78 Winter Hardy Small Cereal Cover Crops for Grazing and Silage in Nebraska

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 117-118
Author(s):  
Kallie Calus ◽  
Mary E Drewnoski ◽  
Daren Redfearn ◽  
Morgan Grabau ◽  
Robert Mitchell

Abstract Cereal rye, winter wheat, and winter triticale are commonly planted cover crops in corn and soybean systems and have the potential to provide early spring grazing. The three cover crops differ in growth pattern. Therefore, a study was conducted to investigate the grazing potential of the three species, including the timing of the start of grazing and nutritive value of forage as measured by growing calf gain. A 7.3 hectare field was divided into 9, 0.81-hectare paddocks. Three paddocks (n = 3 replicates per treatment) were randomly assigned to each treatment: variety not stated cereal rye, Pronghorn winter wheat, or NT11406 triticale. Pastures were seeded in Mid-September following early maturity soybean harvest and received no fertilizer. Fifty-four steers (305 kg SD ± 5 kg) were stratified by weight and assigned to one of nine groups which were then assigned to a paddock. The paddocks were split in half. Steers were turned out when forage reached a 12.7 cm height and rotated to the other half once the occupied half reached 5 cm. Grazing began April 3 for rye pastures and April 9 for triticale and wheat pastures. Two groups of cattle grazing rye were pulled April 29 due to limited forage. All remaining cattle were pulled May 8 to allow for soybean planting. Throughout the grazing period pre and post-graze biomass did not differ (P ≥ 0.36) among treatments. Average daily gain did not differ among treatments (P = 0.88) averaging 1.79, 1.86, 1.84 kg/day for rye, wheat and triticale, respectively. Likewise, gain per hectare did not differ (P = 0.80) among treatments with 378, 399, 394 kg/ha for rye, wheat, and triticale, respectively. Rye offered grazing a full week before triticale and wheat, but all three small grain cereal species resulted in desirable animal performance.

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 20-20
Author(s):  
Sarah M Montgomery ◽  
Brandi Karisch ◽  
Jane A Parish ◽  
Jesse Morrison ◽  
Brian Baldwin

Abstract Annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) can be divided into two cytotypes: diploid (2n = 2x) and tetraploid (2n = 4x). Polyploid versions of a given plant species result in increased seedling vigor, more robust growth and, potentially, greater yield. While most data suggest no difference in yield between diploid and tetraploid cultivars, there is still potential for weight gain advantages thanks to increased non-structural carbohydrates in tetraploid cells. The objectives of this study were to compare weight gain of cattle grazing either diploid or tetraploid cultivars of annual ryegrass. Two diploid annual ryegrass cultivars (Marshall and Tam 90) and two tetraploid cultivars (Jumbo and Nelson) were planted in 0.81-ha pastures, each replicated four times. Four steers (mean initial BW = 214 kg) were randomly assigned to each pasture for an 82-d grazing period. Body weights were recorded starting at d0 then every 28 days throughout the season. Data were analyzed in the GLM procedure of SAS using a significance level of α = 0.05. There were significant differences between cytotypes with respect to seasonal yield with diploids (9547.90 kg/ha) yielding greater than tetraploids (7762.00 kg/ha). As expected, ADF and NDF fractions were significantly less for tetraploids (ADF; 31.39%, NDF; 31.39%) compared to diploids (ADF; 33.75%, NDF; 53.25%). Tetraploids also contained significantly greater crude protein (13.50%) than diploids (12.90%). Cytotype had no effect on final average daily gain (ADG) (P = 0.9427). However, final ADG was significantly impacted by cultivar (P = 0.0134). Final ADG for Tam 90 (1.10 kg/d) was greater than Marshall (0.92 kg/d). Cattle grazing Nelson (1.04 kg/d) and Jumbo (0.99 kg/d) did not differ. Results show that regardless of differences in seasonal yield and nutritive value between cytotypes, there were no advantages in ADG for cattle grazing either cytotype.


