PERFORMANCE OF SOME GRASS–ALFALFA MIXTURES IN SOUTHWESTERN SASKATCHEWAN DURING DROUGHT YEARS

1966 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. R. Kilcher ◽  
D. H. Heinrichs
Keyword(s):  
Drought Tolerance ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Crested Wheatgrass ◽  
Intermediate Wheatgrass ◽  
Brown Soil ◽  
Soil Zone

Six perennial grass–alfalfa mixtures were studied at three locations in the Brown soil zone of Saskatchewan during successive drought years 1956 to 1962. Account was taken of comparative yields, persistence, drought tolerance, and component compatibility. Differences in competition and suppression are discussed. Crested wheatgrass or intermediate wheatgrass with alfalfa gave highest yields. Russian wild ryegrass was the most competitive grass species. Russian wild ryegrass and bromegrass were the two grasses which reduced the alfalfa component the most, resulting in lower yields of the mixtures.

Barley yield and nutrient uptake in rotation after perennial forages in the semiarid prairie region of Saskatchewan

2013 ◽  
Vol 93 (5) ◽  
pp. 809-816 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. G. Jefferson ◽  
F. Selles ◽  
R. P. Zentner ◽  
R. Lemke ◽  
R. B. Muri
Keyword(s):  
Nutrient Uptake ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
Barley Grain ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Grain Yields ◽  
Intermediate Wheatgrass ◽  
Brown Soil ◽  
Soil Zone ◽  
Slender Wheatgrass

Jefferson, P. G., Selles, F., Zentner, R. P., Lemke, R. and Muri, R. B. 2013. Barley yield and nutrient uptake in rotation after perennial forages in the semiarid prairie region of Saskatchewan. Can. J. Plant Sci. 93: 809–816. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is the most common perennial forage legume grown for hay and pasture in the semiarid Brown soil zone of the Canadian prairies. Perennial forages often are not recommended for inclusion in annual crop rotations due to lower grain yields and drier soils following forage stand termination, but this is based on research results from 50 yr ago. Three replicated experiments consisting of three grasses [slender wheatgrass (Elymus tracycaulus), intermediate wheatgrass (Elytrigia intermedia), and Dahurian wildrye (Elymus dahuricus)] grown in monoculture and in mixture with two alfalfa varieties (cv. Beaver or cv. Nitro) were terminated and seeded to barley (Hordeum vulgare ‘Harrington’) for 2 consecutive crop years at Swift Current, Saskatchewan. Soil water content was lower after the alfalfa–grass mixtures compared with the grass monocultures, even during a wet growing season. Barley yield and N concentration in the grain were significantly greater following Beaver alfalfa/grass mixture compared with grass monoculture in 3 and 4 of 6 site years, respectively. N uptake by the barley crop (grain and straw) was also significantly greater following Beaver alfalfa/grass mixture than following grass monoculture in all 6 yr. Both barley grain yield and N uptake after intermediate wheatgrass (grown in monoculture) were lower than after Dahurian wildrye or slender wheatgrass in 3 of 6 yr. The use of alfalfa and a short-lived grass species in hay and pasture mixtures in the Brown soil zone when grown in rotation with annual crops may indeed result in lower grain yields in the short term than continuous annual cropping systems, but the inclusion of alfalfa will provide a N benefit to the subsequent grain crop thereby enhancing yield and possibly its market value.

PRODUCTIVITY OF GRASS SPECIES IN THE DARK BROWN SOIL ZONE OF SASKATCHEWAN

1987 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
pp. 719-725 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. P. KNOWLES
Keyword(s):  
Grass Species ◽  
In Vitro Digestibility ◽  
Smooth Bromegrass ◽  
Crested Wheatgrass ◽  
Intermediate Wheatgrass ◽  
Soil Zone ◽  
Western Wheatgrass ◽  
Meadow Bromegrass ◽  
Slender Wheatgrass

