidenced successful nesting attempts (N = 177). REC evaluation suggested high nest or dead bird removal by the machinery, particularly in fields with lower vegetation biomass prior to cutting. Sickle bar mowers and one-rotor rotary rakes returned higher REC but lower probability of found nests removed from the original nesting sites comparatively to discs mowers and wheel rakes. Higher probabilities of mortality events were found in fields mown earlier (but not in all years). On the other hand, lower mortality was found in fields raked with two-rotor rotary rakes. Delayed haying, silage production in temporary crops and the use haying machinery enabling simultaneously mowing and gathering hay in lines are discussed as management alternatives.

Fall-sown cover crops as mulches for weed suppression in organic small-scale diversified vegetable production

AbstractCover crop-based reduced tillage (CCBRT) has achieved positive impacts in organic row crop systems, contributing to the conservation of soil resources and the facilitation of weed management. This technique, which uses cover crop residues as mulches to suppress weeds, has shown more variable success in organic vegetable production systems. This experiment examined CCBRT for small-scale organic vegetable production in the upper Midwestern USA, specifically evaluating weed suppression, labor inputs and crop yields. Cereal rye (Secale cerealeL.) and winter wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) were fall-sown in 2012 and 2013 in a strip-plot design, including control treatments with no cover crop and spring-applied oat straw mulch. Cover crop plots were strip-tilled in mid-April to establish a planting zone, with cover crops terminated in late May at anthesis with a hand-tractor mounted sickle-bar mower. Bell peppers (Capsicum annuumL. var. ‘Revolution’), snap beans (Phaseolus vulgarisL. var. ‘Tavera’), and potatoes (Solanum tuberosumL. var. ‘Red La Soda’) were hand-planted either as transplants or seed in each treatment immediately following cover crop termination. During each summer growing season, weeds were completely eliminated from each plot by hand approximately every 10–14 days, with time for manual weeding recorded for each treatment. Vegetable crop yields and quality were measured at harvest during 2013 and 2014. Cereal rye and winter wheat produced similar biomass at the time of termination. Greater weed biomass was collected in the wheat treatment as compared with the cereal rye, increasing the in-season labor required for manual weeding. Bean yields were decreased in the all CCBRT treatments compared with control treatments in both years of the study. Pepper yields did not differ in CCBRT treatments as compared with the control in both 2012 and 2013, although the CCBRT treatments did yield lower marketable peppers compared with the straw mulch plots. Potato tuber yields were not different in the CCBRT treatments as compared with the control in 2012, but were lower in 2013. These data indicate that, if CCBRT is to be more widely adopted in small-scale vegetable production, further optimization of the system must be achieved to ensure consistent and adequate weed suppression while maintaining crop yield and quality.

Mowing for biodiversity: grass trimmer and knife mower perform equally well

Mowing of semi-natural grasslands is an important management method to maintain the conservation value and species-richness of this habitat. Mowing using cutting instruments, e.g. sickle bar mowers, is thought to be superior by practitioners compared with other mechanical instruments that tears off the plant material, e.g. grass trimmers. However, almost no studies exist that supports this assumption. We analysed a 12-year field trial in a semi-natural grassland in south-eastern Sweden, with the aim of determining which mowing technique best maintains the conservation value of semi-natural grasslands. Two mowing techniques were compared: mowing using a hand-pushed sickle bar mower (a type of knife mower), or mowing using a grass trimmer at a 5-cm or 0-cm cutting height. The odds that a recorded species belongs to a group of indicator species were calculated for sample plots, and odds ratios were calculated contrasting treatments. Three types of indicator species classification systems were used: (i) indicators of management for species richness, (ii) indicators of excess nitrogen and (iii) indicators of lack of management. The odds ratios were calculated for years 1–5, 7 and 12 of the trial. In addition, Principal Response Curve analysis was performed to analyse the change in vegetation composition over time and ANOVA for plant species richness in plots. The results showed that over time there were no differences in the odds of finding indicators of any of the three types, for any of the mowing techniques. Furthermore, there were no apparent change in vegetation composition and only a small effect on richness. These results suggest that mowing using a sickle bar mower or a grass trimmer had the same effect on the floristic composition of grasslands, and both techniques can be recommended for use in semi-natural grasslands.