1996 ◽  
Vol 76 (2) ◽  
pp. 251-257 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. S. Baron ◽  
E. A. de St Remy ◽  
D. F. Salmon ◽  
A. C. Dick

Spring planted mixtures of spring and winter cereals maximize dry matter yield and provide fall pasture by regrowth of the winter cereal. However, delay of initial harvest may reduce the winter cereal component and therefore subsequent regrowth yield. Research was conducted at Lacombe, Alberta to investigate the effect of time of initial cut (stage), winter cereal species (species) and cropping system (monocrop and mixture) on winter cereal shoot weight, leaf carbon exchange efficiency and shoot morphology. These parameters may be related to adaptation of winter cereals to growth and survival in the mixture. Winter cereal plants were grown in pails embedded in monocrop plots of fall rye (Secale cereale L.), winter triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and in binary mixtures with Leduc barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). The plants were removed when the barley reached the boot (B), heads emerged (H), H + 2, H + 4 and H + 6 wk stages. Shoot weight was generally smaller in the mixture than in the monocrop and wheat was reduced more than fall rye and triticale in the mixture compared to the monocrop. Dark respiration rate (r = −0.54) and carbon exchange (r = 0.36) under low light intensity were correlated (P < 0.05) to shoot size in the mixture. Fall rye and winter triticale had lower dark respiration rates than winter wheat. Leaf area index (LAI) was closely correlated (r = 0.83 and 0.84) with shoot weight in both the mixture and monocrop. While species failed to exhibit clear cut differences for LAI, fall rye and winter triticale were reduced less than winter wheat in the mixture relative to the monocrop. Stage was the dominant factor affecting winter cereal growth in both cropping systems, but fall rye and triticale exhibited superior morphological features, and their carbon exchange responses to light were more efficient than wheat, which should allow them to be sustained longer under the shaded conditions of a mixture. Key words: Delayed harvest, shade, spring and winter cereal mixtures, adaptation, carbon exchange, respiration


Author(s):  
Dace Piliksere ◽  
Vija Strazdiņa ◽  
Zaiga Vīcupe ◽  
Zaiga Jansone ◽  
Linda Legzdiņa ◽  
...  

The objectives of the investigation were to identify competitive traits in cereal species in order to contribute to development of a methodology for evaluation of cereal genotypes for their competitive capacity against weeds, which is important for organic breeding aims. The investigation was carried out with spring barley, spring oat, winter triticale and winter wheat genotypes in organic crop rotations in two different locations. Relations between crop traits and weed dry weight were evaluated by Pearson correlation coefficients. The results stressed the significance of some crop traits for cereal competitiveness against weeds for organic breeding purposes: (i) growth habit, canopy height, and crop development rate for spring barley; (ii) crop development rate for spring oats; (iii) winter hardiness and the coefficient of tillering for winter triticale, and (iv) winterhardiness, the coefficient of tillering, the number of productive stems, crop canopy and plant height for winter wheat. It coud be useful to include measurements of crop ground cover for estimating competitiveness of cereal species against weeds


1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (9) ◽  
pp. 1972-1976 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. A. Hunt ◽  
Anne-Marie Chapleau

Primordia production and leaf emergence were investigated in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em Thell.) and two related species, winter rye (Secale cereale L.) and winter triticale (× Triticosecale Wittmack), under field conditions in Southern Ontario, a region with a humid continental climate. Primordia initiation could be adequately described by a linear regression of primordia number on accumulated degree-days in the 1st year of study, 1981 – 1982. In the 2nd year, however, a linear relationship was noticed only in the late winter and early spring, with the rate of primordia production being distinctly lower earlier in the season. The rate of primordia initiation was faster in the ryes than in the wheats, a superiority which was associated with greater spikelet production. Triticale had an intermediate rate of primordia initiation but was closer to wheat in the timing of double ridge and terminal spikelet formation. Leaves emerged at a constant rate (degree-days base) which was similar in most of the cultivars.


2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 37-38
Author(s):  
Sam Ingram ◽  
Matthew H Poore ◽  
Daniel H Poole

