Limpograss [Hemarthria altissima (Poir.) Stapf & C.E. Hubb.] is commonly used as stockpiled forage. Variation in forage characteristics during the stockpiling period may affect supplementation strategies. Our objective was to characterize herbage mass (HM) and nutritive value of different canopy layers of stockpiled limpograss under continuous stocking from January to March in 2014 and 2015. Treatments were two limpograss cultivars (Floralta or Gibtuck) and three canopy layers (below 25 cm [CL0], 25–50 cm [CL25], or above 50 cm [CL50]) sampled biweekly. Gibtuck had greater HM (6.1 vs. 5.5 Mg ha−1) and in vitro digestible organic matter (IVDOM, 490 vs. 440 g kg−1) than Floralta. Herbage mass was 4.2, 3.3, and 1.0 Mg ha−1 in January, 2.5, 3.2, and 0 Mg ha−1 in February, and 3.4, 0.3, and 0 Mg ha−1 in March for CL0, CL25, and CL50, respectively. The IVDOM concentrations were 380, 470, and 570 g kg−1 in January for CL0, CL25, and CL50, and 390 and 450 g kg−1 in February and 390 and 400 g kg−1 in March for CL0 and CL25, respectively. Leaf proportion in the canopy decreased from CL50 to CL0. To meet the nutritional requirements of beef cattle grazing stockpiled limpograss pastures, it is necessary to adjust the supplementation quantity and composition during the stockpiling period due to the variation in HM, plant‐part proportion, and nutritive value of the canopy.

Core Ideas Bermudagrass K fertilization affects forage characteristics. Bermudagrass K fertilization effects are influenced by N fertilization. K fertilization is crucial to increase belowground reserves of bermudagrass. Adequate supply of potassium (K) is an important factor that can affect bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] production and persistence, particularly in soils with limited nutrient holding capacity. The objectives of this study were to (i) evaluate the effects of different nitrogen (N) and K fertilization strategies on Jiggs bermudagrass herbage accumulation (HA), root–rhizome mass, and K concentration and accumulation in above‐ and belowground tissue; and (ii) identify the critical minimum tissue K concentration below which bermudagrass HA is reduced. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at Ona, FL, from August to December, 2014 and 2015. Treatments were a factorial combination of three N (0, 45, and 90 lb/acre) and four K2O fertilization levels (0, 18, 36, and 72 lb K2O/acre, the equivalent of 0, 15, 30, and 60 lb K/acre) after every harvest, distributed in a completely randomized design with four replicates. Herbage was harvested every 6 weeks, and root and rhizome mass determined at the end of each year. There were no effects of K fertilization on HA and root–rhizome mass when no N was applied; however, Jiggs HA and root–rhizome biomass increased linearly with increasing K fertilization levels at 45 and 90 lb N/acre. For these N levels, HA increased with tissue K concentration up to 1.4%. Root and rhizome K concentrations decreased linearly with increasing levels of N. Conversely, root–rhizome K content increased with increasing levels of N fertilization. Potassium fertilization increased HA and root–rhizome mass of Jiggs bermudagrass; however, the responses were influenced by N fertilization levels.

Core Ideas Bahiagrass pastures on soils with low K concentration may not respond to K fertilization. Tissue K concentration in bahiagrass is variable and dependent on fertilization levels. Bahiagrass tissue K concentration of 17 g kg−1 was related to the greatest herbage accumulation in plants receiving greater levels of fertilization. Bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flügge) is the most utilized forage for beef cattle (Bos spp.) in Florida, but there is concern that bahiagrass pastures are declining due to insufficient K fertilization. Two studies determined the effects of K and N fertilization on bahiagrass herbage mass (HM) and nutritive value in field plots (Exp. 1), and greenhouse (Exp. 2). At two locations from May to December 2014 and 2015, Exp. 1 evaluated the combinations of three N fertilization levels (0, 50 kg N ha−1 in May, or 50 kg N ha−1 in May and August) and two levels of K fertilization (0 or 42 kg K ha−1). Potassium fertilization did not affect HM, crude protein (CP), or in vitro digestible organic matter (IVDOM); however, tissue K concentration increased from 10.6 to 11.2 g kg−1 with increasing K fertilization. Plots fertilized with N had greater HM than the control, but there was no difference between plots fertilized in May only vs. those fertilized in May and August. Experiment 2 was conducted in a greenhouse in 2014 and 2015 with a factorial combination of three levels of N fertilization (0, 50, and 100 kg N ha−1) and four levels of K fertilization (0, 16, 33, and 66 kg K ha−1). There was a quadratic relationship between tissue K concentration and herbage accumulation (HA) and maximum HA occurred with tissue K concentration of 17 g kg−1. Bahiagrass tissue K concentration and response to K fertilization are variable and can be related to fertilization levels.

