Forage dynamics in mixed tall fescue–bermudagrass pastures of the Southern Piedmont USA

Franzluebbers, Alan J.; Seman, Dwight H.; Stuedemann, J. A.

doi:10.1016/j.agee.2013.02.004

Cited by 11 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 21 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Similarly, all treatments received the same herbicide treatment in June 2012 to control excessive forb coverage, but we only estimated increases in bermudagrass coverage among grazed NWSG pastures. We also did not observe increases in bermudagrass among exotic grass pastures despite twice the level of fertilizer application than NWSG, and tall fescue can be an effective competitor with bermudagrass in grazed mixed pastures (Franzluebbers et al 2013). Therefore, of the factors that could affect exotic grass coverage in our study, grazing in NWSG pastures appeared to be the most likely to explain bermudagrass spread.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 54%

Spread of exotic grass in grazed native grass pastures and responses of insect communities

Monroe

Hill

Martin

2016

Restoration Ecology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Exotic grasses are widely established across the Southeastern United States for livestock forage, resulting in the structural and compositional simplification of grasslands. Replacing exotic forages with native warm‐season grasses (NWSG) could benefit insects due to increased complexity of plant structure and composition, but livestock grazing also may facilitate spread of remnant exotic grasses such as bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) by reducing height and coverage of NWSG. We investigated these relationships among 12 operational‐scale pastures (6.4–10.5 ha) in Mississippi, U.S.A., during May–July (2011–2012). We quantified changes in bermudagrass coverage from one treatment of grazed exotic forages and three treatments of recently established NWSG, including a grazed mixed NWSG polyculture, a grazed Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) monoculture to evaluate the effects of stand‐type richness among NWSG pastures, and a non‐grazed NWSG polyculture to evaluate the effects of grazing. We also assessed responses of two insect orders, Orthoptera and Hemiptera, to treatment and bermudagrass coverage. We estimated a 101–190% average increase in coverage of bermudagrass in grazed native grass pastures (NWSG polyculture and Indian grass monoculture), but not in non‐grazed NWSG, suggesting that grazing facilitated the spread of this grass. Composition of Orthopteran and Hemipteran communities was correlated with bermudagrass coverage, and inter‐year differences in composition for both communities in grazed mixed NWSG, and for Hemiptera in grazed Indian grass, corresponded with increasing bermudagrass coverage in those treatments. Our results suggest that incomplete eradication of exotic forages prior to establishment of NWSG may be exacerbated by grazing, which could then impact stand condition and insect communities.

show abstract

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 54%

Spread of exotic grass in grazed native grass pastures and responses of insect communities

Monroe

Hill

Martin

2016

Restoration Ecology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…resting periods defined for rotational stocking). Therefore, GI has a direct influence on forage weight, growth rate and sward height, being described as the major biotic factor, affecting the quantity and quality of available forage in a pastoral environment (FRANZLUEBBERS; SEMAN; STUEDEMANN, 2013). The GI consequently influences forage intake per animal and per area (CARVALHO et al, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Steers production in integrated crop-livestock systems: pasture management under different sward heights

Wesp

Carvalho

Conte

et al. 2016

Revista Ciência Agronômica

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

-The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different grazing intensities on forage production and animal performance of yearling steers kept under permanent grazing in an integrated crop-livestock system. The treatments consisted of areas with sward heights of 10; 20; 30 and 40 cm, and one treatment with no grazing. The pastures were of bristle oat (Avena strigosa Schreb.) and annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) following soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.). The variables forage mass, forage allowance and residual straw showed a positive and linear fit to the increasing sward height (P 0.0001). Average daily gain of steers displayed a quadratic response (P = 0.0017), being optimal with increases in grazing height up to values of near 30 cm, showing a weight gain per animal of approximately 1.0 kg day -1. A similar response was seen for live weight at slaughter and carcass characteristics (P 0.0305). The results suggest that sward heights close to 30 cm provide greater individual gains, due to the increase in forage available to each animal and the better quality of the consumed forage without compromising the residual straw destined for the following crop. RESUMO -O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de diferentes intensidades de pastejo sob a produção de forragem e o desempenho animal de novilhos superprecoces mantidos sob pastejo contínuo em sistema integrado de produção agropecuária. Os tratamentos consistiram das alturas de manejo de pasto de 10; 20; 30 e 40 cm; e de um tratamento sem pastejo. Os pastos eram constituídos de aveia-preta (Avena strigosa Schreb.) e azevém anual (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) em sucessão a cultura da soja (Glycine max (L.) Merr.). As variáveis massa de forragem, oferta de forragem e palhada residual se ajustaram de forma positiva e linear ao incremento da altura do pasto (P 0,0001). O desempenho individual de novilhos apresentou resposta quadrática (P = 0,0017) e foi otimizado com o incremento na altura do pasto até valores próximos a 30 cm, com ganho de peso por animal de aproximadamente 1,0 kg dia -1. O mesmo foi observado para o peso vivo ao abate e as características de carcaça (P 0,0305). Os resultados sugerem que alturas próximas a 30 cm permitem maiores ganhos individuais, devido ao aumento da quantidade de forragem disponível por animal e a melhor qualidade da forragem consumida, não havendo comprometimento da palhada residual destinada à cultura subsequente. Palavras-chave:Novilhos. Pastagem-manejo. Carga animal. Ganho médio diário. Peso de carcaça.

