In Tennessee, N is one of the most common limiting nutrients for tall fescue [Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort] production. Rising prices for N fertilizer have pressured cow‐calf producers in Tennessee to reevaluate N management alternatives. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of initiation date and N fertilization on stockpiled tall fescue yield, nutritive value, animal performance during fall grazing, and overall profitability of the production system. The research was conducted in tall fescue pastures at the Plateau AgResearch and Education Center in Crossville, TN from August 2013 to December 2014. A completely randomized design with three replications was applied to existing tall fescue pastures. Stockpile initiation dates were 1 August and 1 September, and N fertilization rates were 0 and 60 lb/acre N. With the exception of crude protein (CP) and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), all other plant‐related variables analyzed in this study showed a significant difference among monthly grazing periods. Nitrogen fertilization rate did not affect forage mass or nutritive value in both years. There were no significant interactions between initiation date and N fertilization rate for all animal performance measures. Data from this study suggests that with low beef prices ($0.75/lb), profits are maximized by initiating stockpiling in August with no N application.

Alternatives to conventional N fertilization on tall fescue [Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort., nom. cons. cv. Kentucky-31] and bermudagrass [Cynadon dactylon (L.) Pers. cv. Vaughn's #1] were studied at the University of Tennessee Plateau Research and Education Center in Crossville, TN. The experimental period occurred from April to September 2016 and 2017, and the experimental design for each experiment was a completely randomized block design with six treatments and four replications (n = 24). For both species, treatments were: control (CN) without N fertilization; grass and white clover (WC) [Trifolium repens (L.) cv. Ladino-Will]; grass and red clover (RC) [Trifolium pretense (L.) cv. Cinnamon Plus]; grass and cowpea (CW) [Vigna unguiculata (L.) cv. 'Iron & Clay']; broiler litter (BL); and ammonium nitrate (AN). Legume percentage of CW in tall fescue was comparable to RC in tall fescue (P = 0.646) in 2016 but differed in 2017 (P = 0.0002). Also in tall fescue, RC treatments resulted in the greatest total herbage mass (HM) in 2017, which was 1986 kg ha -1 more than other treatments. In 2017, RC and WC treatments in tall fescue were greater in (ADF) for most of the growing season. For bermudagrass, RC treatments resulted in the greatest HM in 2016, with 4526 kg ha -1 more than other treatments, and in 2017 with 4289 kg ha -1 more than other treatments. Treatments containing a single application of BL or AN in spring each year showed no differences for total HM and crude protein (CP) in both species.

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) (CW) is being considered as an alternative feed source in the southern U.S. Legume–grass mixtures are known to provide greater forage mass compared with unfertilized grass monocultures; however, research is needed to evaluate alternatives for increasing forage availability during the summer. The objective of this study was to quantify forage mass, nutritive value, and economic viability of CW overseeded in tall fescue [Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort.] (TF) and sorghum × sudangrass hybrid [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench × Sorghum sudanese (P.) Stapf] (SS) swards seeded at different rates. Two experiments were established in Spring Hill, TN, one with TF and the other with SS, from June to September of 2016 and 2017. Inoculated CW seeds were drilled into TF and SS plots at 25, 50, or 75 lb acre−1 and compared with control treatments that were without CW. There were no differences in total and average forage mass of TF or SS with the addition of CW, regardless of the seeding rate, likely due to the competitiveness of the grasses. No differences among seed rates were observed in the concentration of crude protein (CP) for TF swards mixed with CW in either year while in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) was less for the control treatment in 2017. Meanwhile, the nutritive value of the SS and CW mixture was improved as the CW seeding rate increased in both years. Data from this study suggest that the addition of CW to TF or SS does not justify its cost given the minimal benefit provided.

Intercropping of forage grasses and legumes can increase forage productivity and nutritive value; however, intercropping of corn with warm-season forages has not yet been studied in southeast U.S., thus requiring more information. The purpose of this study was to determine the yield and nutritive value potential of warm-season annual forages intercropped with corn (Zea mays L.) for silage production. Crabgrass [Digitaria sanguinalis (L.)] is considered a weed for corn production systems; however, our study shows that if crabgrass is interseeded with corn, it does not compete for resources and can maintain high corn yields. Forage mass for sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) was higher than that of cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] and crabgrass in 2016, due to a drought in spring and summer, giving sunn hemp a competitive advantage. Crude protein content was higher for cowpea as compared to crabgrass and sunn hemp, due to cowpea's ability to maintain its vegetative stage and high N-fixation, when compared to crabgrass and sunn hemp. Despite differences in the mass of the intercropped forages, the total herbage mass of the produced silage did not differ in 2016 and 2017. Intercropped forages can be harvested and ensiled with corn for silage production or can be left with the corn residue after harvesting to be grazed on in integrated crop-livestock systems.

Core Ideas Forage mass and quality of stockpiled fescue was not affected by N sources. Poultry litter application increased crude protein of stockpiled tall fescue. Fertilizer costs should be consider before its application to stockpiled fescue. Poultry litter has been used in crop production for many years and is particularly well suited for use as a plant nutrient source because of its high nutrient content compared with other manures. The objective of this research was to compare forage yield, forage nutritive value, beef cattle performance, and economics of stockpiled tall fescue [Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort] fertilized with commercial fertilizer or poultry litter. The research was conducted from October 2013 to April 2015 at the Middle Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center of the University of Tennessee, in Spring Hill. The experimental design was completely randomized with two treatments—ammonium nitrate used as commercial fertilizer or poultry litter—replicated three times. For the plant morphological components and forage nutritive value, there were no differences between N sources. However there was a year × N source interaction (P = 0.04) for crude protein (CP) concentration with CP values averaging 9.8% in 2014 and 10.8% in 2015. There were no differences between N sources for average daily gain (ADG), which was 1.19 lb/day in 2014 and 0.95 lb/day in 2015, or for stocking rate, which was 0.65 animal units (AU) per acre in 2014 and 0.49 AU/acre in 2015. In assessing N requirements of stockpiled tall fescue, producers should consider the cost of buying, transporting, and applying poultry litter compared with the cost of commercial fertilizer sources before making a decision to fertilize a particular pasture.