Forage Quality and Production of Small Grains Interseeded into Bermudagrass Sod or Grown in Monoculture

Abstract

relative responses when they are no-till seeded in bermudagrass sod compared with monoculture. Bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] is productive in sum-Forage production of winter annual cereal crops has mer but dormant for much of the year in the central USA. The grazing often been tested, but yield and forage quality of these season for bermudagrass can be lengthened with fall-interseeded small crops grown in dormant bermudagrass sod have not grains, which provide forage for early-season grazing. We compared forage yield and quality of rye (Secale cereale L., two cultivars), wheat been compared. This study was designed to compare (Triticum aestivum L., three cultivars), and barley (Hordeum vulgare forage production of six regionally adapted but diver-L., one cultivar) when interseeded into bermudagrass sod or grown gent winter cereals using multiple spring cuttings within in monoculture. Field plots of each small grain were harvested two to each of two systems: (i) interseeding into bermudagrass four times each season and analyzed for in vitro dry matter digestibility sod and (ii) sowing in monoculture under clean-tilled (IVDMD) and crude protein (CP). Cumulative forage production for conditions. early spring (growing degree days [GDD] Ͻ 1000) was greater (P Ͻ 0.05) for rye than for barley in all but one instance. Late spring MATERIALS AND METHODS (GDD Ͼ 1000) production of barley was usually greater than that of rye, but wheat cultivars were more balanced in seasonal production. Two sets of plots located at the Mound Valley Unit of Total forage production among small grains was often similar within the Kansas State University-Southeast Agricultural Research each system, but the monoculture system had an almost threefold Center near Mound Valley, KS, on a Parsons silt loam soil advantage. Although cultivars varied for IVDMD in the monoculture (fine, mixed, thermic Mollic Albaqualf) were arranged in ransystem, comparisons of digestible dry matter (DDM) were more condomized complete blocks (three replications). Six small grain sistent among harvests. Early DDM production of barley was usuallycultivars were planted in 25-cm by 9-m rows with a six-row, lowest among the species, but as high or higher than other species no-till, cone-type plot seeder in September of 1989, 1991, and for ryes. Concentrations of CP were variable, but relative CP produc-1992 into a sod of common bermudagrass. Bermudagrass was tion and yield had similar trends. In this study, rye was the best-suited 4 to 6 cm tall at the time of seeding (interseeding). Nearby species for interseeding in bermudagrass for early-season forage in clean-tilled plots (monoculture) were seeded in the same way grazing systems.

Growth Stage Influences Forage Yield and Quality of Winter Rye

“…Neutral detergent fiber was higher than other small grains (11), but similar to winter rye (4,18). Digestible dry matter was similar to reports for other small grains (1), but higher than previous reports in winter rye (12). Crude protein was within the range previously reported for winter rye (4,11,12).…”

Overseeding Annual Ryegrass and Cereal Rye into Soybean as Part of a Multifunctional Cropping System: II. Forage Yield and Nutritive Value

“…Annual ryegrass yields in spring were sometimes equal to, but often less than, those of cereal rye. The cereal rye yields from our experiment in the spring are similar to the results reported by Moyer and Coffey (10), and both the annual ryegrass and cereal rye yields are similar to those of Kallenbach et al (7) in the second year of their study. The annual ryegrass in this study was at a disadvantage to cereal rye, as both forages were terminated in late April to allow for a corn crop to be planted.…”

Nitrogen and winter cover crop effects on spring and summer nutrient uptake

“…, 2008). Overseeded winter annuals in bermudagrass extend the period of active crop growth into the autumn and spring, providing opportunity for a late‐spring harvest of high‐quality hay and removal of excess manure nutrients, particularly N and P (Moyer and Coffey, 2000; Read et al. , 2007).…”