Total Forage Yield Research Articles

Effect of increasing temperature and temperature fluctuations on alfalfa and orchardgrass in the establishment year

AbstractUnderstanding how a warmer and more variable climate will affect the productivity and stability of perennial forages in the establishment year is essential for determining forage management strategies resilient to the changing climate. We conducted an experiment from 2020–2021 and repeated it in 2021–2022 to determine how warmer and more variable temperatures affect yield of an alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)–orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) mixture, as well as on the abundance of a winter annual weed, chickweed (Stellaria media), during the establishment year. We utilized open‐top chambers (OTCs) to manipulate air temperature in situ to impose three treatments: (1) constant warming (OTC present year‐round), (2) fluctuating warming (OTC present year‐round but temporarily removed prior to abrupt cold snaps), and (3) control (no OTC, ambient air temperature). OTCs increased air temperature within the alfalfa–orchardgrass canopy by an average of 0.45 and 0.72°C in Year 1 and Year 2, respectively; however, the effects of OTCs on air temperature varied temporally within and between years. Constant warming decreased alfalfa frost injury compared with the control, while the control and fluctuating warming resulted in similar levels of frost injury. Warmer temperature within the OTCs neither affected chickweed biomass nor the biomass of all other weed species. Both constant and fluctuating warming increased forage dry matter yield at the first harvest timepoint in the spring of both years, the period when preceding ambient air temperature tended to be cooler than other harvest timepoints. We found that the constant warming increased total forage yield (summed over the entire year) in Year 1, when precipitation was well above the 30‐year normal for our region, but decreased total forage yield in Year 2, when summer precipitation was substantially below the 30‐year normal. As global temperature continues to rise, yield loss of cool‐season perennial forages, such as alfalfa and orchardgrass, may be exacerbated in years without adequate precipitation. Therefore, exploring heat‐ and drought‐tolerant alternative forages, as well as management strategies that improve resilience to weather variability, will be increasingly important.

Management of perennial forbs sown with or without self‐regenerating annual clovers for forage and nectar sources in a low‐input dryland production system

AbstractForage systems can be designed to produce high quality feed for ruminant livestock while providing habitat for insect pollinators. We compared forage productivity, nutritive value, and selenium uptake as well as late summer nectar production of perennial forage species; alfalfa (Medicago sativa), birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), red clover (Trifolium pratense), sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia), and chicory (Cichorium intybus) as monocultures and intercropped with either subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) or balansa clover (Trifolium michelianum) for two successive years in Oregon. Red clover intercropped with balansa clover out‐performed other stands, producing over 11 t DM ha−1 in 2019 and 9.4 t DM ha−1 in 2020. Birdsfoot trefoil and sainfoin mixtures were dominated by subterranean clover, negatively affecting total forage yield and flower abundance. Chicory intercropped with subterranean clover formed a more balanced mixture with improved DM yield and nutritive value relative to chicory monocultures. Chicory was most responsive to Se‐fertilisation in both years, having a higher concentration of Se relative to the other perennial species. Chicory also had high levels of condensed tannins (18.1–43.3 mg/g DM) relative to the other forages (1.8–17.5 mg/g DM). Red clover had the most consistent bloom in 2019, with 170 inflorescences per square meter at peak bloom and yielded an estimated total of 16.9 kg ha−1 sucrose. Birdsfoot trefoil produced the most inflorescences during peak bloom in 2020 at 279 inflorescences per square meter. However, alfalfa had a higher estimated sucrose yield in 2020 at 241 kg ha−1.

Effect of fall harvest time on forage yield and nutritive value of three alfalfa cultivars with different root types

AbstractWarmer than normal late fall temperatures may change standard fall harvest management of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) in western Canada. The objective of this study was to evaluate the forage yield and nutritive value of three types of alfalfa cultivars under different harvest managements. A field experiment was conducted from 2013 to 2017 using rhizomatous type (RR), cv. AC Yellowhead (M. sativa subsp. falcata), tap root type (TR), cv. Equinox (ssp. sativa) and creeping root type (CR), cv. Spredor 4 alfalfa (ssp. sativa), at Melfort, SK, Canada. The five harvest treatments were two 1‐cut systems (early July or late July) and three 2‐cut systems (early July + early or late September, late July + late September). Total forage yield was greater in TR and CR alfalfa than RR alfalfa; however, RR alfalfa had higher total forage yield under dry growing conditions versus CR alfalfa. The three alfalfa cultivars had a similar response to 2‐cut harvest managements. The first cut yield was affected by the timing of the second cut of the previous year with the early September harvest reducing yield more than the late September. Three alfalfa cultivars had similar crude protein (CP), total digestible nutrient (TDN), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) concentrations. There was a significant nutrient yield benefit of TR and CR alfalfa under a 2‐cut system over the RR alfalfa. Although the prairie climate is warming, the findings suggest that a fall rest period until late September is recommended regardless of alfalfa types to maintain high hay yield over multiple years.