Six Eurasian temperate zone grasses, one mixture of these, and three North American wheatgrasses were compared in mainly nonfertilized tests from 1974 to 1983 in Saskatchewan, Canada. Introduced grasses outyielded natives at Saskatoon when cut once per season as hay with the following declining yield order (kg/ha): intermediate wheatgrass (3819), standard crested wheatgrass (2906), smooth bromegrass (2841), Russian wild ryegrass (2311), Fairway crested wheatgrass (2218), meadow bromegrass (2082), slender wheatgrass (2011), western wheatgrass (1919), and northern wheatgrass (1683). Much the same order of yield was observed when these grasses were clipped two to three times per season, although meadow bromegrass and western wheatgrass performed relatively better. At the Scott site, standard crested wheatgrass and northern wheatgrass performed relatively better than at Saskatoon. Slightly lower in vitro digestibility ratings were shown for natives than for introduced species and this appeared to be due to the more rapid senescence of natives. Stands at Saskatoon were maintained for 10 yr for all species except slender wheatgrass which lasted 5 yr. Weed control was best for meadow bromegrass and smooth bromegrass and poorest for slender wheatgrass, northern wheatgrass, and Fairway crested wheatgrass. Fertilizer applied to older stands showed a greater response for introduced grasses than for natives.Key words: Grass species, productivity, hay, pasture, longevity

NUTRIENT VALUE OF HAY HARVESTED WITH MECHANICAL STACKING WAGONS, LARGE ROUND BALER AND CONVENTIONAL BALER

1978 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. O. THORLACIUS ◽  
W. COATES ◽  
M. FELDMAN
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Crested Wheatgrass ◽  
Intermediate Wheatgrass ◽  
Nutrient Value ◽  
Large Round

In 1972, crested wheatgrass, intermediate wheatgrass, and bromegrass hay were harvested with a Hesston 30 stacking wagon, McKee 1000 stacking wagon, and conventional baler. Crested wheatgrass was stacked at 35 and 29% moisture, intermediate wheatgrass at 38 and 27% moisture, and bromegrass at 41 and 31% moisture. Crested wheatgrass was baled at 23 and 19%, intermediate wheatgrass at 27 and 22%, and bromegrass at 30 and 20% moisture. In 1973, the same grass species were harvested at two moisture levels, 20 and 12% for crested wheatgrass, 25 and 19% for intermediate wheatgrass, and 24 and 20% for bromegrass with a Hesston 10 stacking wagon, Vermeer 605 round baler, and conventional baler. Dry matter intake by lambs and digestibility measurements (in vivo 1972, in vitro 1973) indicated that with the exception of bromegrass harvested in 1972, harvesting machine had little effect on hay quality. In 1972, bromegrass harvested with the stacking wagons was inferior in quality to the baled hay. The effect of moisture level at harvest was dependent on species of grass, harvesting machine, and weather conditions during harvest.

EFFECTS OF N FERTILIZER ON TOTAL-N AND NO3-N CONTENT OF SIX GRASS SPECIES

1975 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 573-577 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. D. SMITH ◽  
L. E. LUTWICK
Keyword(s):  
Phleum Pratense ◽  
N Fertilizer ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
N Content ◽  
Total N ◽  
Crested Wheatgrass ◽  
Intermediate Wheatgrass ◽  
Stream Bank ◽  
Lethal Level ◽  
Four Levels

Total-N and NO3-N content of forage were determined for six grass species — timothy (Phleum pratense L.); crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn.); intermediate wheatgrass (Agropyron intermedium (Host) Beauv.); stream-bank wheatgrass (Agropyron riparium Scribn. and Smith); bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.); and Russian wild ryegrass (Elymus junceus Fisch.). The grasses were fertilized with ammonium nitrate in early spring and were sampled at four levels of applied N — 0, 185, 550, and 940 kg/ha — and at three stages of maturity — early heading, anthesis, and seed-set. Total-N and NO3-N increased in all grasses with increasing levels of N fertilizer; Russian wild ryegrass showed the greatest increase and timothy the least. As maturity advanced, total-N content decreased. Total-N contents were similar in crested wheatgrass, intermediate wheatgrass, and streambank wheatgrass. As maturity advanced, the NO3-N content of fertilized timothy, crested wheatgrass, and bromegrass decreased while that of Russian wild ryegrass increased. The NO3-N content of intermediate wheatgrass and of stream-bank wheatgrass was highest at anthesis. At 0 and 185 kg N/ha, the NO3-N content was well below the lethal level for ruminants, but at the two higher N fertilizer levels it often exceeded the lethal level. Timothy can be considered a low, Russian wild ryegrass a very high, and the other four grasses high, NO3-N accumulators.

