The Use of Cereal Grains as Companion Crops in Dryland Forage Crop Establishment

Kilcher, M. R.; Heinrichs, Dirk

doi:10.4141/cjps60-009

Cited by 27 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…Grass species and alfalfa cultivar in the mixture also influenced seedling density, but to a lesser degree than environmental conditions. These findings also agree with previous studies (Kilcher and Heinrichs 1960;Waddington and Bittman 1983).…”

Section: Plant Densitysupporting

confidence: 94%

“…These mixed responses likely reflect edaphic and/or environmental conditions that favoured one companion crop more than another at that siteyear. It is commonly assumed that competition from a companion crop will reduce forage seedling density during the establishment year and that subsequent forage yield is correlated to forage plant density (Kilcher and Heinrichs 1960). For personal use only.…”

Section: Companion Crop Effects On Forage Cropsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previous research in the Brown soil zone at Swift Current reported a significant decline in forage production when cereal companion crops were used to establish dryland forages (Kilcher and Heinrichs 1960). In contrast, in the more moist Black soil zone of Saskatchewan, forage yield losses due to companion crop establishment were usually negligible (Waddington and Bittman 1983).…”

mentioning

confidence: 96%

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Companion crop establishment of short-lived perennial forage crops in Saskatchewan

Jefferson¹,

Lyons²,

Pastl³

et al. 2005

Can. J. Plant Sci.

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. 2005. Companion crop establishment of short-lived perennial forage crops in Saskatchewan. Can. J. Plant Sci. 85: 135-146. Short-lived perennial forages may provide producers with a cash hay crop as a viable option to diversify annual grain rotations. Little or no information on alternative annual crops for companion crop establishment of forages is available for Saskatchewan conditions. We evaluated field pea (Pisum sativum), canola (Brassica napus), and Westerwolds ryegrass (Lolium westerwoldicum) as companion crops over 3 yr (1998)(1999)(2000) at three Saskatchewan sites: Swift Current (Brown soil zone), Saskatoon (Dark Brown) and Nipawin (Dark Gray). We also compared three short-lived, vigourous grass species in mixture with two alfalfa (Medicago sativa) cultivars or monoculture. Combinations of precipitation and temperature variables combined with companion crop plant density and biomass explained 90% of the variation in forage yield loss relative to no companion crop forage yield. We conclude that companion crops can be used with low yield reductions at Nipawin, but that all three companion crops significantly reduced forage yield at Swift Current. Forage seedling density was reduced under companion crops but the decline in forage seedling density did not explain the reduction in forage yield. We speculate that yield components rather than plant density must have been affected by companion crop competition. Intermediate wheatgrass (Elytrigia intermedia) produced higher forage yield than Dahurian wildrye (Elymus dahuricus) or slender wheatgrass (Elymus trachycaulus). Grass-alfalfa mixtures produced higher forage yield than grass monoculture. Economic returns were superior if no companion crop was used to establish the forages at Swift Current and Saskatoon; but, at Nipawin economic returns were generally higher with companion crop establishment. The feasibility of companion crops for establishment of short-lived perennial forages in Saskatchewan thus depends on soil zone, with their use best suited to the more humid regions.Key words: Forage yield, plant density, weather, economics Jefferson, P. G., Lyons, G., Pastl, R. et Zentner, R. P. 2005. Les plantes associées dans les cultures de vivaces fourragères de courte pérennité en Saskatchewan. Can. J. Plant Sci. 85: 135-146. Pour les agriculteurs, les vivaces fourragères de courte péren-nité pourraient devenir une option valable comme culture fourragère monnayable pour diversifier les assolements annuels de céréales. Pourtant, on ne sait rien ou pas grand-chose des cultures annuelles qui faciliteraient l'établissement de plantes associées dans les conditions particulières de la Saskatchewan. Les auteurs ont évalué l'utilité du pois de grande culture (Pisum sativum), du canola (Brassica napus) et du ray-grass de type Westerworlds (Lolium westerwoldicum) comme plantes associées pendant trois ans (de 1998 à 2000) à trois endroits de la Saskatchewan : Swift Current (sols bruns), Saskatoon (sols brun foncé) et Nipawin (sols gris foncé). Ils ont aussi comparé troi...

