Forage Potential of Intercropping Berseem Clover with Barley, Oat, or Triticale

Abstract

production, as demonstrated with mixtures of spring and winter cereals (Baron et al., 1992; Jedel and Salmon, Intercropping berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) with 1995). silage cereals may increase forage yield and quality. Berseem clover was intercropped with barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), oat (Avena sativa The addition of Persian clover (Trifolium resupina-L.), or triticale (ϫTriticosecale rimpaui Wittm.) at 30, 60, 90, 120, tum L.) to barley-ryegrass mixtures in British Columbia and 240 cereal plants m Ϫ2 at Edmonton, Alberta, from 1998 to 2001. reduced fertilizer needs, improved midseason forage Cereals dominated Cut 1 (silage-stage) yield, and berseem clover yield, and improved forage nutritive value (Thompson dominated regrowth yield. As cereal density decreased from 240 to and Stout, 1997). The addition of pulse crops to cereals 60 plants m Ϫ2 , Cut 1 yield decreased from 10.5 to 9.3 Mg ha Ϫ1 dry has increased DM yields (Izaurralde et al., 1993), inmatter (DM), berseem clover percentage of Cut 1 increased from 5 creased protein production (Walton, 1975; Berkenkamp to 14%, and berseem clover regrowth yield (Cut 2) increased from and Meeres, 1987), or improved forage quality (Carr et 1.8 to 3.0 Mg ha Ϫ1 DM. Total season intercrop yields with barley or al., 1998). Increasing the use of annual legumes in cereal oat at 60 plants m Ϫ2 were Նyields with 240 plants m Ϫ2 . Total season cropping systems can improve sustainability through intercrop DM yields did not differ among the three cereal species in 3 of 4 yr. Triticale intercrops had advantages of greater Cut 1 yield biological N fixation, reduction of weed competition, and greater berseem clover percentage in Cut 1. Barley intercrops and increased soil organic matter (Izaurralde et al., 1993). had advantages of greater Cut 2 yield and greater total season protein Berseem clover has demonstrated intercropping poyield. Greater Cut 2 yield with barley intercrops was related to earlier tential in other environments, but its intercrop potential silage-stage (Cut 1) harvest date. Intercropping berseem clover with in the Parkland region of western Canada is unknown. reduced seeding rates of cereals improved Cut 1 forage quality. WhenBerseem clover is a high-yielding, nutritious, cool-seaberseem clover was 20% of Cut 1 yield, neutral detergent fiber was son forage crop thought to have originated in the Middle 25 to 45 g kg Ϫ1 less than with cereals alone. The crude protein of

Organic and conventional management of mixtures of wheat and spring cereals

“…This was not anticipated, as triticale was originally bred as a drought tolerant, competitive crop for use in marginal areas. Current Canadian research on triticale focuses on its potential as an animal feed and fodder crop under conventional management (Ross et al, 2004). This suggests the need for location-specific evaluation within highly competitive or organic environments, as recommendations based on results from conventional, high-input trials alone may be misleading.…”

Review: Redesigning Canadian prairie cropping systems for profitability, sustainability, and resilience

“…Nutrients in plant material consumed by livestock, especially ruminants, are converted quickly into more plant-available forms, thus accelerating nutrient cycles. Interestingly, the microbial processes responsible for this conversion in the rumen are also more efficient than soil microbial processes (Russelle 1992). With acceleration of nutrient cycles, however, comes increased risk of loss.…”

Yields, Quality and Suitability of Four Annual Forages for Deer Pasture in North Central Alberta

“…varia L) have shown promise for high N accumulation and forage production in Alaska [7]. While research on annual forage production and quality has been conducted for the cattle industry in western Canada [2,8,9], little research has assessed the suitability of annual forages for deer pasture. Annual forages can be utilized to provide alternative forage during perennial pasture rejuvenation on deer pastures, a frequent requirement due to the highly selective foraging behavior of deer and removal of preferred forages from pasture swards.…”