Vertical rhizome disking to reduce Elymus repens (quackgrass) abundance in grass-clover leys

Elymus repens is a problematic perennial weed in annual crops, grasslands and leys. Rhizome fragmentation by vertical disking can potentially reduce E. repens abundance with minimal tillage, but data are lacking on its efficiency in forage production. In a two-year study (2017–2018, 2018–2019) conducted in two forage grass-clover leys that were mostly weed-free except for large E. repens populations, this study examined effects on forage yield, botanical composition, and E. repens rhizome biomass of rhizome fragmentation at significant growth initiation in spring (early rhizome fragmentation, ERF) and/or when conditions allowed after the first forage cut (late rhizome fragmentation, LRF). Cold, wet springs and hard, dry soil in summer delayed treatment in both treatment years, to late spring (ERF) and late summer/early autumn (LRF). In the treatment year, ERF reduced first-cut forage yield by 44% compared with no rhizome fragmentation, while LRF decreased second- and third-cut yield by 24% and 53%, respectively. In the year after treatment, ERF increased total forage yield by on average 10%, while LRF had no effect. Over both years, combined forage yield was reduced by 11% by ERF and 4% by LRF. Both treatments reduced E. repens rhizome biomass, but inconsistently (ERF by 25% in one year only, LRF by 24% at one of two sites). ERF reduced E. repens incidence in forage by 10% in the treatment year, but had no effect in the following year. Thus, rhizome fragmentation by vertical disking can reduce E. repens abundance in grass-clover leys, but the effect is inconsistent and forage yield can be impaired, especially in swards with much E. repens. Moreover, disking is hampered by hard, dry soil conditions.

Trends of seasonal forage yield changes of triticale in the southern Great Plains of the United States

AbstractBackgroundThe focus of triticale breeding in the southern Great Plains of the United States has been to increase forage yield for autumn–winter seasons when most other forage species are dormant. This study aims to estimate the trends of seasonal yield changes over time.MethodsYield trials had been conducted in a randomized complete block design for up to two decades. Seasonal yield changes over time were estimated using linear regression analysis.ResultsThe analysis revealed a significant positive relation between autumn forage yield (relative to common checks) and calendar years when the trials were conducted. The estimated improvement of autumn forage yield was about 1.9% per year on medium and heavy soil at Ardmore, Oklahoma, and about 5.4% per year on light soil at Burneyville, Oklahoma. However, winter forage yield change was minimal and the spring forage yield increase was negative, although this decline was not significant. Total forage yield improvements were about 0.6% and 0.7% per year at Ardmore and Burneyville, respectively. Similar results were also observed when years of cultivars' introduction were used instead.ConclusionsThe results indicate a significant gain in autumn forage yield, but a minor gain in the total forage yield due to the yield tradeoff between the autumn and spring seasons.

Effectiveness of cyclic irrigation on yield, yield components and water productivity

The efficiency of cyclic irrigation (CI) (using river water (RW) and drainage water (DW)) was investigated and compared with normal irrigation (NI) (using only RW). A 24 × 30 m research area was selected and divided into three plots – A (maize), B (soybean) and C (sunflower). Plot A was designed to produce DW for the irrigation of plots B and C. In plot B, a split-plot design was applied with randomised complete blocks with two treatments: irrigation type and rate of urea fertiliser application. The experimental design of plot C was similar to that of plot B except for the rate of fertiliser application. Analysis of variance (Anova) results for soybean revealed that the interaction between irrigation type and urea level had significant effects on growth yield and biological water productivity (WP) (P < 0.01) and fresh leaf weight (P < 0.05). The Anova results for sunflower showed that the interaction between irrigation type and urea level had significant effects on 100-seed weight, seed yield and seed WP (P < 0.05). The highest increase in WP for sunflower was for forage WP (0.768 kg/m3 for NI and 2.603 kg/m3 for CI). The WP of RW for total forage, total seed and total biological yields for CI compared with NI increased by 76.67%, 72.95% and 75.45%, respectively. The lowest increase in WP was for sunflower seed yield (0.276 kg/m3 for NI and 0.821 kg/m3 for CI). Overall, the data showed that, compared with NI, CI led to water savings of 45.59% and increased WP.

