Yields of Warm‐ and Cool‐Season Forages on Adjacent Soils¹

Abstract

Knowledge of average yields that can be expected over a period of years for a soil mapping unit helps in the use of soil survey information. Even the most recent soil surveys must rely on estimates from experiments and experience. For yields of principal crops these estimates are adjusted for the effects of soil‐water relationships and often must be extrapolated to similar soils for which no data are available. The objective of this study was to determine the yield on adjacent soils varying primarily in their moisture‐supplying capacity and natural drainage, of adapted perennial and annual warm and cool‐season forages and small grains grown under the same general climatic influence and management. The yields of 12 forage crops that grow mostly from spring to autumn were measured for 5 years on five adjacent soils with similar aspect. Later, eight winter small grain cultivars were grown for hay and grain for 3 and 4 years, respectively, on the same sites. The soils used belong to the Eutrochrepts, Hapludults, Paleudults, Fragiudults, and Ochraquults great groups. The soils were characterized in terms of their yield for each crop, ranging from 1,035 to 5,735 kg/ha for the warm‐season crops and from 2,225 to 6,760 kg/ha dry matter for the cool‐season forages. Since the many forage crops adapted to the landscape studied have different periods of growth and can satisfy different animal nutritional needs in different forage systems, no attempt was made to compare species within each soil studied. However, the data presented will help in soil selection for crops needed within specific forage systems on the landscape.

Winter annual forage mass–nutritive value trade‐offs are affected by harvest timing

“…ex A. Camus (Secale × Triticum)] (Jemison et al, 2012). These species produce most of their biomass in the spring following the cessation of winter temperatures (≥ 45/35°F, day/night) and remain productive until the onset of reproductive growth (Fribourg et al, 1982). Winter annual legumes are also suitable for spring production, most notably hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth), a species that produces substantial amounts of forage mass and is common as a companion crop with cereal grain species (Thapa et al, 2018).…”