Screening Five Fall-Sown Cover Crops for Use in Organic No-Till Crop Production in the Upper Midwest

Organic no-till systems continue to draw interest from organic producers across the upper Midwest in the United States. Fall-planted cover crops, terminated in the spring through the use of a roller-crimper or a mower, are a key component of these systems. In this study, five different cover crops (hairy vetch, Austrian winter peas, winter rye, winter barley, and winter triticale) were planted in the fall and terminated in the spring in preparation for no-till organic row crop production. This study compared the cover crops through measurements of: a) the amount of biomass produced by the cover crops before termination; b) the weed suppression potential of the cover crops terminated with either a roller-crimper or sickle-bar mower; and c) volumetric soil water content throughout the row crop production season. Biomass production of each of the cover crops differed significantly by variety and by year, ranging from 3.67 to 14.56 Mg DM ha−1. Significant differences in weed densities and weed biomass were also found, with almost complete elimination of weed establishment in the rye treatment in 2011. Roll-crimping and sickle-bar mowing treatments demonstrated similar weed suppression and soil moisture from May through October during 2010 and 2011.

A modified sickle bar mower increased flexibility for harvesting native plant seeds

For native plant producers, many challenges of seed collection stem from differences in plant form and physiology, diverse equipment needs, multiple harvest requirements, and hand-collection constraints. One of the major problems facing native seed producers is the inability to effectively manage the range of heights of various crops with standard mechanical equipment. To solve this problem, the Cardno JFNew Native Plant Nursery has developed an adjustable height harvester using a modified skid steer sickle bar mower and an industrial-size leaf vacuum. This machine, operated by a single person, can then be used to rapidly harvest seeds from a variety of plant types.

Can Turtle Mortality be Reduced in Managed Fields?

Abstract Early-successional habitats, including agricultural fields, appear to provide important foraging and nesting resource areas for Glyptemys insculpta (Wood Turtle) and Terrapene Carolina Carolina (Eastern Box Turtle) in the northeastern US. Mowing and agricultural activities can elevate turtle mortality rates. We performed two experiments to evaluate the risk of turtle mortality associated with 1) style of mower, 2) mower blade height, and 3) tractor tires. Mower blade height did not affect mortality rates when set to ≤15 cm. Different types of mowers appear to exert differential effects on mortality, with sickle bar mowers resulting in 50% lower mortality rates than rotary mowers and other models. However, mortality due to crushing by tractor tires may be as high as 46%, independent of blade type and height.

NON-CHEMICAL INSECT AND DISEASE MANAGEMENT IN CUCURBIT PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

NON-CHEMICAL INSECT AND DISEASE MANAGEMENT IN CUCURBIT PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

Adequate Soil Phosphorus Decreases the Grass Tetany Potential of Tall Fescue Pasture

Adequate Soil Phosphorus Decreases the Grass Tetany Potential of Tall Fescue Pasture

Factors Influencing Quantity of Cantharidin Transferred to Alfalfa from Epicauta occidentalis Werner (Coleoptera: Meloidae)

Blister beetles, including Epicauta occidentalis Werner, contain cantharidin, which is a toxin that may cause severe irritation of the digestive tract and even death of livestock that ingest contaminated alfalfa. During harvest, alfalfa is easily contaminated by fluids and bodies of blister beetles, either by the crushing action of mechanical conditioning or by running over beetles with tractor tires when using sicklebar mowers for cutting. We developed a thin-layer chromatographic cleanup procedure followed by gas chromatographic analysis to quantify how cantharidin transfer to alfalfa is influenced by the condition and location of beetles in the crop. During the harvest process, living E. occidentalis located on top of cut alfalfa transferred 6.51% (93 µg per beetle) of their total cantharidin content to the hay. After all body parts were removed, 34 ppm of cantharidin was present in a 500-g sample of alfalfa contaminated by crushing 50 beetles onto the hay. Living beetles located below the cut alfalfa transferred less (4.44% or 63 µg per beetle) of their cantharidin to the hay. Recently killed and living beetles transferred significantly greater percentages of cantharidin to hay than beetles that were dead and dried. Male E. occidentalis contained greater amounts of cantharidin (1.28 mg per beetle or 6% body dry weight) than did female beetles (0.87 mg per beetle or 3%body dry weight). Dead beetles, stored for 9 mo at room temperature (25 ± 5°C), contained 34% less cantharidin on a body dry weight basis than did dead beetles kept at -10°C, underscoring the stability of cantharidin and the attendant long-term risk to livestock.