Thermal sum in the determination of the phenological stages of Chihuahua and Cuauhtémoc oats in Güémez Tamaulipas

Objective: To determine the thermal sum requirements in degrees days of development (GDD) of the varieties of Avena sativa, Cuauhtémoc and Chihuahua by phenological stage and its effect on the accumulation of total forage and by morphological component in Güémez, Tamaulipas.
 Design/methodology/approach: The sowing was carried out in plots of 6×6 m and four repetitions of the Cuauhtémoc and Chihuahua varieties through the mechanized preparation of the land, with doses of 120 kg ha-1 of seed and, subsequently, irrigation and fertilization work was carried out. The treatments were made up of the two varieties and six phenological stages (Zadoks scale: Z2, Z3, Z4, Z7, Z8, Z9) in a random complete block design.
 Results: It was found that, the months of November to March allow to obtain 1923.5 and 1831.5 GDD as a requirement of the crop to complete the biological cycle of the Chihuahua and Cuauhtémoc varieties. Yields by morphological component depended on the observed phenological stage and the highest leaf yield was obtained with 2.7 and 3.6 t ha-1 in Cuauhtémoc and Chihuahua, respectively (P<0.05) in stage Z3, with an accumulation of 1032 and 980 GDD in the stem elongation stage.
 Limitations on study/implications: These results are applicable only for the evaluation area, because they are physiological responses where the environment intervenes.
 Findings/conclusions: In Güémez, Tamaulipas, the Chihuahua oat variety requires 1923.5 GDD to complete the biological cycle, while Cuauhtémoc 1831.5 GDD. The difference between the thermal accumulation of the varieties and the phenological stages has an impact on the total forage yield and by morphological component.

Effect of Oversowing and Fertilization on Species Composition, Yield and Nutritional Quality of Forages on a Permanent Wet Meadow

The improvement of forage production and nutrition quality on native grasslands through plant species oversowing and fertilization (legumes in particular, coupled with phosphorus fertilization) is known to have been widely adopted worldwide. Less is known about this practice on the wet grasslands of the French Atlantic littoral marshes. The purpose of this study, conducted over a 3-year period (2012-2014) on the Saint Laurent de la Prée research farm, was to investigate the effects on the yield and nutritional quality of forage hay on a permanent wet meadow, of oversowing with different plant species and fertilization. We found that the success of oversowing was influenced by species or mixtures, and depended on their ability to develop and persist in the cover. In general, oversowing tended to provide benefits in terms of the total annual forage yield in 2013, with a slight increase in forage quality in 2012 and 2013. Fertilization provided no real benefit in terms of forage quality. There was no persistence of introduced species in the sward, as in 2014 almost all of them disappeared. In the conditions of this study, the benefits of oversowing and fertilizer applications were limited and short-lived. These results are discussed in relation to the conservation value of these wet grasslands and the need to pursue research on agroecology for their biodiversity-oriented management.

Planting Density and Geometry Effect on Canopy Development, Forage Yield and Nutritive Value of Sorghum and Annual Legumes Intercropping

Forage sorghum (FS) (Sorghum bicolor L.) is a major forage in crop–livestock production systems. It has low crude protein (CP) and is rich in fiber. Its forage quality can be improved by mixing with legumes rich in CP. Achieving a greater legume contribution to achieve higher CP over monocrops is a challenge for intercropping. Field trials were conducted with lablab (Lablab purpureus L.), pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan L.) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), grown with sorghum as mixed 1:1 (sorghum: legumes) and 2:2 (sorghum: legumes) rows. The sorghum plant density was 250,000 and 190,000 plants ha−1. Periodic crop biomass, leaf area index (LAI) and light interception (LI) were measured, together with forage mixture quality at final harvest. The LAI and LI values were greater for lablab and cowpea intercrops in the 1:1 configuration. Legume forage yield contributed up to 10–12% of the total dry matter (DM). A significant improvement in legume biomass was observed for a sorghum population at 190,000 plants ha−1 with paired rows (2:2) of either lablab or cowpea. Sorghum and total forage yields were higher in both 1:1 and 2:2 configurations with 250,000 plants ha−1. The CP concentration of the forage mixture was 62–75 g kg−1 DM. The acid and neutral detergent fibers and the digestibility of the forage mixture were not improved to any great extent. The results suggested that sorghum planted at normal populations with paired rows of lablab or cowpea can improve sorghum–legume intercrop productivity.