GROWTH OF FOUR GRASS SPECIES AS AFFECTED BY RATE OF NITROGEN APPLICATION AND YEAR OF ESTABLISHMENT ON TWO SOIL TYPES

1985 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 581-588 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. G. SIMONS ◽  
A. T. H. GROSS
Keyword(s):  
Sandy Loam ◽  
Forage Yield ◽  
Soil Types ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Clay Loam ◽  
Clay Loam Soil ◽  
Crested Wheatgrass ◽  
Intermediate Wheatgrass ◽  
Loam Soil ◽  
Harvest Year

In an experiment to investigate the relationship between nitrogen fertilization and forage yield, four grass species, bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.), intermediate wheatgrass (Agropyron intermedium (Host) Beauv.), crested wheatgrass (A. cristatum (L.) Gaertn.) and Russian wild ryegrass (Elymus junceus Fisch.), were sown in each of 3 yr on two soil types, a clay loam and a sandy loam. Five N treatments up to 252 kg N∙ha−1∙year−1 were imposed and data were collected for each of the 3 yr following the seeding year on each plot. There was considerable variation in the dry matter yields between seeding years and postseeding years. On the clay loam soil, the first year after seeding was generally the most productive whereas on the sandy loam the second harvest year produced the most. Intermediate wheatgrass was the most productive grass on the clay loam soil, crested wheatgrass on the sandy loam soil. Bromegrass produced well on both types while Russian wild ryegrass was the least productive on both soils. All species responded well to additional N. There was no advantage to split N application. The N content of forage was similar in all four species and on both soil types but was increased by fertilizer N.Key words: Bromegrass, wheatgrass, Russian wild ryegrass, nitrogen, forage yield, establishment year.

Performance of short-lived perennial grasses grown with and without alfalfa at a semiarid location in southern Saskatchewan

2007 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. G. Jefferson ◽  
R. P. Zentner ◽  
F. Selles ◽  
R. Lemke
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Forage Yield ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Semiarid Region ◽  
Canadian Prairies ◽  
Intermediate Wheatgrass ◽  
Elymus Trachycaulus ◽  
Short Rotation ◽  
Slender Wheatgrass

Tyically, crop rotations in the semiarid region of the Canadian prairies do not include perennial forages because forage termination produces negative effects on subsequent annual crops. Three short-lived perennial grass species, Dahurian wildrye grass (Elymus dahuricus Turcz. Ex Griseb), intermediate wheatgrass [Elytrigia intermedia (Host) Nevski] and slender wheatgrass (Elymus trachycaulus (Link) Gould ex Shinners), were compared for their forage productivity and persistence as short duration (3 yr) forage stands, either in a mixture with alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) or in monoculture, in three trials at Swift Current, Saskatchewan. Intermediate wheatgrass produced 29 and 22% more forage and was more persistent than Dahurian wildrye or slender wheatgrass, respectively. In alfalfa mixtures, however, the grasses produced similar forage yield in two of three trials. Intermediate wheatgrass was more persistent in mixtures but yield compensation by alfalfa grown with Dahurian wildrye and slender wheatgrass produced similar total forage yield as these grass stands thinned during the third year of each trial. Intermediate wheatgrass and alfalfa mixtures could be utilized for short rotation forage stands in high-input crop sequences where stand termination is achieved with herbicides. Dahurian wildrye and alfalfa mixture has the best potential for short-rotation forages in organic crop systems of this region because it would require less tillage to terminate the stand. Key words: Crop rotation, forage yield