Abstract Renovating toxic-infected tall fescue (TF) pastures to non-toxic infected tall fescue (NE) for profitability, animal and agronomic performance without compromising soil health is needed to transition to NE in the southeast U.S. Three renovation strategies were evaluated for impact on soil health, profitability, and animal and agronomic performance in a replicated field trial located in Bahama, NC. Strategies included: 1) control (C), 2) renovation to NE after one season of a single specie cover crop (1-SM), 3) renovation to NE after three seasons of a single specie cover crop (3-SM), and 4) renovation to NE after three seasons of a multi-specie cover crop (3-CM). Soil samples were taken prior to renovation to establish baseline soil health measurements for each strategy. Data were analyzed using proc GLM of SAS v9.4. Thirty-two Angus and Angus cross steers (initial BW 425 ± 27) were blocked by BW and randomly assigned to one of four treatments during the first season of renovation. Average daily gain for cattle grazing the first season of cover crops was greatest (P < 0.001) with 3-CM (0.8 kg/d), 3-SM (0.8 kg/d), in comparison to C and 1-SM (-0.1 kg/d). Gain per hectare differed among treatments (P < 0.001) with 3-SM and 3-CM being greater than C and 1-SM (179, 154, -24, -43 kg/ha, respectively). Within the two-month grazing period, yield different during the month of August (P < 0.001), with 3-SM being the highest (4511 kg/ha) in comparison to 3-CM (3275 kg/ha), 1-SM (2922 kg/ha), and C (2644 kg/ha), while yield was highest (P < 0.001) for 3-CM in September (2931 kg/ha) in comparison to all other treatments. Data suggests agronomic and animal performance for 3-CM and 3-SM were improved compared to C and could partially alleviate initial renovation costs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 29-29
Author(s):  
Sarah M Montgomery ◽  
Brandi Karisch ◽  
Jane A Parish ◽  
Jesse Morrison ◽  
Brian Baldwin

Abstract Annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) can be divided into two cytotypes: diploid (2n = 2x) and tetraploid (2n = 4x). Polyploid versions of a given plant species result in increased seedling vigor, more robust growth and, potentially, greater yield. While most data suggest no difference in yield between diploid and tetraploid cultivars, there is still potential for weight gain advantages thanks to increased non-structural carbohydrates in tetraploid cells. The objectives of this study were to compare weight gain of cattle grazing either diploid or tetraploid cultivars of annual ryegrass. Two diploid annual ryegrass cultivars (Marshall and Tam 90) and two tetraploid cultivars (Jumbo and Nelson) were planted in 0.81-ha pastures, each replicated four times. Four steers (mean initial BW = 214 kg) were randomly assigned to each pasture for an 82-d grazing period. Body weights were recorded starting at day 0 then every 28 days throughout the season. Data were analyzed in the GLM procedure of SAS using a significance level of α = 0.05. There were significant differences between cytotypes with respect to seasonal yield with diploids (9547.90 kg/ha) yielding greater than tetraploids (7762.00 kg/ha). As expected, ADF and NDF fractions were significantly less for tetraploids (ADF; 31.39%, NDF; 31.39%) compared to diploids (ADF; 33.75%, NDF; 53.25%). Tetraploids also contained significantly greater crude protein (13.50%) than diploids (12.90%). Cytotype had no effect on final average daily gain (ADG) (P = 0.9427). However, final ADG was significantly impacted by cultivar (P = 0.0134). Final ADG for Tam 90 (1.10 kg/d) was greater than Marshall (0.92 kg/d). Cattle grazing Nelson (1.04 kg/d) and Jumbo (0.99 kg/d) did not differ. Results show that regardless of differences in seasonal yield and nutritive value between cytotypes, there were no advantages in ADG for cattle grazing either cytotype.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
John A. Schramski ◽  
Christy L. Sprague ◽  
Karen A. Renner

Abstract Glyphosate-resistant horseweed is difficult to manage in no-tillage crop production fields and new strategies are needed. Cover crops may provide an additional management tool but narrow establishment windows and colder growing conditions in northern climates may limit the cover crop biomass required to suppress horseweed. Field experiments were conducted in 3 site-years in Michigan to investigate the effects of two fall-planted cover crops, cereal rye and winter wheat, seeded at 67 or 135 kg ha−1, to suppress horseweed when integrated with three preplant herbicide strategies in no-tillage soybean. The preplant strategies were control (glyphosate only), preplant herbicide without residuals (glyphosate + 2,4-D), and preplant herbicide with residuals (glyphosate + 2,4-D + flumioxazin + metribuzin). Cereal rye produced 79% more biomass and provided 12% more ground cover than winter wheat in 2 site-years. Increasing seeding rate provided 41% more cover biomass in 1 site-year. Cover crops reduced horseweed density 47% to 96% and horseweed biomass by 59% to 70% compared with no cover at the time of cover crop termination. Cover crops provided no additional horseweed suppression 5 wk after soybean planting if a preplant herbicide with or without residuals was applied, but reduced horseweed biomass greater than 33% in the absence of preplant herbicides. Cover crops did not affect horseweed suppression at the time of soybean harvest or influence soybean yield. Preplant herbicide with residuals and without residuals provided at least 52% and 20% greater soybean yield compared with the control at 2 site-years, respectively. Cereal rye and winter wheat provided early-season horseweed suppression at biomass levels below 1,500 kg ha−1, lower than previously reported. This could give growers in northern climates an effective strategy for suppressing horseweed through the time of POST herbicide application while reducing selection pressure for horseweed that is resistant to more herbicide sites of action.


