The objective of this study was to develop an NIR procedure for egovaline analysis in tall fescue. A secondary objective was to identify and report regions in the NIR spectra that were consistently correlated with ergovaline concentration.

A study was conducted at Peabody Coal Company's Will Scarlet Mine in southern Illinois to evaluate the effectiveness of deep incorporation of dried sewage sludge and/or limestone to ameliorate acid coal refuse (gob) for establishment and survival of three forage grasses. Dried sewage sludge and/or limestone were applied at 10 rates throughout the profile of trenches opened (30 or 60 cm) by a cable trencher. Subplots of reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), and redtop (Agrostis alba L.) were established in September 1980. Analysis of soil chemical and physical ~hanges over time indicated that organic matter applied in the sewage sludge decreased by 35070 2 yr after the plots were established, while the proportion of sand-size water-stable aggregates increased over the same period. The proportion of large pores increased in the high rate sewage sludge plots over that of lime-treated plots. Coal refuse pH increased from 2.7 in the unamended gob to 4.4 to 5.2 with all treatments but the two lower lime rates. All treatments maintained grass stands over 4 yr with the exception of the 225 Mg sludge ha -t plus 45 Mg limestone ha -1 mixture at 60 cm. Reed canarygrass invaded adjacent plots and was more persistent than the other grasses. Mean herbage yield of the grasses exceeded 4.0 Mg ha-' on all treatments. Tissue accumulation of heavy metals was not a problem. Tissue NO~ levels were considered toxic for ruminants the first 3 yr, but decreased significantly over time. Coal refuse disposal sites can be revegetated without the use of soil cover by application of sewage sludge or limestone. Additional Index Words: waste disposal, mine revegetation, Phalaris arundinacea, Festuca arundinacea, Agrostis alba. Joost, R.E., F.J. Olsen, and J.H. Jones. 1987. Revegetation and minesoil development of coal refuse amended with sewage sludge and limestone. J. Environ. Qual. 16:65-68.

Most research on the effects of grazing cereal grains has been conducted on hard red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and little information exists concerning the influence of forage harvest on the subsequent grain yield of other cereal crops. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of forage harvest management on subsequent grain yields of triticale (× Triticosecale Wittmack) and wheat to determine the growth stage for cessation of forage harvest to optimize grain and forage production. The effect of defoliation until Feekes Growth Stage (GS) 5.0, 6.5, or 8.0 on forage production and grain yield components of ‘Terral 817’ wheat, ‘Jenkins’ triticale, and ‘Morrison’ triticale was investigated for two growing seasons at Baton Rouge, LA. Plots harvested up to GS 8.0 produced the greatest forage yield both years. There were no significant differences in mean grain yield of the three cultivars between undipped check plots and plots harvested until GS 5.0 either year. A favorable combination of forage and grain yields in 1987–1988 was achieved if the final forage harvest was made at GS 5.0, but the highest yield combination in 1988–1989 was produced by continuing forage harvest until GS 8.0. Clipping significantly reduced lodging and disease incidence during the 1988– 1989 growing season. Defoliation until GS 8.0 resulted in reductions in number of stems m−2, number of spikelets per head, and weight per seed by 37, 11, and 18%, respectively, resulting in a grain yield reduction of 44% compared with the undefoliated plants. Forage utilization should be terminated by the first node stage to minimize grain yield reductions due to tiller mortality, shortened heads, and poor kernel fill.