Herbicide Control Strategies for Ventenata dubia in the Intermountain Pacific Northwest

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 128-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
John M. Wallace ◽  
Timothy S. Prather
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Integrated Management ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Intermediate Wheatgrass ◽  
Herbicide Treatments ◽  
Exotic Annual Grass ◽  
Grass Growth ◽  
Herbicide Control

Ventenata dubia is an exotic annual grass that has become increasingly invasive in various perennial grass systems throughout the Intermountain Pacific Northwest. Currently, little information is available to landowners about herbicide control options. In our first field study, we evaluated V. dubia control efficacy and perennial grass tolerance of herbicides applied pre-emergence (PRE) at two locations and as an early postemergence (EPOST) application at four different conservation reserve grasslands, with each grassland dominated by different perennial grass species. Treatments included flufenacet plus metribuzin (303 + 76 g ai ha−1 [0.27 + 0.07 lb ai ac−1]), propoxycarbazone-sodium (49 g ai ha−1 [0.04 lb ai ac−1]), rimsulfuron (53 g ai ha−1 [0.05 lb ai ac−1]), sulfosulfuron (53 g ai ha−1 [0.05 lb ai ac−1]), and imazapic (105 g ai ha−1 [0.09 lb ai ac−1]). Rimsulfuron and flufenacet plus metribuzin applied PRE provided > 90% control 10 mo after treatment (MAT). Rimsulfuron and sulfosulfuron applied EPOST provided > 90% control 9 MAT. Herbicide injury to bluebunch and intermediate wheatgrass was negligible across treatments. Imazapic and sulfosulfuron applied EPOST resulted in significant injury to smooth brome and timothy. In our second study, we addressed the following question: Will fall herbicide plus fertilizer treatments improve V. dubia control compared with herbicide treatments alone? We imposed fall herbicide treatments in main plots and fertilizer treatments (fall N, fall P, fall K, fall PK, spring N, NPK) in split plots at three study locations. Herbicide treatments resulted in high levels of V. dubia control. Differences in V. dubia abundance among fertilizer treatments were negligible 9 MAT. Within herbicide control plots, spring N and NPK treatments resulted in significant increases in perennial grass cover and decreases in V. dubia cover (9 MAT). This result indicates that spring N applications timed to the onset of perennial grass growth could be utilized as a component of an integrated management strategy for V. dubia in invaded perennial grass systems.

THE PERFORMANCE OF THREE GRASSES WHEN GROWN ALONE, IN MIXTURE WITH ALFALFA, AND IN ALTERNATE ROWS WITH ALFALFA

1958 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 252-259 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. R. Kilcher ◽  
D. H. Heinrichs
Keyword(s):  
Competitive Ability ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Yield Performance ◽  
Crested Wheatgrass ◽  
Intermediate Wheatgrass ◽  
Seeding Method ◽  
Yield Difference ◽  
Competitive Species

Crested wheatgrass, intermediate wheatgrass, and streambank wheat-grass, chosen for diversity of root type, were compared for yield and competitive ability when growing alone, in mixture with alfalfa, and in alternate rows with alfalfa. For each seeding method the order of the grass species yield performance was the same, but the magnitude of the yield difference varied by seeding methods. In pure stands the yield difference between the low and high producing grass was 50 per cent, in mixture with alfalfa 170 per cent, and in alternate rows with alfalfa 220 per cent. The total yield was greatest in alternate rows and smallest in pure grass stands (fertilized). In 1954 grass and alfalfa growing in alternate rows outyielded grass and alfalfa in mixed rows by 4 per cent; in 1955, by 10 per cent; in 1956, a dry year, by 33 per cent; and in 1957, an extremely dry year, by 137 per cent. The relative stand of alfalfa to grass was greater when growing in alternate rows as compared to mixed rows. This relationship held for all grass species but was less pronounced for streambank wheatgrass, the least competitive species of the three grasses.

