Crop, Forage and Turfgrass Management最新文献

Sorghum–sudangrass hybrids (Sorghum. bicolor × Sorghum. bicolor var. sudanense; SSG) are common warm-season annual forages utilized in forage systems in the northeastern United States. However, weed control can be an issue, particularly in low-input forage systems. Interseeding annual forages, such as crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis L.; CG) and berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.; BC), is of interest to aid in weed control due to their rapid growth and desirable nutritive value. A 2-year small plot evaluation was conducted to determine the agronomic benefits of interseeding CG and BC via no-till drill or broadcast seeding into SSG established on different row spacings. Total herbage accumulation (HA) did not differ by year for any of the treatments evaluated (p > 0.13), despite having different row spacing and companion crop establishment methods. Botanical composition (BOT) varied among treatments (p < 0.01) for all forage components in both years. In 2022, treatments containing CG had lower percentage of SSG, BC, and weeds (other undesirable plant species), but in 2023 only the weeds percentage was lower in treatments with CG. Crude protein did not differ in either year (p > 0.55) across treatments; however, treatments containing high amounts of CG had the lowest (p = 0.03) total digestible nutrients in 2022 only. This study concluded that while row spacing and the interseeding of annual forage species did not affect the overall HA of SSG, they did affect the BOT and nutritive value of the stand. Future research is warranted for evaluating other compatible forages and contrasting defoliation methods to determine their impact on the agronomic production of these types of mixtures, such as grazing or stored forage production.

The fertilizer application rate is the same for different forage crops in Ethiopia. Thus, this study was conducted to determine the effect of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer application on fodder yield and nutritional quality of oat (Avena sativa L.)/vetch (Vicia villosa) mixtures. The oat/vetch mixtures were sown with eight fertilizer rates (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%, 125%, 150%, and 175%), and sole oat (100 kg/ha diammonium phosphate [DAP] + 50 kg/ha urea) and vetch (100 kg/ha DAP) were also sown with their recommended fertilizer rates (100%) using a randomized complete block design with three replications. The system productivity increased with increasing fertilizer rates up to 150% and the second year gave higher yield. All the nutritive value except fiber contents were higher in the second year. Among mixtures, the highest ash, crude protein yield, digestible dry matter, dry matter intake, in-vitro dry matter digestibility, digestible yield, total digestible nutrients, total digestible nutrient yield, relative feed value, and relative feed quality were recorded for 150% fertilizer. On the contrary, the neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, acid detergent lignin, and cellulose contents decreased with increasing fertilizer rates. Application of 175% fertilizer on oat/vetch mixtures gave the highest crude protein and digestible crude protein. Moreover, the digestible energy, metabolizable energy, and net energies for lactation, maintenance, and gain increased with increasing fertilizer rates up to 150%. Therefore, application of 150% fertilizer would increase the system productivity and nutritive value of oat/vetch mixtures in the study area.

Zoysiagrass (Zoysia spp. Willd.) is a warm-season grass used from tropical to temperate climates, and it generally requires fewer inputs than most other cool- and warm-season turfgrasses. The development of new zoysiagrass cultivars has increased its use in the United States, but its adaptation and specific uses are species and cultivar dependent. The playability of zoysiagrass and reduced inputs required to maintain this species have made it a popular choice for golfing surfaces. The greatest threat to zoysiagrass health and survivability is winterkill. This management guide discusses winterkill: what it looks like, what causes it, and where it occurs. Additionally, this management guide describes best management practices for the prevention and recovery of zoysiagrass from winterkill damage.

Hybrid winter rye (Secale cereale L.) was first introduced in the United States in 2014. Agronomic management recommendations, like optimum seeding date and rate, for this productive form of winter rye are lacking. Farmers need basic information to successfully integrate hybrid winter rye into their cropping systems to supply existing markets. The objective of this experiment was to determine the influence of planting date and seeding rate on winter hybrid rye grain yield in four states (Kentucky, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Minnesota). The experiment was conducted during the 2021–2022 and 2022–2023 growing season as a split-plot randomized complete block with a whole plot factor of planting date (ranging from September to November) and sub-plot factor of seeding rate (ranging from 0.4 to 1.2 million seeds acre⁻¹). Across planting dates and seeding rates, grain yield was generally high (median values ≥90 bu acre⁻¹), except for the Crookston, MN, location in 2022 where dry conditions resulted in poor germination and low plant population, and Lexington, KY, in 2021 when rye was planted on November 29 and freezing temperatures prohibited plant establishment. In general, maximum grain yield occurred when rye was planted within the 2-week period following the Hessian fly (Mayetiola destructor Say)-free date at seeding rates ≥0.8 million seeds acre⁻¹. Hybrid winter rye grain production was successful in most environments, but planting date and seeding rate influenced yield. Because hybrid rye is relatively new, especially to growers within the United States, continued work on agronomic recommendations to maximize grain yield is needed.