Effect of Clipping Heights on Rangeland Yield, Productivity, Carrying Capacity and Utilization Check A Case study from the tropical savanna grassland, South Darfur, Sudan

A plot of one fed an (4200 m2 ), in a ranching system of the Southern Darfur savanna grassland – Gazala Gawazat, Animal and Range Research Station, was selected and fenced for artificial grazing experiment for a couple of seasons . The total forage mean yield (Kg/ha) at three different clipping heights (5cm, 15cm and 35cm) varied significantly (P < 0.05). The clipping,(harvesting) at a height of 5cm level produced a better harvest yield of forage for maintaining grazing animals at a certain grazing management system when applied. Higher forage yield (1588.68Kg/ha) and carrying capacity (211.82 AU/ha/d) for 5cm clipping height then followed by the 15 cm clipping height in terms of forage yield (641.18 Kg/ha) and carrying capacity (85.84 AU/ha/d).Based on the argument that cattle consumes about 2.5 Kgs DM /day/100Kg L.wt. On the other hand, 35 cm clipping height produced lower yield (488.56Kg/ha) and low carrying capacity (81.41 AU/ha/d), revealing that smaller number of grazing animals can be allowed to graze for shorter period. On average seasonal basis, season 2019 was much better than grazing season 2018 on 5cm clipping height in terms of forage yield (414.99Kg/ha & 390.17 Kg/ha ) respectively . As such, continual harvest with particular management system, gives more chance offered for grasses to regenerate vigorously to increase the total forage (harvest) yield, with the optimum allocation of grazing animals to utilize the range site. Accordingly, more animal’s units accommodated per unit area of that type of management.

Interseeding legumes into established semiarid smooth bromegrass pasture

AbstractSeeding legumes into established cool‐season grass pasture helps to lower the long‐term costs of production and may improve total forage yield and quality, but seeding these legumes in the semiarid Central Great Plains region is often ignored. Eight legumes commonly seeded in the Midwest and eastern USA were no‐till seeded in late winter into upland and lowland west‐central Kansas smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) pastures. Purple‐flowered alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. ssp. sativa) and yellow‐flowered alfalfa [Medicago sativa L. ssp. falcata (L.) Arcang.] established well at the lowland and upland sites and helped improve forage yield compared with nitrogen‐fertilized smooth bromegrass. Korean lespedeza [Kummerowia stipulacea (Maxim.) Makino] and yellow sweetclover [Melilotus officinalis (L.) Lam.] established well on both landscape sites, but these legumes declined significantly over time and did not increase forage yield compared with smooth bromegrass alone. Legume establishment was greater in unfertilized smooth bromegrass at each landscape, indicating that early competition from the grass limited legume establishment. Purple‐flowered and yellow‐flowered alfalfa increased the crude protein concentration compared with smooth bromegrass alone on the lowland site, and increased crude protein and total digestible nutrient concentration on the upland site. Birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.), cicer milkvetch (Astragalus cicer L.), and hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) failed to establish with competition from smooth bromegrass at the upland and lowland sites. Purple‐flowered and yellow‐flowered alfalfa may establish and persist when seeded into existing smooth bromegrass pastures in the drier regions of central Kansas while increasing forage yield and nutritive value.