Rhizoma peanut (Arachis glabrata Benth.) is a widely used warm‐season legume in Florida. Ecoturf is a rhizoma peanut germplasm with superior nutritive value; however, there is limited information about the effects of regrowth interval on this characteristic. The objective was to investigate the effects of regrowth interval on in situ crude protein (CP) and dry matter (DM) disappearance of Ecoturf compared with the predominant cultivar ‘Florigraze’. The experiment was conducted from July to October of 2014 and 2015. Treatments were a split‐plot design of Florigraze and Ecoturf (main plots) harvested at regrowth intervals of 4, 8, and 12 wk (subplots), distributed in a randomized complete block design with four replicates. Samples of each treatment were incubated in two steers (Bos spp.) for 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h, and DM and CP disappearance were fit to a nonlinear model. Ecoturf had greater CP concentration than Florigraze (193 vs. 168 g kg−1). There was no effect of genotype on in situ effective disappearance of CP (715 g CP kg−1); however, there was a quadratic effect of regrowth interval. Ecoturf had greater effective disappearance of DM than Florigraze only at 4 wk of regrowth (597 vs. 563 g kg−1). Dry matter and CP disappearance parameters may differ between Ecoturf and Florigraze. Harvesting at a regrowth interval of 8 wk or less may improve rhizoma peanut nutritive value.

Mavuno' brachiariagrass (Brachiaria spp.) is a warm-season perennial grass cultivar released in Brazil with potential to be used as forage in subtropical regions. The objective of this study was to evaluate herbage accumulation (HA), nutritive value, and the persistence of Mavuno under different harvest frequencies. The experiment was conducted in Ona, FL, from April to November in 2016 and 2017. Treatments were the factorial arrangement of four grasses: Jiggs bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers], 'Tifton 85' bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.), 'Mulato II' brachiariagrass, and Mavuno and two regrowth intervals (3 or 6 wk), distributed in a randomized complete block design with four replicates. Mavuno and Mulato II had similar total annual HA (11.0 Mg ha −1 ), and in vitro digestible organic matter (IVDOM, 644 g kg −1), but greater total annual HA and IVDOM than Jiggs (7.8 Mg ha −1 and 500 g kg −1 ) and Tifton 85 (8.4 Mg ha −1 and 550 g kg −1 ). Mavuno had the least crude protein (CP) among all treatments (111 vs. 124 g kg −1 ), and CP and IVDOM were greater at the 3-wk regrowth interval than at the 6-wk interval (130 vs. 111 g kg −1 and 610 vs 548 g kg −1 , respectively). Root mass was greater at 3 wk than at 6 wk for Tifton 85 (9.4 vs. 5.4 Mg ha −1 ) but was not affected by regrowth interval for Jiggs, Mavuno, and Mulato II (6.5 Mg ha −1 ). Mavuno and Mulato II had superior HA and IVDOM, and Mavuno may be a viable forage source in subtropical regions.