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Section: Plant Densitysupporting

confidence: 94%

Section: Companion Crop Effects On Forage Cropsmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 96%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Companion crop establishment of short-lived perennial forage crops in Saskatchewan

Jefferson¹,

Lyons²,

Pastl³

et al. 2005

Can. J. Plant Sci.

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“…In areas such as the Canadian prairies, there is little time for forage growth after the companion crop is harvested. In these areas, forage yields are normally reduced for at least 1 yr after establishment with a companion crop (Kilcher and Heinrichs 1960;Waddington and Bittman 1983;Moyer 1985;Zaman et al 2003). In some studies, the yield loss effect of companion crops was observed on forage legume stands for up to 4 yr after establishment (Moyer 1989;Moyer et al 1995).…”

Section: Seeding Pure Forage Standsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A review of research progress on cicer milkvetch (Astragalus cicer L.)

Acharya¹,

Kastelic²,

Beauchemin³

et al. 2006

Can. J. Plant Sci.

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. 2006. A review of research progress on cicer milkvetch (Astragalus cicer L.). Can. J. Plant Sci. 86: 49-62. This review of cicer milkvetch includes both published and unpublished information regarding crop and seed characteristics, seed treatments, breeding, agronomic practices and nutritional value for livestock. Cicer milkvetch is a long-lived perennial, acid-and drought-tolerant crop providing high-quality forage throughout the growing season. It does not cause bloat in ruminants. Although it has caused photosensitization in ruminants, this was apparently due to specific environmental conditions and the cultivar used. Cicer milkvetch is compatible with other forage crops in mixed stands and is particularly suitable for pasture. Although the crop has many good qualities and was introduced in North America approximately 75 yr ago, it has not been utilized extensively, primarily due to slow establishment. However, stand establishment has been improved by elucidation of seed and seedling characteristics, followed by selection for heavy seed, rate of emergence, and mature plant vigor. Improved cultivars, developed through recurrent selection for rapid establishment, are now available. Seed scarification, inoculation with rhizobia, and shallow seeding into a pre-packed, warm seedbed are of great importance in cicer milkvetch establishment. Seeding later in the spring (without a companion crop) increases the probability of successful establishment of genetically improved cultivars. Development of cultivars with upright growth characteristics and long-term persistence under grazing stress, improved scarification techniques (to reduce seed loss), and a seeding protocol for successful establishment of the crop, have the potential to substantially increase utilization of this important forage legume. Cette revue bibliographique englobe l'information connue et inédite sur les caractéristiques de la plante et de la graine, les traitements grainiers, l'hybridation, les pratiques agronomiques et la valeur nutritive de cette culture pour le bétail. L'astragale est une vivace longévive qui tolère bien les sols acides et la sécheresse; elle produit un fourrage de haute qualité pendant toute la période végétative. Elle n'entraîne pas le météorisme chez les ruminants. La photosensibilisation qu'elle engendre à l'occasion chez eux semble résulter de certaines conditions environnementales ainsi que du cultivar employé. L'astragale est compatible avec d'autres plantes fourragères dans les peuplements mixtes et se prête particulièrement bien aux pâturages. En dépit de ses nombreuses qualités et de son introduction en Amérique du Nord il y a près de 75 ans, l'astragale n'est pas énormément utilisée, principalement parce qu'elle prend du temps à s'implanter. On peut néan-moins améliorer l'établissement de la culture en triant les semences et les plantules d'après leurs propriétés puis en sélectionnant les plants pour une production abondante de graines, le taux de levée et la vigueur des plants adultes. On trouve désormais sur le ma...

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“…The effect of competition under prairie conditions can be reduced by harvesting companion crops early and by seeding the companion crops in widely spaced rows oriented at right angles to the forage (Kilcher and Heinrichs 1960). Also, it is often recommended that companion crops be seeded at half the normally recommended rate (Smoliak and Bjorge 1981 …”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of N and P fertilizer on establishment of alfalfa with a wheat companion crop

Bittman¹,

Waddington²,

Pulkinen³

1991

Can. J. Plant Sci.

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The Use of Cereal Grains as Companion Crops in Dryland Forage Crop Establishment

Cited by 27 publications

References 2 publications

Companion crop establishment of short-lived perennial forage crops in Saskatchewan

Companion crop establishment of short-lived perennial forage crops in Saskatchewan

A review of research progress on cicer milkvetch (Astragalus cicer L.)

Effect of N and P fertilizer on establishment of alfalfa with a wheat companion crop

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