Effect of winter cover crops on water soil storage, total forage production, and quality of silage corn

Cover crops provide a wide range of benefits to farms and the environment, but this is not reflected in current adoption rates of cover cropping. If cover crops are grown for forage they may raise more interest among farmers whether as feed or as income. The objective of this study was to evaluate if introducing annual winter cover crops will contribute to the yield and quality of annual forage production and will affect soil water content. The experiment included common vetch (Vicia sativa L.), triticale (x Triticosecale Wittm. ex A. Camus) and their mixture as winter forage cover crops, fallow with nitrogen fertilization, and control plot (fallow without fertilization). The main crop was silage corn. A 2-year study was performed at three locations in northern Serbia. The following indices were calculated: forage productivity index (FP) as a ratio between cover crop and silage corn dry matter yield, forage cover crop yield advantage index (FCCYa) as a ratio between total forage yield on cover crop or fertilization treatment and control plot, and forage cover crop protein advantage index (FCCPa) as a ratio between total protein yield on cover crop or fertilization treatment and control plot. The total forage yield in 2012/2013 was higher due to more favorable weather conditions. FP was the highest on treatment with triticale in the first year and on the mixture in the second year. FCCYa was above 1, and higher on cover crop treatments in two locations. Introducing forage cover crops in crop rotation with silage corn showed an advantage in protein yield with all cover crop species, resulting in FCCPa above 1. Forage production at a location with lower FCCYa should be more focused on yield-quality balance. In contrast, in a temperate region in some years annual winter cover crops have a potential negative impact on available soil water storage for cash crop production compared to fallow-corn systems. Results indicate that cover crops impact the annual total forage yield and soil water content, but this alternation is not a species-specific effect. In the region with recurrent drought, forage yield uncertainty may be lessened by winter cover crops which enable reduced dependence on the main forage crop production.

Interseeding alfalfa into corn silage increases corn N fertilizer demand and increases system yield

Interseeding alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) into corn (Zea mays L.) harvested as silage can increase rotation productivity and reduce negative environmental impacts, but the importance of N fertilizer management for successful implementation of the interseeding system remains unexplored. Nitrogen fertilizer enhanced leaf chlorophyll content, corn silage yield, and total N content of corn with interseeded alfalfa and conventional solo-seeded corn at two locations in southern Wisconsin. However, greater N rates (additional 83 kg N ha−1 at one location; could not be estimated at second location) were needed to maximize corn silage yield when alfalfa was interseeded, suggesting that alfalfa effectively competed with corn for N. Maximum corn silage yields were depressed by 7–16% when alfalfa was interseeded, but interseeded alfalfa yields in the subsequent year were 40–160% greater than spring-seeded alfalfa, resulting in greater total forage yield over the 2-year study period. Alfalfa plant density after corn silage harvest was greatest at low N rates, but all N rates resulted in acceptable stands with good yields in the second year of the studies. This is the first demonstration that application of additional N fertilizer can ensure high interseeded corn silage yields without causing major issues with alfalfa establishment. Additionally, split N application where half of the N rate was broadcast at planting and the balance banded along the corn row as a side-dressing did not influence most corn or alfalfa N responses compared to a single broadcast application at planting. Results of this work and previous studies suggest near maximal yields of corn silage can be obtained in this interseeding system if N is applied at 224 kg ha−1, but further refinement of fertilizer and other crop management practices is, however, needed to maximize the forage production and environmental stewardship potential of this system.

Impact of different nutrient sources on forage yield, nutritive value and economics of sorghum sudan grass hybrid-Oat cropping system

It is imperative to develop integrated fertilization strategies for various forage crops that enhance the competitive ability of the crop, increase crop production and reduce the risk of nonpoint source pollution from fertilizers. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of different sources of nutrients on performance of sorghum sudan grass hybrid-oat cropping system. Significantly highest plant height, shoots per square meter, leaf stem ratio and dry matter accumulation of sorghum sudan grass hybrid and oat was observed with FYM @10 t ha−1+Azotobacter+PSB. Not surprisingly, plant height, shoots per square meter, leaf stem ratio and dry matter accumulation increased with increasing fertilizer levels with highest values recorded with 100% RDF. Moreover, significantly highest total green and dry forage yields and gross as well as net returns were recorded in FYM @10 t ha−1+Azotobacter+PSB as well as 100% RDF. FYM @10 t ha−1+Azotobacter+PSB resulted in higher benefit cost ratio, while, significantly highest benefit cost ratio was also recorded with 100% RDF. The system productivity and production efficiency showed its maximum value in FYM @10 t ha−1+Azotobacter+PSB as well as highest level of NPK fertilization.