show abstract

“…Most studies in areas with the Cfa or Cfb climate type that evaluated the effects of grazing management on the productivity and botanical composition of forage grass mixes have investigated mixed canopies containing warm‐season perennial grasses and cool‐season annual grasses (Da Rocha et al., ; Moreira et al., ). However, little is known about the responses of mixed canopies containing perennial grasses with different, namely C 3 and C 4 , metabolic pathways (Franzluebbers, Seman, & Stuedemann, ; Pitman, ). The information reported in the literature regarding mixed canopies containing perennial C 3 and C 4 grass species comes from studies conducted in areas with the Cfa climate.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Crop Science perennial grasses and cool-season annual grasses (Da Rocha et al, 2007;Moreira et al, 2006). However, little is known about the responses of mixed canopies containing perennial grasses with different, namely C 3 and C 4 , metabolic pathways (Franzluebbers, Seman, & Stuedemann, 2013;Pitman, 1999). The information reported in the literature regarding mixed canopies containing perennial C 3 and C 4 grass species comes from studies conducted in areas with the Cfa climate.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The information reported in the literature regarding mixed canopies containing perennial C 3 and C 4 grass species comes from studies conducted in areas with the Cfa climate. Some previous studies have demonstrated that the success of this type of mixed canopy depends on two factors: the coolseason perennial grass should be tolerant to heat, drought, and low soil fertility (Pitman, 1999;Read, Lang, & Aiken, 2016) and should be symbiotically associated with endophytic fungi (Franzluebbers et al, 2013) because the endophyte confers greater resistance against biotic and abiotic stresses (Bouton, Gates, Belesky, & Owsley, 1993;Malinowski & Belesky, 2000). However, such symbiotic associations between a plant and fungus can lead to the production of secondary metabolites by the endophyte, such as ergovaline, which can lead to losses in animal performance (Hoveland, 1993).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Canopy structure of mixed kikuyugrass–tall fescue pastures in response to grazing management

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The effects of different management strategies on improving growth and modifying the botanical composition of C3 and C4 perennial grasses grown in a mixed canopy are underexplored. We aimed to evaluate the botanical composition and vegetation dynamics of a mixed canopy containing kikuyugrass (Pennisetum clandestinum Hochst. Ex Chiov) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreber cv. Rizomat) subjected to four grazing management strategies over 22 mo. The experimental design was a randomized complete block in a factorial arrangement (two maintenance canopy heights: grazed to 7 cm in the autumn, or uninterrupted and maintained at 12 or 17 cm) with three replicates. The plots were sampled every month throughout the experimental period; the forage mass data were used to determine the botanical composition and leaf area index of the canopy. Although autumn grazing to 7‐cm height promoted an increase in pasture leaf proportion, it did not represent an effective augment in pasture leaf mass in the following winter–spring season. Canopies heights managed at 17 cm presented a greater proportion of tall fescue in herbage mass (81%) compared with those maintained at 12 cm (73%). Severe defoliation in the autumn delayed the regrowth to 12‐ or 17‐cm canopy heights by approximately 90–120 d in both evaluation years. From a farm‐level perspective, this result would restrict the recommendation of this grazing management strategy because this time lapse would demand that the pastures not be grazed for the 25–33% period of the year compared with the pastures that were not grazed in the autumn.

show abstract

Forage dynamics in mixed tall fescue–bermudagrass pastures of the Southern Piedmont USA

Cited by 11 publications

References 21 publications

Spread of exotic grass in grazed native grass pastures and responses of insect communities

Spread of exotic grass in grazed native grass pastures and responses of insect communities

Steers production in integrated crop-livestock systems: pasture management under different sward heights

Canopy structure of mixed kikuyugrass–tall fescue pastures in response to grazing management

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About