Overseeding warm‐season legumes into warm‐season perennial grass pastures may increase productivity and nutritive value of pastures in tropical and subtropical regions. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of overseeding ‘Amarillo’ pintoi peanut (Arachis pintoi Krapov. & W.C. Greg.) into Jiggs bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] pastures grazed at different stubble heights. The experiment was conducted in Ona, FL, from June to October in 2014 and 2015. Treatments were a split‐plot design of two sward types (bermudagrass monocultures or overseeded with pintoi peanut, main plots) and two postgrazing stubble heights (15 or 25 cm [SH15 and SH25], subplots) arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replicates. Pastures were mob stocked, with 28‐d resting periods between grazing events. There was no effect of stubble height on pintoi peanut plant density (5.8 plants m−2), ground cover (5.8%), or proportion in the herbage mass (HM, 5.2%); however, proportion in the HM increased from 1.1 to 8.2% over 2 yr. There was no effect of sward type on weed ground cover; however, SH25 had greater weed ground cover than SH15 (53.4 vs. 18.2%). Herbage accumulation rate, crude protein, and in vitro digestible organic matter were not affected by sward type (23.4 kg ha−1 d−1, 101 g kg−1, and 431 g kg−1, respectively). Pintoi peanut proportion in the HM increased over time; however, it may take >2 yr to have a significant presence of pintoi peanut in the mixed sward.

Pintoi peanut (Arachis pintoi Krapov. & W.C. Greg.) is a warm‐season perennial legume with potential for use in grass–legume mixtures in Florida; however, limited information exists about its establishment in mixtures with bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flügge). The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the establishment of bahiagrass cv. “Argentine” and pintoi peanut cv. “Amarillo” as monocultures or mixture. The experiment was conducted in Ona, FL, from June to October of 2014 and 2015. Treatments were a split‐plot design of seeding strategies (bahiagrass monoculture, pintoi peanut monoculture or bahiagrass‐pintoi peanut mixtures; main plots) and two N fertilization strategies (30 or 80 kg/ha N; 30N and 80N; subplots), with four replicates. Measurements of plant density and frequency were taken every 4 weeks after seeding. Ground cover and herbage mass (HM) measurements were taken 112 days after seeding. Pintoi peanut ground cover was affected by seeding strategy × N level interaction. Ground cover was greater with 80N than 30N when pintoi was seeded in monoculture (3.6% vs 1.5% respectively) but not when it was seeded with bahiagrass (2.1%). There was no effect of seeding or N strategy on pintoi peanut proportion in HM (1.4%). Bahiagrass ground cover was not affected by seeding or N strategy (15.9%); however, its proportion in the HM was greater in 80N than 30N (12.1% vs 9.4% respectively). Mixed seeding did not negatively affect the establishment of bahiagrass and pintoi peanut and greater N fertilization levels improved some establishment parameters, with no negative effect for pintoi peanut.

Microbial inoculants have been used extensively to enhance silage fermentation characteristics; however, there is limited information about the effects of microbial inoculants on warm‐season perennial grass silage. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of commercial inoculants on mycotoxins, fermentation characteristics, and nutritive value of Jiggs bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] silage. The experiment was conducted at Ona, FL, from June to October of 2014 and 2015. Treatments were seven commercial microbial inoculants (mixtures of homofermentative and heterofermentative bacteria: B500, Biotal Plus II, Early Sile Advance, Promote HQ, Promote VS‐3, F20, F600) and control (no inoculant) in a randomized complete block design with six replicates in each year. Mini‐silos were filled immediately after harvest and each treatment was sprayed using a hand sprayer before ensiling at rates recommended from the product manufacturer. There were no differences in pH, volatile fatty acids (VFA), ammonia nitrogen (NH3‐N), aerobic stability, and mold and yeast counts among treatments. In addition, silage dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent insoluble crude protein (ADICP), total digestible nutrients (TDN), in vitro true digestibility (IVTD), and neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDFD) did not differ among treatments. There was no presence of aflatoxin, zearalenone, and fumonisin in the silage. The inoculants evaluated herein did not affect nutritive value and fermentation characteristics of bermudagrass silage. The decision to add inoculants to bermudagrass silage must be made carefully due to inconsistent results and unlikely economic return.