Intercropping of maize with legumes: A cleaner strategy for improving the quantity and quality of forage

Intercropping is an eco-friendly agricultural practice for achieving higher quantity and quality of forage crops. The present study was aimed to evaluate the forage quality, quantity and ecological indices (monetary and competition) of maize in intercropping with different legumes at two different growing years (2017–2018) in the north west of Iran. The treatments were monoculture of two maize hybrids (KSC301 and KSC704), grasspea ( Lathyrus sativus L.), berseem clover ( Trifolium alexandrinum L.), bitter vetch ( Vicia ervilia L.), hairy vetch ( Vicia villosa L.) and additive intercropping of two maize hybrids with the above mentioned legumes. The highest and lowest total forage yield and crude protein yield (CPY) was achieved in intercropping of KSC301 with hairy vetch and maize monocultures. Also, the highest value of total digestible nutrients (TDN), dry matter digestibility (DMD), dry matter intake (DMI) and net energy for lactation (NE l ) was observed in intercropping of KSC301 with grasspea. In addition, acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) contents in maize monocultures increased by 19% and 29% compared with intercropping patterns. Averagely, the highest RVT was calculated in the intercropping of KSC301 with grasspea and KSC301 with hairy vetch. The maximum LER was achieved in intercropping of KSC301+ hairy vetch and KSC704+ hairy vetch. Generally, based on the forage quantity, quality and monetary indices, intercropping of KSC301 with grasspea and KSC301 with hairy vetch was superior to maize monocultures and can be suggested, as an eco-friendly and cleaner production method, to farmers instead of monoculture systems. • Photosynthetically active radiation in all intercropping patterns was higher compared with maize monocultures. • Intercropping of KSC301 with hairy vetch gave the highest total forage yield and crude protein yield. • Intercropping of KSC301 with grasspea had the highest values of total digestible nutrients, dry matter digestibility, dry matter intake, net energy for lactation. • Intercropping improves land equivalent ratio (LER) and monetary indices.

Spectral sensors prove beneficial in determining nitrogen fertilizer needs of <i>Urochloa brizantha</i> cv. Xaraés grass in Brazil

The objective of the present work was to evaluate the use of spectral sensors to determine nitrogen fertilizer requirements for pastures of Urochloa brizantha cv. Xaraés in Brazil. The experimental design was a randomized block design with 4 replications of 4 treatments: a control treatment (TT) without application of N; a reference treatment (TR) with N applied at a standard predetermined fixed rate (150 kg urea/ha/cycle); a treatment using GreenSeekerTM (TG) to determine N requirement by the canopy normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI); and a treatment using SPAD 502 (TS) to determine N requirement by foliar chlorophyll assessment. For treatments involving spectral sensors, N fertilizer was applied at half the rate of that in the reference treatment at the beginning of each cycle and further N was applied only when the nitrogen sufficiency index dropped below 0.85. The sensors used in the work indicated that no additional N fertilizer was required by these pastures above the half rates applied. Applying N at the reduced rates to the pastures was more efficient than the pre-determined fixed rate, as both sensor treatments and the fixed rate treatment produced similar total forage yields, with similar crude protein concentrations. All fertilized pastures supported similar stocking rates, while the sensor treatments used less N fertilizer, i.e. 75 kg urea/ha/cycle less than the reference plot. Longer-term studies to verify these findings are warranted followed by promotion of the technology to farmers to possibly reduce fertilizer application rates, improve profitability and provide environmental benefits.

Productivity and persistence of Kura clover and white clover mixtures with grasses

AbstractThere is a lack of persistent forage legumes for permanent pastures in eastern Canada. Kura clover (Trifolium ambiguum M. Bieb.; KC) is a long‐lived species, with demonstrated potential in various regions, however, there is a lack of information on its performance in mixtures with grasses and no comparisons with white clover (Trifolium repens L.; WC), the main legume species recommended for pastures in eastern Canada. Objectives were to evaluate the potential of KC when grown in mixtures with grasses and compare its performance with WC based‐mixtures and N‐fertilized grass monocultures. Twenty treatments that included KC, WC, and six perennial grasses species (Kentucky bluegrass [Poa pratensis L.; KB], meadow bromegrass [Bromus biebersteinii Roem. & Schult., MB], orchardgrass [Dactylis glomerata L., OR], smooth bromegrass [Bromus inermis L.; SB], tall fescue [Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort.; TF], and timothy [Phleum pratense L.; TI]) seeded alone and in binary mixtures were seeded in 2 yr at two sites and monitored for up to four production years. During the first production year, WC‐based mixtures yields were overall greater than those of KC‐based mixtures, while in the second production year and onwards, KC treatments had similar or greater yields than WC, illustrating the greater persistence of KC. Adding KC to grasses also increased total forage yields by 13% on average compared to N‐fertilized solo‐seeded grasses. The performance of specific KC–grass mixtures was variable across sites‐years with no specific mixture being consistently more productive. Kura clover is adapted to contrasting environments of Québec and appears to be a suitable alternative to WC.

