Upload
collin-martin
View
220
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Forage Management and Options during
an Exceptional Drought
Forage Management and Options during
an Exceptional Drought
Dennis Hancock, PhD.Extension Forage Specialist
UGA – Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences
Dennis Hancock, PhD.Extension Forage Specialist
UGA – Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences
OutlineDrought Resources:
Drought Info Page on GeorgiaForages.com Presentations on County Agents Only page
Refresher on Forage Management during Drought: Nitrate Toxicity Peanut Hay The Root of the Problem Re-establishment Nitrogen Management Emergency Forage: Summer Annuals
www.georgiaforages.comwww.georgiaforages.com
Presentations on County Agents Only page
Presentations on County Agents Only page
ID: GeorgiaForagesPW: GAAgentsOnly?
Test Your ForagesTest Your Forages
Nitrate in forage fed to beef cattle.
Nitrate in forage fed to beef cattle.
Forage Nitrate (ppm dry forage)
Guidance
< 4500 Safe to feed with adequate feed and water
4,500 to < 6,500 Safe under most conditions, but if feeding pregnant animals limit to half (1/2) ration
6,500 to < 9,000 Limit to half (1/2) ration
9,000 to < 15,000 Limit to third (1/3) ration
15,000 to < 18,000 Limit to quarter (1/4) ration
> 18,000 Potentially lethal, very risky
Peanut Hay QualityPeanut Hay Quality
Peanut Hay Mineral Content
Peanut Hay Mineral Content
The Most Popular Question in 2007:
“Why are my hayfields green and my pastures
brown?”
Get to the root of the problem.
What you don’t see….
Roots die back
Roots die back even
more
Graze/CutRegrowth
Begins
Graze/CutAgainAdequate
Rest
The Long-Range ForecastThe Long-Range Forecast
The Long-Range ForecastThe Long-Range Forecast
The Long-Range ForecastThe Long-Range Forecast
Re-establishing Your Pastures
Re-establishing Your Pastures
• Hybrid Bermudagrass establishment Dormant sprigs – Dec. to early Mar. Sprigs with green tops – spring (after
last freeze) to early Aug. Tops/green stems – Jun. – Aug.
• Tall Fescue establishment Sept. 15 – Oct. 15
Fertilization StrategiesFertilization Strategies
Nitrogen recommendations for bermudagrass
• Very high cost ($0.60-0.70/lb of N)• Nitrate worries• Volatilization potential• Residual N?
• Adapt the standard recommendation for non- standard conditions Split applications! Adjust for weather/precipitation patterns
Nitrogen recommendations for bermudagrass
• Very high cost ($0.60-0.70/lb of N)• Nitrate worries• Volatilization potential• Residual N?
• Adapt the standard recommendation for non- standard conditions Split applications! Adjust for weather/precipitation patterns
Fertilization StrategiesFertilization Strategies
Nitrogen recommendations for bermudagrass
• For 2008, an appropriate green-up application may be 50-75% of normal recommended rate Example: Hybrid bermudagrass –
Hay: 30-45 lbs N/acre Pasture: 20-25 lb N/acre
• Provides sufficient N to match with available water• Moderates the risk of excessive nitrate levels • Lessens prevalence of summer annual weeds
Nitrogen recommendations for bermudagrass
• For 2008, an appropriate green-up application may be 50-75% of normal recommended rate Example: Hybrid bermudagrass –
Hay: 30-45 lbs N/acre Pasture: 20-25 lb N/acre
• Provides sufficient N to match with available water• Moderates the risk of excessive nitrate levels • Lessens prevalence of summer annual weeds
Fertilization StrategiesFertilization Strategies
Common bermudagrass > tall fescue• Proper timing of N is our only tool• Fescue rescue
Rain + N 25 - 30 lbs of N at the first of March 08
– Use 40 – 50 lbs N/a in normal year. 40 - 50 lbs of N in Late Oct. 08
• VERY hard to control this balance when poultry litter is used. More N is released when temps are high =
when bermudagrass is growing better than fescue
Emphasize fall poultry litter application
Common bermudagrass > tall fescue• Proper timing of N is our only tool• Fescue rescue
Rain + N 25 - 30 lbs of N at the first of March 08
– Use 40 – 50 lbs N/a in normal year. 40 - 50 lbs of N in Late Oct. 08
• VERY hard to control this balance when poultry litter is used. More N is released when temps are high =
when bermudagrass is growing better than fescue
Emphasize fall poultry litter application
Fertilization StrategiesFertilization Strategies
• Poultry litter apps shift the balance High N-P-K generally favors broadleaf weeds Grasses generally are superior K scavengers,
particularly when N is low. Does not mean we should cut K rates. Nothing wrong with using poultry litter,
but must be aware of weed potential.