2014 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 502-511 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron Heinrich ◽  
Richard Smith ◽  
Michael Cahn

High levels of residual soil nitrate are typically present in cool-season vegetable fields in coastal regions of California in the fall, after the production of multiple crops over the course of the growing season. This nitrate is subject to leaching with winter rains when fields are left fallow. Although the benefits of growing nitrate scavenging cover crops on soil and water quality are well documented, the portion of vegetable production fields planted to winter cover crops in this region is low. Most growers leave their fields unplanted in bare-fallow beds because the risk of having too much cover crop residue to incorporate may delay late winter and early spring planting schedules. A possible strategy to derive benefits of a cover crop yet minimize the amount of residue is to kill the cover crop with an herbicide when biomass of the cover crop is still relatively low. To evaluate whether this strategy would be effective at reducing nitrate leaching, we conducted field studies in Winter 2010–11 (Year 1) and Winter 2011–12 (Year 2) with cereal rye (Secale cereale). Each trial consisted of three treatments: 1) Fallow (bare fallow), 2) Full-season (cover crop allowed to grow to full term), and 3) Partial-season (cover crop killed with herbicide 8 to 9 weeks after emergence). In Year 1, which received 35% more rainfall than the historical average during the trial, the Full-season cover crop reduced nitrate leaching by 64% relative to Fallow, but the Partial-season had no effect relative to Fallow. In Year 2, which received 47% less rainfall than the historical average during the trial, the Full- and Partial-season cover crops reduced nitrate leaching by 75% and 52%, respectively, relative to Fallow. The Full-season cover crop was able to reduce nitrate leaching regardless of yearly variations in the timing and amount of precipitation. Although the Partial-season cover crop was able to reduce leaching in Year 2, the value of this winter-kill strategy to reduce nitrate leaching is limited by the need to kill the crop when relatively young, resulting in the release of nitrogen (N) from decaying residues back into the soil where it is subject to leaching.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyle M. Horn ◽  
Alexandre C. Rocateli ◽  
Jason G. Warren ◽  
Kenneth E. Turner ◽  
João A. Antonangelo

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
John A. Schramski ◽  
Christy L. Sprague ◽  
Karen A. Renner

Abstract Integrated strategies for management of glyphosate-resistant (GR) horseweed are needed to reduce reliance on herbicides. Planting a cover crop after corn or soybean harvest in the Upper Midwest may reduce horseweed establishment and growth. Experiments were conducted in Michigan to determine if cereal rye and winter wheat, seeded at 67 or 135 kg ha−1, and terminated with glyphosate at 1.27 kg ae ha−1 1 wk before planting (early termination) or 1 wk after soybean planting (planting green) would suppress establishment and growth of GR horseweed. Cover-crop biomass was 212% to 272% higher when termination was delayed by planting green compared with early termination. At the time of termination, cover crops reduced GR horseweed biomass 41% to 89% compared with no cover. Planting green increased the C:N ratio of cover-crop residue, which improved residue persistence and GR horseweed suppression at the time of POST herbicide application, approximately 5 wk after planting. Planting green reduced GR horseweed biomass 46% to 93% compared with no cover at the time of POST herbicide application; early termination provided less consistent suppression. Cover crops alone did not suppress GR horseweed through soybean harvest. Soybean yield was 30% to 108% greater when planting green compared with early termination at 2 site-years. Cereal rye and winter wheat, seeded at 67 or 135 kg ha−1, provided early-season GR horseweed suppression. Results from this research indicate that the practice of planting green may improve GR horseweed suppression through the time of POST herbicide application.


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