Potato Leafhopper Control In Alfalfa, 1995

Abstract Three insecticide treatments were evaluated against PLH in a firstyear stand of ‘Haymaker ’ alfalfa located in Montgomery Co., VA. Plots of 24 X 40 ft were arranged in a RCBD with an untreated check in each of 4 replications. Mean alfalfa stem height and PLH density were estimated in each plot prior to spray treatment (21 Jul). Potato leafhopper density was estimated using combined counts of PLH nymphs and adults from 10 pendulum sweeps of a 15-inch diam sweep net taken arbitrarily across the plot. All insecticide treatments were applied as foliar sprays on 21 Jul using a CO2 backpack sprayer, delivering 20 gpa at 40 psi. Post-treatment alfalfa stem height and PLH densities were sampled every 3 to 4 d in each plot until harvest (14 Aug). Yields were determined from 60 ft2 swaths taken from each plot using a sickle-bar mower. Freshly mowed alfalfa was raked into a pile and weighed by hand using a milk scale to determine the wet wt at harvest. A 2.2-lb subsample of alfalfa was removed from each plot and dried at 131 to 140°F for 48 h to determine % dry matter. Forage samples were submitted to Virginia Tech Forage Testing Laboratory, Blacksburg, VA, for quality analysis, including % crude protein and % acid detergent fiber. A twoway ANOVA with Fisher ’s protected LSD was used to analyze differences among treatments in PLH sweep net counts (after [x + 0.5 ½ transformation), stem ht, dry matter yield, % crude protein, and % acid detergent fiber.

Blister Beetle (Coleoptera: Meloidae) Mortality Evaluated During Alfalfa Harvest

A striped blister beetle, Epicauta occidentalis Werner, found aggregating in Kansas alfalfa fields, can be incorporated into baled hay and has been documented to cause horse deaths. Different types of alfalfa harvest equipment and operation were evaluated to quantify, blister beetle mortality using simulated swarms of known numbers. Mowing was responsible for most of the beetle mortality. A self-propelled mower-windrower with crimper rollers removed gave the lowest beetle mortality of any equipment tested. A self-propelled mower-crimper-windrower gave the second lowest mortality. Although the sicklebar mower is widely recommended to reduce cantharidin contamination, identification of previously unrecognized factors related to equipment operation has clarified its contribution to blister beetle mortality, Three sources of beetle mortality ranked from most to least important were wheel traffic over mowed forage before beetles could disperse, crimping. and, finally, the cutting step itself. Raking and baling steps dislodged beetles from forage.

Potato Leafhopper Control in Alfalfa, 1994

Abstract Five insecticides were evaluated for PLH control in a first yr stand of ‘Arrow’ alfalfa located in Montgomery Co., VA in 1994. Plots of 24 × 40 ft were arranged in a RCBD with four replications. A pre-treatment estimate of PLH density was made on 1 Jul. Counts of PLH were made from 4 sets of 10 pendulum sweeps of a 15 inch diam sweep net taken arbitrarily across the field. On 1 Jul, after completing the pre-treatment estimate, foliar insecticide treatments were applied using a CO2 backpack sprayer, delivering 20 gal per acre at 40 psi. Post-treatment estimates of combined PLH nymphs and adults per 10 sweeps were made in all plots on 5, 8, 12, 16, and 22 Jul. Alfalfa stem heights also were determined in all plots on 16 and 22 Jul. Treatment yields were determined at 12% bloom on 28 Jul from 60 ft2 swaths taken from each plot using a sickle-bar mower. Freshly mowed alfalfa was raked into a pile and weighed using a milk scale to determine the wet wt. A 2.2-lb subsample of alfalfa was removed from each plot and dried at 130 to 140°F for 48 h to determine percent dry matter. A two-way ANOVA with Fisher’s protected LSD was used to analyze differences among treatments in PLH sweep net counts (after [x + 0.5]1/2 transformation), stem ht, and dry matter yield for each sample date.

Body Condition Category and Harvest Process Affect Contamination of Alfalfa by Epicauta occidentalis Werner (Coleoptera: Meloidae)

Forage harvesters equipped with mechanical conditioners are known to cause significant mortality of blister beetles inhabiting hay. Studies also have documented that a large part of the mortality associated with the use of the sicklebar mower is caused by tractor-tire traffic over the swathed hay. Our study was designed to evaluate the likelihood that beetles with swathed alfalfa may become incorporated within and dislodged from hay during harvesting. Results indicated that the blister beetle back-to-hay effect was related to the body condition category of the beetles. Living beetles had the greatest chance of being incorporated into hay from a ground-surface position. Nondried beetles (freshly killed or living) on the ground had a significant chance of being crushed and incorporated into the hay. Dead dried beetles located on the ground under the windrow were more likely to be crushed but had little chance of being incorporated into the hay. Tractor tires running over the alfalfa returned ≍10% of the beetles on the ground to the hay. Beetles located above the alfalfa were more likely to be killed or crushed by tractor tires and to become stuck to the alfalfa than were those on the ground. Raking significantly reduced the number of beetles incorporated in the hay. Baling did not change Significantly the quantity of beetles remaining in the hay after raking. Fingerprint powder, applied to the beetles as a marker, did not alter the rates of beetle crushing, dislodging, or incorporation.

