Alfalfa and Forage Kochia Improve Nutritive Value of Semiarid Rangelands

Abstract

Obtaining quality forage on semiarid rangeland is challenging. This study compared mid‐summer crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) of ‘Vavilov’ Siberian wheatgrass (Agropyron fragile), ‘Mustang’ Altai wildrye (Leymus angustus), two alfalfas (Medicago sativa), and two forage kochias (Kochia prostrata) in monocultures and binary mixtures at plant densities on 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1.00‐m centers. Crude protein of alfalfa averaged 8.7%, forage kochia 9.6%, Vavilov 4.3%, and Mustang 7.9%. The CP of individual species components within mixtures was similar to their respective monoculture. The CP of forage kochia in both mixtures and monocultures increased 2.1% with increased plant spacing. The CP concentration of the total alfalfa‐grass mixtures averaged 1.2% higher than grass monocultures and 2.5% higher for the forage kochia‐grass mixtures. Forage kochia, alfalfa, and grass NDF concentration averaged 45, 50, and 63%, respectively. The NDF of individual species components was similar regardless of monoculture or mixture and plant density. However, NDF concentration of the total mixture decreased with increasing plant spacing in mixtures that included Vavilov. Under semiarid conditions, CP and NDF concentration of the material tested is influenced more by species composition and less by differences in plant density, or neighboring plants.

Forage Production of Grass–Legume Binary Mixtures on Intermountain Western USA Irrigated Pastures

“…There are a plethora of studies in from Europe, New Zealand, and the midwestern and southeastern United States demonstrating the value of grass-legume mixtures to improve pasture forage production and minimizing N fertilizer applications (Ta and Faris, 1987;Townsend et al, 1990;Beuselinck et al, 1992;Hoveland and Richardson, 1992;Loeppky et al, 1996;Guldan et al, 2000;Sleugh et al, 2000;Berdahl et al, 2001;Kopp et al, 2003;Nyfeler et al, 2011;Sanderson et al, 2013Sanderson et al, , 2016. While some research has been performed in the Intermountain West on the benefits and use of grass-legume mixtures (Rumbaugh et al, 1982;Peel et al, 2011Peel et al, , 2013, it does not provide specific information for irrigated pastures regarding which grass-legume species combinations are most compatible and productive, or the optimal mixture ratios to use at planting. Therefore a study was designed to determine which binary grass-legume mixtures and planting ratios of TF, MB, OG, TIM, and PRG grown with ALF, BFTF, and CMV maximized productivity of irrigated pastures and to demonstrate their productivity relative to grass monocultures in the Intermountain Region of the western United States.…”

Establishment of forage kochia in seeding mixtures with perennial grasses

“…It does not cause tannin and oxalate poisoning (Davis, ). It can be grown on the perennial grasslands to increase forage production and quality during fall and winter months (Blauer et al., ; Peel, Waldron, Jensen, & Robins, ; Stevens & McArthur, ; Waldron et al., ).…”

Genotype and Planting Date Influence on Establishment and Growth of Bassia prostrata (L) A.J. Scott in a Semiarid Subtropical Dry Winter Region

“…Waldron et al [3] also suggested that B. prostrata be planted with adapted grasses for greater production and nutritive value for grazing. Peel et al [21,22] reported that B. prostrata mixed well with Siberian wheatgrass (Agropyron fragile L.) and Altai wildrye (Leymus angustus L.), the latter of which is well adapted to the environment of this study [23]. Sand dropseed, a warm-season perennial bunchgrass that is adapted to the area of this study and easily established [24], could also be compatible with forage kochia while providing competition against the weedy species observed in the plots.…”