Tall fescue [Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort.; TF] is widely used in temperate pastures, but its production and nutritive value may be improved through the interseeding of complementary species such as crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis L.; CG) and buckhorn plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.; PL). This study aimed to evaluate the effects of TF in monoculture, TF+CG, TF+PL, and TF+CG+PL during four harvests, focusing on botanical composition, forage mass (FM), and nutritive value in Spring Hill for 2 years. Weed proportion varied throughout the study, but it was lowest (∼20%) in the TF+CG and TF+CG+PL treatments due to the increased proportion of CG observed during the third (24%) and fourth (61%) harvests. In 2022, the TF+PL and TF+CG treatments showed greater FM (2041 and 1958 dry matter [DM] lbs acre⁻¹, respectively). In 2023, the TF+CG+PL treatment recorded the lowest FM (1673 DM lbs ac⁻¹) compared to the other treatments (∼1746 DM lbs acre⁻¹). The fourth harvest showed the greatest FM in 2022 (2372 DM lbs acre⁻¹), and in 2023, both the first and fourth harvests produced the greatest FM (2154 and 1947 DM lbs acre⁻¹, respectively). Overall, there were few differences in nutritive value across treatments; however, the third harvest in both years showed greater crude protein concentration (∼14.9%) and increased neutral detergent fiber digestibility in 2022 (34.7%), with no significant differences in 2023. This study highlights the benefits of interseeding plant species with diverse traits into forage systems to enhance biodiversity. Among the species tested, CG demonstrated superior qualities, including effective weed suppression, greater FM, and improved nutritive value.

Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L. ssp. perenne) seed production fields in western Oregon are often established using carbon-seeding, which consists of applying a band of activated charcoal (AC) over the seed row at the time of sowing. A preemergent herbicide is then broadcast applied to the field prior to rainfall or irrigation. In the seed row, the herbicide that encounters AC is absorbed, which allows the seed to germinate and establish. Biochar has similar characteristics to AC and is a potential alternative for carbon-seeding. Conifer-based biochars are produced in western Oregon, use less energy to make, and are less expensive than AC, providing potential benefits to stakeholders. To compare the seed row protection effects of conifer-based biochar to AC, we tested seven herbicide treatments: EPTC, diuron, indaziflam, rimsulfuron, pronamide, a combination of pyroxasulfone and flumioxazin, and a no herbicide check in a field study repeated four times in western Oregon. Results suggest that perennial ryegrass establishment was equivalent when either biochar or AC were used in combination with diuron, rimsulfuron, pronamide, and a combination of pyroxasulfone and flumioxazin signifying that biochar could be used in place of AC for these herbicides. Perennial ryegrass establishment was greater when activated charcoal was used compared to biochar when indaziflam was used. When EPTC was used, neither AC nor biochar led to perennial ryegrass establishment that was equal to the no herbicide check plots. Findings provide data on the use of biochar for carbon-seeding and an update on crop safety expectations across multiple herbicides in this system.

Methiozolin was registered for preemergence and postemergence annual bluegrass control in 2019 and offers good cool-season turfgrass safety. The methiozolin label indicates that a higher rate is required to effectively control annual bluegrass (Poa annua L.) at mowing heights greater than that of typical golf course putting greens. Additionally, the herbicide label recommends post-application irrigation for effective annual bluegrass control that is difficult to administer timely due to demands of golf play. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of mowing height and post-application irrigation on annual bluegrass control with methiozolin. Three field studies were initiated in Blacksburg, VA, on creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) research fairways as a split-plot design, with three mowing heights (0.15, 0.30, and 0.6 inches) as main plots. Subplots were arranged as a four by two factorial with four levels of methiozolin rate (0.45–3.6 lb ai acre⁻¹) and two levels of post-application irrigation (0 and 0.2 inches). At all locations, as mowing height increased, more methiozolin was required to control annual bluegrass 80% (C₈₀). At two of the three locations, post application irrigation increased annual bluegrass control at 0.3 inches or higher heights of cut. When turf was maintained at 0.3 inches, annual bluegrass C₈₀ was reduced by approximately 50% with post application irrigation compared to no irrigation in two of the three trials. Results from these studies support product label recommendations regarding increased use rates with higher heights of cut but cannot confirm the need for post-application irrigation in putting green height turf.

This study assessed the effects of row arrangement and cropping systems on maize (Zea mays L.) agronomy and profitability in a maize–cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) intercropping system under field conditions in Ethiopia. A factorial combination of two cowpea varieties, TVU and White Wonder Trailing (WWT), a three-row arrangement (1 maize [M]: 1 cowpea [C], 1 M: 2C, and 1 M: 3C), and three cropping systems (sole maize, maize+WWT, and maize+TVU) were evaluated using a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results revealed that row arrangement significantly (p < 0.05) affected seeds cob⁻¹ and harvest index, with the TVU variety yielding the highest values. The 1 M: 2C arrangement with the TVU variety produced the highest harvest index value, grain, and biological yields. Overall, the traits assessed were more evident in solo cropping than in intercropping. The land equivalent ratio (LER) and area time equivalent ratio (ATER) for intercropping surpassed critical thresholds in all cases. The TVU variety achieved the highest LER and ATER in the 1 M: 2C arrangement. Additionally, the 1 M: 2C+TVU combination yielded a monetary advantage index score of $2017.35 ha⁻¹, a net benefit of $3614.22 ha⁻¹, and an acceptable marginal rate of return. Therefore, it is recommended that the TVU variety be grown in a 1 M: 2C arrangement for the study areas and similar agroecological conditions.