Annual forages are a good option for many farmers and ranchers in the Northern Great Plains, particularly when traditional forage sources are in short supply. Not only do they provide increased production per acre compared with perennial forages, but they also provide a quality forage source for livestock. While there are potential nutritional benefits to be gained by including non‐traditional species in the forage mix, nitrates and other potential toxins need to be considered. Earn 0.5 CEUs in Crop Management by reading this article and taking the quiz at http://www.certifiedcropadviser.org/education/classroom/classes/637.
Core Ideas Boron (B) application increased petiole B in irrigated alfalfa but did not impact yield and quality. Low initial soil B is not a reliable measure of the need to amend with B using foliar application of irrigated alfalfa in Montana. Diagnosing signs of B deficiency coupled with in‐season petiole B analysis may be of better value to the producers. A boron (B) deficient soil may negatively impact irrigated alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) plant tissue sufficiency, thereby compromising yield and quality in a short‐season environment such as Montana. The objective was to determine the impacts of B fertilization on irrigated alfalfa yield and quality in 2015 and 2016 at Creston and Dillon, MT on fine sandy loam and silt loam soils, respectively. The initial soil B levels at the Creston and Dillon sites were 0.2 and 0.8 ppm, respectively. The study was conducted as a randomized complete block design with five B levels: (1) 0; split applications of (2) 0.50, (3) 1.00, (4) 2.00; and a one‐time application of (5) 2.00 lb/ac in four replications. Full doses of Treatment 5 and half the dose of Treatments 2–4 were applied in early spring at a 3‐inch regrowth height. The other half dosage of Treatments 2–4 was re‐applied at a 3‐inch plant height after the first cutting. A liquid 10% B AgriSolutions was foliar‐applied as B fertilizer. All the cuttings were performed at 10% bloom. Application of B increased (P < 0.05) plant B concentration at both locations. Boron fertilization increased (P < 0.05) crop yield for the second cutting in 2015 at Dillon but did not influence all of the other seasonal cuttings nor total yields for either year or location. No significant effect of B on forage quality was observed. This research suggests foliar B fertilization based on a low B soil test is not beneficial for irrigated alfalfa producers in Montana.
Ray' (Reg. no. CV-1156, PI 689754) hard red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was developed and released by the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station in 2018. Ray was derived from the backcross population, 'Yellowstone'*2/98X168-1. The line 98X168-1 is an unreleased Montana forage breeding line. Ray was developed using the pedigree breeding method and selected as an F 4:5 headrow. It was tested under the experimental number MTF1432 in Montana grain and forage yield trials from 2014 to 2018. Ray is suitable in Montana as a dual-purpose forage and grain cultivar with dry matter forage yield and quality in a onecut annual hay harvest evaluation similar to 'Willow Creek' winter wheat, and grain production and end-use quality characteristics similar to the widely grown, high-yielding Montana hard red winter wheat grain cultivar Yellowstone.
Boron (B) fertilization based on soil B status may prevent negative effects on alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) yield and quality. Our objective was to determine the effects of foliar-applied B and water regimes on alfalfa yield and quality. A 2-yr (2016)(2017) study was done at Creston, MT in a fine sandy loam soil that tested 0.2 mg kg -1 B. Alfalfa was planted in 2016. Levels of B ranging from 0 to 2.24 kg B ha -1 were applied in association with three water regimes including rainfed, 50%, and 100% evapotranspiration (ET). There was no effect of B on yield or crude protein (P > 0.05) in either year. Both B fertilization and irrigation application increased petiole B concentration. In 2017, the water regime × B level interaction was significant specifically for the yield of the second cutting (P = 0.02), as well as for the relative feed value, neutral detergent fiber, and petiole B concentration in the third cutting (P < 0.05). Irrigation decreased (P < 0.01) forage quality only in the second cutting of 2016. Irrigation increased alfalfa yield by 45% in the establishment year (2016), but only by 12% in the following year. However, there was no yield difference observed (P > 0.05) between the 100ET and 50ET treatments each year, and irrigation water productivity decreased in the second year of alfalfa growth. The foliar application of B on a B-deficient soil did not increase yield or crude protein content of alfalfa, regardless of soil moisture availability. core Ideas• Application of B or irrigation increase petiole B concentration of alfalfa. • Increases of petiole B due to B fertilization did not increase alfalfa yield and crude protein.• Deficit irrigation did not reduce yield in alfalfa.• Regardless of water regime, application of B on B-deficient soil did not improve yield and crude protein of alfalfa.
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