SUSCEPTIBILITY OF ORGANIC MATTER OF CHERNOZEMIC Ah HORIZONS TO BIOLOGICAL DECOMPOSITION

1975 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 473-480 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. F. DORMAAR
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Bouteloua Gracilis ◽  
Black Soil ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Hydrothermal Conditions ◽  
Agropyron Smithii ◽  
Brown Soil ◽  
Chelex 100 ◽  
Soil Zone ◽  
Biological Decomposition

Samples of five Chernozemic Ah horizons from soils under prairie of predominantly single grass species were incubated at 30 C with moisture maintained at 300 mbars for 74 days with and without uniformly labelled 14C-glucose. The 14CO2 formed during decomposition was collected in NaOH and its activity measured by scintillation spectrometry. Within the Brown soil zone, soils covered by Stipa comata Trin. & Rupr. and Agropyron smithii Rydb. contained considerably more organic matter that was readily decomposable than a soil covered by Bouteloua gracilis (HBK.) Lag. when the cumulative CO2 evolved was expressed in terms of the C in the soil. In comparison with the three Brown soils, the organic matter of a Dark Brown soil covered by Stipa spartea var. curtiseta Hitchc. and a Black soil covered by Festuca scabrella Torr. was found to be very resistant to biological decomposition, as the percentage of C lost during incubation of the latter soils was less than half the percentage mineralized by any of the former soils. Between 80.4 and 91.4% of the added 14C was mineralized as 14CO2 in four of the soils and between 20 and 35% of the remaining 14C was extractable with Chelex-100. In the fifth soil, the Black Chernozemic soil covered by F. scabrella, only 50% of the added 14C was mineralized and only 8% of the remaining 14C was extractable with Chelex-100. The potential susceptibility to biological decomposition of the organic matter of various Chernozemic Ah horizons gave a measure of the proportion of the oxidizable component still present. It thereby helped with the interpretation of the genesis of the whole organic matter formed under different hydrothermal conditions in the field.

Propoxycarbazone-Sodium and Imazapic Effects on Downy Brome (Bromus tectorum) and Newly Seeded Perennial Grasses

2011 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gustavo M. Sbatella ◽  
Robert G. Wilson ◽  
Stephen F. Enloe ◽  
Charlie Hicks
Keyword(s):  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Downy Brome ◽  
Intermediate Wheatgrass ◽  
Psathyrostachys Juncea ◽  
Annual Grasses ◽  
Russian Wildrye

AbstractVigorous stands of perennial grasses can effectively provide long-term control of many invasive plants on rangelands. However, in degraded conditions, successful reestablishment of perennial grasses can be compromised by invasive annual grasses, such as downy brome. Propoxycarbazone-sodium is a selective herbicide currently labeled for downy brome control in small grains, but its potential use on rangelands is unknown. Studies were conducted from 2004 through 2008 at three rangeland sites in Colorado and Nebraska to evaluate downy brome control and perennial grass injury with propoxycarbazone-sodium and imazapic. Propoxycarbazone-sodium provided satisfactory downy brome control with grass injury equal to or less than imazapic when rainfall followed the fall application. A second set of studies was conducted from 2007 to 2008 at Lingle, WY, and Scottsbluff, NE, to determine the plant-back interval and postemergence application response of seven perennial grass species to propoxycarbazone-sodium and imazapic. Grass tolerance to both herbicides was good when applied 90 and 120 d before planting (DBP). However, grass injury increased as plant-back interval decreased. The greatest impact on plant biomass was observed from herbicide applied at planting or after planting. Crested and intermediate wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatumandThinopyrum intermedium) biomass production was not affected when herbicides were applied 90 or 120 DBP. Western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii) and Russian wildrye (Psathyrostachys juncea) showed tolerance to imazapic applied before planting. Smooth brome (Bromus inermis), sheep fescue (Festuca ovina), and orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata) showed the least amount of tolerance to propoxycarbazone-sodium and imazapic.

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