Nitrogen and Sulfur Fertilization in Kale and Swede for Grazing

Species in the Brassicaceae family, hence forth brassicas, such as forage kale [Brassica. oleracea L. convar acephala (DC)], swede (B. napus L. var. napobrassica), turnip [Brassica rapa L. var. rapa (L.) Thell], and hybrids (B. rapa L. × B. pekinensis L. or B. rapa L. × B. oleracea L.), have become an important source of forage for grazing worldwide. One of the limitations of forage brassicas is the relatively higher water content and low forage yield in rain-fed environments. The objective of this study was to determine swede and kale forage yield and nutritive value response to various nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) fertilization rates. The study was conducted at two experimental field sites in North Dakota in 2012 and 2014. Kale cv. Maris Kestrel and swede cv. Major Plus and five N rates (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 kg N ha−1) and two rates of S (0 and 40 kg S ha−1) were evaluated. Swede total forage yield was greater than kale across all nitrogen and sulfur rates. Compared with no N fertilization, N fertilization increased total leaf and root/stems yield and nitrogen accumulation in leaves, roots, and stems. Sulfur did not affect forage yield. Forage nutritive value was greater in swede than kale due to a higher proportion of edible root compared with kale’s higher proportion of fibrous stems. Nitrogen and sulfur interacted with some forage nutritive components. This study results suggest that growers will benefit from greater forage yield in kale and swede if they fertilize with N up to 200 kg N ha−1. Forage yield and nutritive value of swede and kale in the northern Great Plains are novel results, since these crops are not grown for forage and represent an interesting and valuable new alternative for beef cattle growers.

Effects of cutting height managements on yield and composition of different annual pastures

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different pre-cutting and residual heights of Pearl millet, Sudangrass, and Sorghum pastures on yield, morphological and chemical composition. The experimental design was the randomized blocks, with four experimental units per treatment. It was evaluated three species of forage: 1) Pearl millet (MIL; Pennisetum americanum); 2) Sudangrass (SUD; Sorghum sudanense); and 3) Sorghum (SOR; Sorghum bicolor); and two cutting managements: I) 50:20 - cutting height at 50 cm and 20 cm residual height; and II) 85:10 - cutting height at 85 cm and 10 cm residual height. Managements of cutting height affected neither forage yield per cut nor total forage yield. Sudangrass had less cuts than MIL and SOR when submitted to the 50:20 management. The 85:10 management increased stem proportion and leaf to stem ratio, and reduced leaf proportion in comparison with the 50:20 management. The 50:20 management reduced forage contents of fiber and organic matter, and increased forage contents of crude protein and total digestible nutrient. Sorghum exhibited greater nutritive value due to increased leaf proportion. The 50:20 management increased number of cuts and improved nutritive value of forages, regardless of species evaluated in this study.

Multi-environment evaluation of foxtail millet advanced lines for forage yield stability

Foxtail millet (Setaria italica L. P. Beauv.) is a very important crop in the arid and semi-arid areas. In the present study, five advanced lines and one commercial check (Bastan) were tested across12 (six locations and two years) environments. An attempt was made to identify superior line(s) with emphasis on high forage yield potential and yield stability over multi-environment trials using GGE biplot analysis. The study was conducted using a randomized complete block design with four replications. Combined analysis of variance for forage yield showed that the genotypes, environments, and the interaction effects were highly significant (P ? 0.01). The environment, genotype and interaction effects accounted for 76.38%, 6.97% and 8.92% of the total forage yield variation, respectively. GGE biplot analysis showed that G5 has both high forage yield and stability across the studied environments and E3 and E4 were high-yielding environments in this study. Which-won-where study partitioned the testing locations into two mega-environments with G5 and G3 as winning genotypes in the first and second mega-environment, respectively. According to discriminate ability and representativeness, the E4 and E12 environments were perfect environments. Overall, existence of extensive crossover interaction clearly suggested that efforts are necessary to identify location-specific genotypes over multi-environment trials for release of new varieties.