Influence of Alfalfa Weevil Control on Hay Yield and Perentage of Dry Matter, 1983

Abstract Efficacy of insecticides in controlling alfalfa weevil and resulting yield impact was evaluated in 4-year-old alfalfa stand in Blacksburg, Va. Five insecticide treatments and two unsprayed checks were arranged in five-replicate randomized block design with 20 by 20 ft plots. Insecticides were applied 6 May, in 25 gal water/acre at 18 lb/in2 using a CO2-powered backpack sprayer equipped with a 6-ft boom. Alfalfa weevil larvae were sampled as follows: 10 plant stems per sample were randomly selected within each plot, pulled and placed into a plastic bag. These samples were returned to the lab and refrigerated (up to 4 days) until the tips could be dissected and weevil larvae sorted and counted. Three size categories were used: small, 1st and 2nd instar; medium, 3rd instar, and large, 4th instar. Separation among instars was based both on physical size and color. Insect count data were transformed before statistical analysis using square root (X + 0.5). Six stem lengths were measured in each plot on each sampling date. Yields were obtained by moving a 3-ft wide swath through the center of all plots with a sickle bar mower. The hay within each plot was immediately raked and weighed using a spring scale hung from a portable tripod. Subsamples (about 3 lb) were taken from each treatment, placed into cloth bags and buried under the piles of raked hay until field yield measurements were completed. The subsamples were then taken immediately to the lab where a wet weight was obtained. Samples were then placed in a 40°C drying chamber for 48 h. A dry weight measurement of the sample was then taken. Percent dry matter of the sample was calculated by dividing the dry weight by the wet weight. Adjusted yields were obtained by multiplying the field weight (wet weight) by the percent dry weight. Plots were harvested 25 May.

Roll Design for a Tandem Roll Mower-Conditioner

ABSTRACT A tandem roll mower-conditioner (TRMC) was equipped with various combinations of steel and tire carcass rolls and evaluated for the effect on digestibility, drying time, and yield of Coastal bermudagrass. When the TRMC was equipped with fluted steel rolls working against tire carcass rolls, the average digestibility was 7.3% more by 48 h in vitro dry matter digestibility tests and required two to four hours less drying time than bermudagrass cut with a sickle bar mower. However, 16.3% less bermudagrass dry matter was recovered.

Second Cutting Alfalfa Insect Control Study, 1980

Abstract A three year old stand of pure seeded alfalfa, one acre in size, was utilized for this study at the Agway Farm Research Center, Fabius, New York. Large plots were established within this one acre field in a randomized block design of three replications (plot size 18 x 33 ft - 600 sq ft/plot). Insecticide treatments were applied on Jun 27 with a CO2 bottle sprayer using 0.5 gal bottles to deliver 72.6 GPA at 30 psi. Post treatment sweep net insect samples were taken at 21 days using 10-180° sweep samples per plot. Alfalfa yields were sampled on Jul 18 by using a small sickle bar mower to cut a 1/1000 acre swath out of plot centers. Samples were taken Jo determine percent DM by oven-drying analysis as well as protein content but results are not included here.

Second Cutting Alfalfa Insect Control Study, 1979

Abstract A 2 year old stand of pure seeded alfalfa, 1 acre in size, was utilized for this study at the Agway Farm Research Center, Fabius, New York. Small plots were established in the center of the 1 acre field in a randomized block design of 3 repli-cations (plot size 12 × 25 ft - 300 sq ft/plot). This design allowed untreated buffer crop completely around the outside of the treatment block. Insecticide treatments were applied on Jul 13'79 with a CO2 bottle sprayer using 1/2 gal bottles to deliver 72.6 GPA at 30 psi. Post treatment sweep net insect samplings were taken at 11 days on Jul 24'79 by using 10-180° sweep samples per plot. The degree of blotch mining on plant terminals was determined on Jul 25'79 by counting number of actual mines on 5 whole terminals per plot. Alfalfa yields were sampled on Jul 30'79 by using a small sickle bar mower to cut a 1/1000 acre swath out of plot centers and weighing all hay cut. Samples were taken to determine percent DM by overdrying analysis as well as protein content.