• Poultry litter apps shift the balance High N-P-K generally favors broadleaf weeds Grasses generally are superior K scavengers,
particularly when N is low. Does not mean we should cut K rates. Nothing wrong with using poultry litter,
but must be aware of weed potential.
Some Old FriendsSome Old Friends
Photo courtesy of Dr. Ray Smith, TAES
Benefits of Adding Legumes
Benefits of Adding Legumes
A valuable source of N (time-released).
Species
Annual lbs
(N/acre)
N value at $0.55/lb. of
N
Alfalfa 100-300 $55-165
Red clover 50-200 $28-110White clover 40-100 $22-55
Annual clover 50-150 $28-83
The effect of annual clover addition on ‘Coastal’ bermudagrass yields.
The effect of annual clover addition on ‘Coastal’ bermudagrass yields.
Treatment 1965 1966 1967 1968
-------------- dry lbs/acre -------------- Crimson; 200 lbs N/Acre 22500 22300 17500 24500Arrowleaf; 200 lbs N/Acre 24000 21600 16500 27100No Clover; 200 lbs N/Acre 17100 19800 15400 21600
No Clover; 0 N 7700 6600 3500 6200Location: Starkville, MS Source: Knight, W.E. 1970. Agron. J. 62:773-775.
Summer AnnualsSummer Annuals
Emergency Forage BaseEmergency Forage Base
Summer AnnualsPearl millet, sorghum x sudan, sudangrass,
brown top millet, proso millet, etc.
All are hard to dry, some harder than others.
All have nitrate toxicity potential
Sorghums have prussic acid potential
Sorghums should NOT be fed to horses
Seed supply?
Late plantings result in low yields
Pearl millet
•Medium to high yielding, slightly slower growing
•Thinner stems, not as difficult to dry•No prussic acid problems•Tolerates lower soil pH
Pearl millet
•Medium to high yielding, slightly slower growing
•Thinner stems, not as difficult to dry•No prussic acid problems•Tolerates lower soil pH
Summer Annuals
•Forage sorghum High yielding, fast growing Thick stems, difficult to dry for hay
•Sudangrass Medium yielding, fast growing Thinner stems, difficult to dry for hay
•Sorghum x sudan hybrids High yielding, fast growing Still have thick stems and difficult to hay
Other Summer Annuals• Browntop Millet
4000-7000 lbs/acre
• Foxtail Millet
3000-5000 lbs/acre
• Proso Millet
2000-4000 lbs/acre
• Red River Crabgrass
4000-7000 lbs/acre
• Forage Soybean
4000-7000 lbs/acre
Source: http://www.ppws.vt.edu/scott/weed_id/panra.htm
Source: http://www.ppws.vt.edu/scott/weed_id/panra.htm
Summer Annual Harvesting
• Hay Production (good), baled silage (better), or grazing (best)
• Sometimes difficult to tell if it is dry enough to bale
Must be below 15% Moisture if round baled
• Grazing = boot stage
Usually 18-22 inches in height
• Hay/baleage = early head
Usually 30-40 inches
• Cutting height at or above 8 inches (CRITICAL)
Cutting too low will clip below the growing point.
Hay Production School 2008March 8th
Waynesboro – Burke Co. Ext.
Hay Production School 2008March 8th
Waynesboro – Burke Co. Ext.
www.georgiaforages.comwww.georgiaforages.com
QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?
www.georgiaforages.com1-800-ASK-UGA1
www.georgiaforages.com1-800-ASK-UGA1