Corn and sudangrass intercropped with Kura clover for Midwestern pastures

Interseeding annual warm-season grasses into perennial cool-season grasses has the potential to increase summer forage mass and nutritive value. Knowledge of how seeding rate affects annual warm-season grass establishment, forage mass, and vegetation dynamics remains limited. From 2016–2017, we conducted a field experiment evaluating the effects of seeding rates on sorghum-sudangrass (Sorghum bicolor × S. bicolor var. sudanense) density and forage mass and on the frequency of occurrence of plant species in cool-season grass sod in Lincoln, NE. The experiment had a completely randomized design consisting of six replicates of four seeding rates [0, 14, 28, and 35 kg pure live seed (PLS) ha−1] in sod mowed at a 2.5-cm height and one unseeded, non-mowed control treatment. Sorghum-sudangrass establishment increased with seeding rate from an average of 20 to 45 plants m−2 as the seeding rate increased from 14 to 35 kg PLS ha−1. Forage mass depended on a seeding rate × harvest interaction, showing positive linear and cubic responses to seeding rate in consecutive harvests at 45 and 90 d after interseeding. To increase forage mass in perennial cool-season grass sod, producers should interseed sorghum-sudangrass with at least 28 kg PLS ha−1. One-time seedings into cool-season, perennial grass sod have no residual effects on subsequent forage mass and vegetation dynamics.

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“…Bieb.) mixtures improved animal weight gains in mid-summer when cool-season grass production slumped [3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Seeding Rate Effects on Forage Mass and Vegetation Dynamics of Cool-Season Grass Sod Interseeded with Sorghum-Sudangrass

Guretzky

Redfearn

2021

Agronomy

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“…Utilizing legume‐grass mixtures without using N fertilizer also may increase forage production and quality (Interrante et al., 2012; Mouriño et al., 2003; Schaefer et al., 2014). In recent years, research has examined shifting pasture composition toward more productive annual species to increase forage and cattle production (Basweti et al., 2009; Guretzky et al., 2020; Nieman et al., 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vegetation dynamics in nitrogen‐fertilized versus mixed legume‐smooth bromegrass pastures interseeded with sorghum‐sudangrass

2023

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Interseeding annual warm-season grasses may increase forage and pasture productivity. From 2017 to 2019, we conducted a grazing experiment that examined smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) pasture responses to interseeding sorghumsudangrass [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench × S. bicolor (L.) Moench ssp. drummondii (Nees ex Steud.) de Wet & Harlan]. The experiment had a split-plot design with six main plots each containing two, 0.60-ha pasture subplots (i.e., 12 total subplots). The six main plots included three replications each of two pasture types: (A) nitrogen (N)-fertilized smooth bromegrass (FERT) and (B) mixed legume-smooth bromegrass [LEG; alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), red clover (Trifolium repens L.), and birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.)]. The subplots included sorghum-sudangrass interseeded and unseeded control treatments. Each pasture subplot, which supported two steers (Bos taurus) from spring through summer, contained six, 0.10-ha sub-subplots for rotational stocking. Sorghum-sudangrass was interseeded after stocking cycle 2 in two of the sub-subplots in the interseeded subplot each year. Vegetation responses were evaluated in these sub-subplots and in two adjacent sub-subplots in the unseeded control subplot. Across years, sampling dates, and subplot treatments, the LEG main plots supported 7% greater forage biomass (2743 ± 102 kg ha −1 ) and six more grazing days than the FERT main plots (2552 ± 111 kg ha −1 ). Sorghum-sudangrass interseeded sub-subplots, however, had 36% greater forage biomass than unseeded sub-subplots pre-grazing in stocking cycle 5. To optimize forage biomass, producers should fertilize in early spring or maintain legumes in smooth bromegrass pastures. Interseeding sorghum-sudangrass provides an option to increase late-summer forage biomass.

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“…In central Illinois, Tracy et al (2010) found that annual warm-season grass pastures integrated into a cool-season grass grazing system increased herbage mass and nutritive value in midsummer compared with cool-season grass pastures. In Wisconsin, Nieman et al (2020) found that sudangrass-Kura clover (Trifolium ambiguum M. Bieb.)…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In recent years, rising pastureland values and rental rates have increased interest among producers in enhancing or supplementing the production of cool‐season grass pastures with summer annual forages (Basweti et al., 2009; Niemen et al., 2020). Planting annual warm‐season grasses offers tremendous opportunity to increase forage during summer when the growth of cool‐season grasses such as smooth bromegrass slows.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nitrogen fertilizer rate and timing effects on smooth bromegrass interseeded with sorghum‐sudangrass

Guretzky

Hillhouse

Redfearn

2022

Crop Forage & Turfgrass Mgmt

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Interseeding perennial cool‐season grass pastures with annual warm‐season grasses may increase forage accumulation and nutritive value. Our understanding of how N fertilizer rate and timing affect the forage mass, herbage composition, and N use efficiency (NUE) of interseeded pastures remains limited. In 2018–2020, we evaluated the responses of smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) to two interseeding and five fertilizer rate and timing treatments in eastern Nebraska. Interseeding treatments included unseeded smooth bromegrass and smooth bromegrass interseeded with sorghum‐sudangrass [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench × S. bicolor var. sudanense]. Fertilizer rate and timing treatments included: 0 lb N acre–1, 80 lb N acre–1 in spring, 40 lb N acre–1 in spring and summer, 80 lb N acre–1 in summer, and 80 lb N acre–1 in spring and summer. Summer applications occurred after sorghum‐sudangrass emergence. Across years, fertilizer rate and timing had the greatest effects on forage and weed responses. Applying N at 80 lb acre–1 in spring increased spring and total spring + summer forage mass by 33% while increasing NUE compared with summer application. Interseeding did not increase summer and total forage mass, and summer N applications did not enhance the success of sorghum‐sudangrass and were problematic, increasing weediness and reducing NUE. Practitioners should fertilize smooth bromegrass with 80 lb N acre–1 in spring or 40 lb N acre–1 in split spring and summer applications in eastern Nebraska. Interseeding sorghum‐sudangrass may increase forage accumulation and nutritive value, but establishment methods need improvement.

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Corn and sudangrass intercropped with Kura clover for Midwestern pastures

Cited by 5 publications

References 36 publications

Seeding Rate Effects on Forage Mass and Vegetation Dynamics of Cool-Season Grass Sod Interseeded with Sorghum-Sudangrass

Seeding Rate Effects on Forage Mass and Vegetation Dynamics of Cool-Season Grass Sod Interseeded with Sorghum-Sudangrass

Vegetation dynamics in nitrogen‐fertilized versus mixed legume‐smooth bromegrass pastures interseeded with sorghum‐sudangrass

Nitrogen fertilizer rate and timing effects on smooth bromegrass interseeded with sorghum‐sudangrass

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